Brave New World
by Aldous Huxley
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Book Summary Information
Author: Aldous HuxleyEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-10-17
ISBN: 0060850523
Number of pages: 288
Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780060850524
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Brave New World
Book Review: Oh brave new world that has such people in it . . .
Summary: 5 Stars
_Brave New World_, first published in 1932, by writer and thinker Aldous Huxley is a classic science fiction tale that reveals a utopian future in which genetic modification, social organization, and designer pharmaceuticals have been perfected to create a system of perfect happiness. This novel along with George Orwell's _1984_ (1949) was to rank among the Twentieth Century's most chilling science fiction utopian/dystopian masterpieces. Indeed, Huxley was later to note not only the resemblance of his novel to Orwell's novel but also the uncanny accuracy of many of his predictions. In particular, the rise of genetic engineering, social organization, and designer pharmaceuticals to eliminate all discomfort and unhappiness has become widespread. Aldous Huxley (1894 - 1963) was a novelist, author, and thinker who was born in England and lived for a time in the United States in southern California as well as taking a particular interest in the Indian tribes of New Mexico. Huxley was related to the famous scientist and social Darwinist T. H. Huxley. This novel is perhaps Huxley's most widely known and its message for the modern world is very important. Indeed, the novel shows how it might even be necessary to choose unhappiness in order to be truly free.
In the novel, all the characters within civilization live a life of mechanized order. Childbirth has become a thing of the past, and Malthusian policies have been implemented. However, at the same time "happiness" has been achieved through a special drug called "soma" (named after the mythical hallucinogenic drink) which allows the user to achieve a blissful state whenever depression begins to develop. Everyone in civilization is sexually promiscuous and as such is expected to be a functioning member of society. No one appears to grow old because of life enhancement stimulants; however, death is regarded as simply unimportant and the old are simply done away with. A system of perfect eugenics has been instated with society regimented strictly into castes, from alpha to epsilon. The world is ruled over by World Controllers including Mustapha Mond, one of the great world leaders. Furthermore, Henry Ford has become a messianic figure within the novel (as well as Sigmund Freud to a lesser extent). Alternatively, civilization is contrasted to life amongst the "savages", where civilization cannot be implemented and where the old ways still prevail. The "savages" are Indian tribes that are largely superstitious and still experience life's vicissitudes, while those among civilized society simply ingest soma when faced with difficulty.
The novel begins in London at the hatchery for children (the process by which children are created after genetic modification since natural childbirth has become a thing of the past). The novel follows the lives of two individuals Bernard Marx and Lenina Crowne (who eventually are to travel to a savage reservation on holiday). Bernard Marx is considered a social outcaste because of his preference for being alone, his high intelligence, and his indifference to sexual promiscuity. On the other hand, Lenina is considered societally acceptable because of her sexual promiscuity. Bernard takes Lenina to a savage reservation in New Mexico where they are to meet Linda (a former member of civilization who became pregnant with the child of the Director of Hatcheries) and John (her son and now a member of the savage community). Linda (who has become a mother and now is seen as socially worthless by society) has become an alcoholic and a prostitute among the savage reservation. Bernard decides to take John and Linda back to civilization in an effort to regain social status after he has been threatened with banishment to Iceland by the Director of Hatcheries. Once they arrive back in civilization John confronts his father and thus completely destroys the Director (who has now become a father and is deemed socially unacceptable). Eventually the savage (John) is to learn about civilization and begin a relationship with Lenina (who is frequently using the drug soma). It is discovered that Linda is slowly dying and since death is not a concern among the civilized people she is allowed to die. John eventually is to meet up with Mustapha Mond, the Resident World Controller for Western Europe. However, upon Linda's death, John is tormented by mourning and guilt and eventually isolates himself, becomes horribly addicted to soma, and eventually apparently commits suicide.
This sad tale shows us a world where an apparent utopia has been achieved. It is believed that all people are now happy and that all human worries and troubles can be cured through the drug soma. However, as it is discovered, not everyone is truly happy. Bernard is horribly depressed and a social outcaste at the beginning of the novel, and John is eventually to become miserable. Mustapha Mond addresses this issue when he speaks to the savage. He says ". . . you're claiming the right to be unhappy . . . Not to mention the right to grow old and ugly and impotent; the right to have syphilis and cancer; the right to have too little to eat; the right to be lousy; the right to live in constant apprehension of what may happen tomorrow; the right to catch typhoid; the right to be tortured by unspeakable pains of every kind." Thus, we see what the savage must really claim for himself in order to be truly free. In effect, this novel speaks to the meaning of life and the manner in which life is deprived of meaning in the totalitarian state. The novel also shows the potential horrors of genetic engineering and eugenics, the mindlessness of modern bureaucracy and the modern organized society, and the increasing prevalence of designer pharmaceuticals as a cure to ills. When this book was written it was believed to be a prescient look into the Twentieth century; however, as we can see this book is even more relevant today where much of what Huxley predicts has already come to pass. Just as Orwell's _1984_ showed the reader the world of the Twentieth century totalitarian state, this novel shows us the modern world, in which utopia has apparently been achieved, yet in which many are desperately unhappy.
Summary of Brave New World
Aldous Huxley's tour de force, Brave New World is a darkly satiric vision of a "utopian" future—where humans are genetically bred and pharmaceutically anesthetized to passively serve a ruling order. A powerful work of speculative fiction that has enthralled and terrified readers for generations, it remains remarkably relevant to this day as both a warning to be heeded as we head into tomorrow and as thought-provoking, satisfying entertainment.
"Community, Identity, Stability" is the motto of Aldous Huxley's utopian World State. Here everyone consumes daily grams of soma, to fight depression, babies are born in laboratories, and the most popular form of entertainment is a "Feelie," a movie that stimulates the senses of sight, hearing, and touch. Though there is no violence and everyone is provided for, Bernard Marx feels something is missing and senses his relationship with a young women has the potential to be much more than the confines of their existence allow. Huxley foreshadowed many of the practices and gadgets we take for granted today--let's hope the sterility and absence of individuality he predicted aren't yet to come.
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