Classic 15: Brave New World

It was banned books week recently - and the DC Public Library had an outreach at our local farmer's market - basically bringing this book to me!

DC Public Library at the Farmer's Market promoting #bannedbooks !

I liked this book way more than I expect to. I enjoyed the plot, the writing style, and the ideas explored. I almost feel bad that my expectations were so low going in. Maybe that's why I enjoyed it so much, but I don't think that was it.


An early dystopian novel - referred to as a "utopian" society by journalists at the time - but clearly not an idealized utopia. One foraged through science and industrialization gone amok. A British society turned upside down - where sexual promiscuity was not only encouraged, but anything less was frowned upon. Attachments discouraged. Individualism despised. Creativity and independent thought abhorred.


Who else could be the idolized figurehead of the industrial future of human kind, but Ford? For Ford's Sake! I loved it. I loved the simplicity of it. I loved the symbolism. I did not love the truth of it.


But the appalling truth is staggering. The extremes drawn out in the novel aren't so far off from where we are. The idea of tossing things out when they wear down rather than replace them? Just look at our landfills. The idea of soma tablets for the masses to diminish their independent thoughts? We are the most overmedicated society in history - using food, alcohol, and drugs to distance ourselves from unpleasant matters.


An elusive and unsettled concept for me was his idea that we have levels of a society - and that this utopian society could not be sustained long term with all "Alphas" we need lesser people to do lesser jobs or we need room for growth and development. Society can't exist without that. I'm not entirely true I agree, but I think it's an interesting concept to mull on. I've certainly met philosophizing garbage men who appeared very satisfied with their life work. Large and small organizations seemed to have tackled this with either rotating everyone through the menial tasks or requiring the menial tasks as a prerequisite to further participation in the organization or society. You have to be a private before you can be a general.


At first glance, it Huxley seemed to be asking, "What's the purpose of human life?" he was really asking harder questions. Do we want independence or just the illusion of it? What is freedom, anyway? Is life better with no real choices in exchange for no pain? Is it better to be a free thinking individual alone - or a mindless part of a larger community? What are you willing to give up to be part of one or the other?


Recommended? This was a quick read. Fun for those who enjoy today's modern dystopian novels. There were elements of many of them in this early vision. I'd also say it's worth considering for those that enjoy today's post apocalyptic shows (The Walking Dead, The Last Ship, Falling Skies, etc!).