The Brave New World is a futuristic place where "everybody" is happy. It is similar to Fahrenheit 451 in that independent thought and feelings have been banished. New forms of genetic engineering, brain washing and soma keep the population calm and carefree. The few advocates of freedom that do exist are faced with a dilemma, because the freedom they so desire includes the freedom to be unhappy. For that reason, many don't bother to fight a seemingly otiose battle. The main conflict arises when John, the "savage," arrives from the "savage" reservation in New Mexico. He doesn't understand society, and begins to ask why freedom is not permitted.

Basically what Huxley has done, is juxtapose two of history's main conflicts: security and freedom. In Huxley's Brave New World, led by ten world controllers, security (with the help of advanced technology) prevails. Huxley's story is a warning about what's at stake in the struggle.

Brave New World is an incredible novel, one that was earth-shattering for the time period it was written in. I thoroughly enjoyed it, although the ending left me wanting more. If you are looking for not just a quick read, but one that will keep you thinking weeks after you're finished, Brave New World is an excellent option.

Hypocritical heap of trash by a drug addict and brother to the eugenist Thomas Huxley. ( )

Read this book and you'll gain a better understanding of humanity. ( )

Creepy, stirring, and written with that sort of innocent (for lack of a better word) purity that exists only in the earliest books of a new genre. Brave new writing, if that makes any sense, not harking back to or trying to one up hundreds of books written in the same style, but creating that style with the freshest most innovative voice possible. Like 1984, the characters are believable in their accustomed acceptance of the disturbing lives they lead, so much so that they make their world believable, and their plight and rebellion all the more gripping. ( )

I haven't read this for many years, so this is very much a retrospective review. I remember thinking isn't achieving a society where everybody is happy what we want? Isn't this the ideal? Not equality, which is impossible to achieve and would fail to bring contentment anyway but happiness. Happiness comes from a feeling of self-worth, from a knowledge of being loved and having security. This is what Huxley's Brave New World delivered. Why would anyone want to upset that balance? It may be being falsely created by soma, but it exists and works. I had an inherent fear of the savage and the Badlands. For heaven's sake, have I no spine?

I've always had a dislike of risk takers - mavericks, renegades, thrill seekers. What is the point of that high-wire walking Frenchman? That's not heroism it's stupidity. I believe it is a myth that progress in human endeavour is made through these self-aggrandizing people. I think it comes from the unsung foot soldiers and the few anti-social geniuses (Newton, Mozart, Einstein et al).

But unlike Orwell, Huxley is long-winded and not such a disciplined writer. I don't think Brave New World actually lives up to it's classic status. ( )