Brave New World

by Aldous Huxley

Book Overview

The astonishing novel Brave New World, originally published in 1932, presents Aldous Huxley's vision of the future--of a world utterly transformed. Through the most efficient scientific and psychological engineering, people are genetically designed to be passive and therefore consistently useful to the ruling class. This powerful work of speculative fiction sheds a blazing critical light on the present and is considered to be Huxley's most enduring masterpiece.

Following Brave New World is the nonfiction work Brave New World Revisited, first published in 1958. It is a fascinating work in which Huxley uses his tremendous knowledge of human relations to compare the modern-day world with the prophetic fantasy envisioned in Brave New World, including threats to humanity, such as overpopulation, propaganda, and chemical persuasion.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060850523
• ISBN13: 9780060850524
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

We live it might as well read it

Some say we live in 1984 but considering the way our society is structured we have long gone past the notion of Big Brother.

Brave New World

I just finished Aldous Huxley's magnum opus about test tube babies and a totalitarian world state. It is that and much more. It's prophetic, philosophical, and beautiful. A truly great read. I'm shocked. It's shocking in a lot of ways. A legit emotional rollercoaster. Another thing that is striking about it is It's age. I can't believe it came out in 1932. The language is still amazingly contemporary for a work approaching 100 years old. Someone today could have written this book. It's wild and masterful. Genius. I love it. If you're even thinking of checking it out, don't hesitate. Just gawddayum.

A story that stands the test of time

I loved so much about this book and I was constantly having to remind myself it was written 90 years ago. First you have the idea of controlling the initial development of every being to have the characteristics that best suit their pre-determined class and role on society, the mentions of various behavior conditioning as the children age to further shape their behavior and preferences depending on their role or the expectations of society, the interesting use of recitations to placate the worried or questioning mind... The main item that dates it is pretty clear, yet it still remains sensical when comparing the "civilized" world to the world where people still get pregnant and give birth. This book easily topped other dystopia I read last year, though the others still have value. I love experiencing a world in a book that challenges our own society's views of norms, rights, and wrongs.

Had writing

It had notes doodles all inside the book, could not read at all.

Condition worse than expected

I ordered a Very Good condition paperback of this book and received a copy with the cover entirely colored in with pen. See all the white space in the picture? I have black pen coloring over the whole thing. Not what I would call a Very Good copy.

Not my personal favorite, but still excellent

Though an excellent dystopian thriller, Brave New World is not my personal favorite. Disclaimer: This is my second reading so my review may be biased. Aldous Huxley was onto something with creating the anti-utopia concept in reaction to H. G. Wells' optimism. Written in the 1930s, this one proved more accurate than the rest of the genre. The dark implications of a "near perfect" society. One where crime, sickness, and disease are near non-existent. But was all that was sacrificed to create this new world worth it? There were some parts that were harder to follow due to the language and structure at the time it was written. Yet, it's timeless enough for one to follow along today. Even if some portrayals may be viewed as problematic today. I did enjoy some of the philosophical arguments towards the end. Huxley places his own personal beliefs in the face of this hypothetical world. The contrasts couldn't be made any clearer between a "savage" and "civilized" society. But I digress. 4/5.

I enjoyed it!

I bought and read this book for a class I took for my English minor, and it was one of my favorite books that we read in the class. I found it really interesting how relevant this book was to today.

Love the book

I love this book, its a very good read.. But I'm not a fan of all the writing on the sides of the pages.

Maybe it's just me

Interesting book, great concept. It wasn't as grasping as 1984, which is really what I was attached to going into this book. Overall it was a good read

Great start but my book was a misprint.

I was a big fan of the story but unfortunately couldn't finish it. I got about halfway through and then it started repeating and skipping certain pages

This book has writing in bright ink all in it. Several flags indicate each chapter. I don't consider

Just starting to read

Took A Long Time To Read A Short Book

Took A Long Time To Read A Short Book