I first read this book when I was seventeen or eighteen. It was one of the few books that I have ever been told to read that I loved unconditionally from the get go (some I loved after a while). I loved this book despite the loneliness of most of the main characters. In a society where everyone is conditioned to loath loneliness loneliness still creeps in to the lives of those who have been conditioned to think and into the lives of those who, for unexplained reasons, are different. As Huxley writes "Yes, that's just it.' The young man nodded. 'If one's different, one's bound to be lonely" (pg124). As someone who was lonely as and felt different as a teenager I could readily identify with several of the characters. I love how Huxley weaves in our heritage and what was happening in the world at the time into making predictions about the future. Predictions that are looking increasingly as if they are coming true. ( )

This was one of my favorite books growing up. I read it in high school. If you like the Hunger Games series, you'll love it! ( )

One of a few masterpieces oft cited to illustrate the definition of “dystopia,” written as a satirical warning against a frightening future, much of the utopia that “Brave New World” describes is (scarily) already here, or soon to be. As a minimum, no one should be allowed to be born in a capitalistic society before having read this entertaining and well written novel. ( )

Vorsicht vor der Übersetzung von Herlitschka!!: Über das Buch brauche ich nicht viele Worte verlieren - es ist genial und nicht nur für die Science-Fiction-Literatur ein Meilenstein gewesen.

Die Übersetzung von Herberth E. Herlitschka ist aber jedenfalls ein Graus. Da ich in der Schule das Glück hatte, im Englischunterricht das Original "Brave New World" zu lesen und mir neulich die deutsche Übersetzung in die Hände fiel, war ich schon "etwas" geschockt.

Nicht nur, dass viele Stellen im Buch nicht korrekt Übersetzt sind oder moralisch etwas angeschliffen wurden - H.E.H. hat die Handlung kurzerhand von London nach Berlin verlagert und schreibt dann auch noch Stolz in seinem "Vorwort des Übersetzers", dass es doch keinen Unterschied mache wo die Handlung letztlich spiele. Und - naja - Namen sind eh nur Namen und so hat er kurzerhand aus einem "Foster" einen "Päppler" gemacht, aus einem Bernard wird Sigmund etc. etc.

Und ich sage dazu: es macht einen Unterschied. Selbst wenn es nur eine Kleinigkeit sein möge - ich finde solche Änderungen in Übersetzungen dem Autor gegenüber respektlos. Ach, was erinnert mich das an den "neuen" Herr-der-Ringe-Übersetzer Wolfgang Krege, der vollkommen unverständlicher Weise versucht hat, ein Buch, das fiktive, altertümliche Mythologien beschreibt und eine epische Saga längst vergangener Tage darstellt und vollkommen passend in leicht antiquiertem Englisch geschrieben ist in ein Deutsch der 90er Jahre zu pressen.

Ein guter Übersetzer gerät niemals ins Rampenlicht oder in die Kontroverse - er bleibt unsichtbar.

Also, das Buch ist super - am besten im Original lesen. Wirkliche Buchkenner lassen allerdings die Finger von der H.E.H.-Übersetzung.

Aldous Huxley creates a futuristic uptopian society in his novel Brave New World. In this world, clones are generated in labs and people are brainwashed to fit "perfectly" into society. Everyone is too dependent on drugs such as soma, and there is no free thought. When John the savage, a young boy who lives outside of said "brave new world" experiences it himself he is left distraught, confused, and disgusted. He learns that this utopia is actually and dystopia and is disappointed with their way of life, traditions, and beliefs.

I enjoyed reading this this novel, because it was amazing to see how Huxley's predicitions are not so far stretched anymore. Some ideas he came up with decades ago are starting to come true, and it is scary to think about what else could happen in the future. I would reccommend this book to anyone interested in a good science fiction book that gets you thinking. ( )

This book made me feel uncomfortable, in a good way. Ultimately depressing and yet fundamentally truthful, Brave New World has the power of 1984 and the humanity of Fahrenheit 451. It is one of the greatest and most important novels in history and my personal favorite. ( )

Brave New World is similar to Fahrenheit 451 in the regards that a massive authoritarian government controls all aspects of society. Aldous Huxley and Ray Bradbury take very different approaches to this predicament however.

Huxley creates a controlled society where "community, identity, and stability" prevail. From birth, citizens are taught to be loyal to the greater good and that stability is key. Fetuses are poisoned or enhanced to create a stratified society with multiple intelligence levels. This creates a stable society in which everything is determined by the government.

Some of the more intelligent characters in the book, such as Bernard Marx (an alpha plus), become self-aware. Yes, I am comparing to the citizens of Brave New World's society to robots. In fact, they are robots. Everything they do is programmed from birth by the government. Eventually people like Bernard Marx and Helmholtz Watson show some individuality and for that they are punished.

When John the Savage comes to the Brave New World, he cannot believe how naive and ignorant the populace is.

The most pivotal point of the book was when Marx meets with Mustapha Mond. It turns out that Mond shared many similar thoughts with Marx and was either offered a position as a world leader or he would be sent to an island as an exile. He chose being a world leader so he could ensure stability and happiness in Western Europe. I think it's a little hypocritical that Mond owns forbidden books, but his reasoning for that is because it doesn't matter if he's happy or not, but society must be happy.

Brave New World teaches the reader that individuality cannot be sacrificed for anything

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. ( )

Brave New World brings a twist to dystopian theme. Where in [1984] Big Brother reigned supreme, in [Brave New World] consumerism reigns. But consumerism brings about consequences that one would not normally contemplate. In order for the new order of the world to work, human beings have to be not only able, but willing to dedicate themselves solely to consumerism. A complete brainwash of society is needed. Human beings are programmed since infancy to love only what is deemed appropriate. People don't like nature, there is no use for nature. People have no use for personal connections and love. They have all the sex they want, but no real connection with anyone. Humans are bred to work. Not only work, but to enjoy their work and never aspire to anything else. Brave New World gives insight to how society would be if all humanity were 'happy.' Humanity has everything they need, sex, food, comfortability, and a purpose in life (work). But Brave New World deals with the few are disatisified with the life they given and how a 'savage' would react with this Brave New World.
Brave New World is a must read. Pay special attention to the last four chapters. ( )

A story set in the future.

ith its themes of rampant consumerism, genetic engineering, psychological conditioning of children and television (or rather, mass entertainment) as soporific, this novel is eerily prescient for the time in which it was written. But I wish Huxley had spent more time on those themes, which are more relevant to this new century, and less time on the themes of sexual liberation and the breakdown of the family. While also relevant, his focus on the free love of his dystopian/utopian society also seems unpleasantly pornographic, and not so interesting after a while. I also wish Huxley’s foil, the “savage” born outside the “civilized world” on a Native American reservation, had been better able to point out the flaws of the utopia and had been given more alternatives than the equally insane, religious-minded self abuse, hatred of women and eventual suicide that Huxley allowed. ( )

A warning for society. Writing style not particularly action-packed or contemporary enough to satisfy teens today, unfortunately. ( )

Prophetic in many ways, but both Huxley and Orwell failed to anticipate the evolution of the English language. The dialogue in both the dystopian novels, Brave New World and 1984, relies on English colloquialisms that must have seemed dated a few years after the novels were published. Michael York's narration in the audiobook version of Brave New World I listened to was comical in its use of antique phrases like "I say, old man!", etc. Other than that, the book was quite far reaching and is still a valid warning as to what can happen to society.

What I love about this novel is how prophetic it was. What I don't like about it is how preachy it is. Even early in his career, Huxley has an axe to grind. ( )

Huxley starts with this intriguing world but he starts off with too many technical terms, as if to lose you in the story already. As the story continues he tries to hard to be satirical and give examples of how the crazy upside down world is much like our own in so many ways. Even after you've gotten the point, he pushes on and on. As the end nears, you become acquainted with the thought that it'll either be status quo or an upheaval. He builds up throughout his entire book to leave you totally unsatisfied when the ending comes. I did not like the ordinary ending he chose for the book. Overall, I was left thinking "Is this it??" ( )

I found the story a little bit tedious and over worked at times, but the concept is still incredible and frightening even today.

We don't need big brother to force us into hell, our basic drives combined with technology are enough to get us there on their own. ( )

Review located at http://pilethemon.blogspot.com/2009/0... ( )

Took me forever to read. I set this book aside about a year ago just as Bernard and Lenina's vacation to New Mexico was commencing. Picked it up again yesterday and finished the second half of the book rapidly. It's not until the character of John Savage appears that the story really begins to make sense. I liked it, but didn't enjoy it; I don't think Huxley meant for this to be enjoyed. ( )

Aldous Huxley first published his novel Brave New World in the 1930's but the major themes of giving up freedoms through fear, the ethics of test-tube babies and other scientific advances, government control, and thought programming are just as relevant today.

At first glance Huxley's London seems a Utopia. A world without war. A world without violence. No rape, no jealousy, no street crime, murder, domestic violence, abuse. No conflict. The virtual elimination of disease. No unemployment or poverty. No aging. Universal happiness, peace, contentment. Is this not what we all strive for?

Yet the introduction of our 'noble savage' to civilised London shows us just how high a price is paid for this 'perfect' society. For, while all the negative aspects of modern society are absent, so, too, are the positives. There is no love - neither the passion between lovers, nor the intense bond between a parent and child, nor the quiet contentment of the aging couple. There is none of that intense satisfaction of obstacles overcome, and no sense of achievement at having striven towards a goal. There is no true fellowship amongst men. The beauty of art and literature are lost. Even the beauty offered by nature can no longer be appreciated. And one wonders just how content the lower classes really are if the loss of a single days soma ration can cause a riot.

This is a question each of us must answer for ourselves - just how much are we willing to give up in exchange for peace and stability? ( )

Wonderful,interestingly far fetched. ( )

This is a short (by today's standards) precautionary novel about the dangers of government and technology. Like 1984, its sometimes scary how much of this has come true. ( )