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2nd out of 100 books
—
13 voters
Books v. Cigarettes
Beginning with a dilemma about whether he spends more money on reading or smoking, George Orwell's entertaining and uncompromising essays go on to explore everything from the perils of second-hand bookshops to the dubious profession of being a critic, from freedom of the press to what patriotism really means.
Paperback, 126 pages
Published
August 7th 2008
by Penguin Books
(first published 1946)
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A small collection of essays by the wonderful master of the sentence, George Orwell. I think he's one of the great craftmen of the written word. I can see why he's idolized by hack journalists (some of you know who I am thinking of), yet never mastered.
Since i work at a bookstore I totally tuned in to his essay about working at a bookstore. The dust is still a problem, but unlike him I stayed at the job. Smelling the dust and still loving the sexual beast that are books.
The last piece is about...more
Since i work at a bookstore I totally tuned in to his essay about working at a bookstore. The dust is still a problem, but unlike him I stayed at the job. Smelling the dust and still loving the sexual beast that are books.
The last piece is about...more
Para além das suas conhecidas obras de ficção (Mil Novecentos e Oitenta e Quatro ou A Quinta dos Animais), George Orwell foi também um prolífico escritor de ensaios. Alguns deles já se encontravam publicados por cá, também pela Antígona, no livro Porque Escrevo e Outros Ensaios, e este Livros & Cigarros proporciona aos leitores portugueses mais oportunidades para entrar em contacto com a obra deste grande escritor.
Livros & Cigarros é um conjunto de 7 ensaios que versam sobre livros, as p...more
Livros & Cigarros é um conjunto de 7 ensaios que versam sobre livros, as p...more
I originally bought this because I loved the edition. In fact, I'd happily have all of the beautiful Penguin Great Ideas series.
This is a collection of Orwell's essays, of which the title is just one. Most are literature-related, although the longest is delves into Orwell (or, at the time, Blair)'s time at Preparatory school.
All are written faultlessly, have dated only through their content, and then only just. You won't get much more genius for your money than buying a book of Orwell essays, an...more
This is a collection of Orwell's essays, of which the title is just one. Most are literature-related, although the longest is delves into Orwell (or, at the time, Blair)'s time at Preparatory school.
All are written faultlessly, have dated only through their content, and then only just. You won't get much more genius for your money than buying a book of Orwell essays, an...more
The only Orwell I have read is Nineteen Eighty Four, and that a have-to-read for O-level English Literature. That was nigh on 40 years ago and recently I've been thinking about reading it again, and more of Orwell. I was having this thought when I bumped into a table in Waterstones bookshop and lying on that table was this gem. What have I been missing over the decades?!
The most appealing thing about this book is its honesty and I'll re-read it for sure.
Books v. Cigarettes is a collection of ess...more
The most appealing thing about this book is its honesty and I'll re-read it for sure.
Books v. Cigarettes is a collection of ess...more
“A child which appears reasonably happy may actually be suffering horrors which it cannot or will not reveal,” George Orwell, Such, Such Were The Joys
I should do a George Orwell month, where I read nothing else. Honestly, I love his writing so much — fiction or essays, no matter.
This edition of mine includes the following essays: Books v. Cigarettes, Bookshop Memories, Confessions of a Book Reviewer, The Prevention of Literature, My Country Left or Right, How The Poor Die and Such, Such Were The...more
I should do a George Orwell month, where I read nothing else. Honestly, I love his writing so much — fiction or essays, no matter.
This edition of mine includes the following essays: Books v. Cigarettes, Bookshop Memories, Confessions of a Book Reviewer, The Prevention of Literature, My Country Left or Right, How The Poor Die and Such, Such Were The...more
Recently I have been having trouble finding time to set aside in order to read anything longer than a newspaper. This is a relatively new problem, but the advent of both my work and social life suddenly becoming much busier, a long term girlfriend who I do not see as much as I would like and a commute that has changed from an hour uninterrupted bus ride to a walk-tube-dash, all mean it is a reasonably serious one. If I wasn’t going to fall at the first hurdle of my 52 books in 52 weeks challenge...more
Interesting collection of essays written by George Orwell, one of my favorite writers, about different topics including bookshop and book-reviewing memories, political thoughts about intellectual liberty, reflections on healthcare, ending with long boarding-school memoirs.
I enjoyed most of the essays specially the one about freedom of writing, and most parts of his childhood memories at the boarding school which one must find some personal resonance somewhere between the lines. I particularly l...more
I enjoyed most of the essays specially the one about freedom of writing, and most parts of his childhood memories at the boarding school which one must find some personal resonance somewhere between the lines. I particularly l...more
a somewhat jumbled collection of essays, selected perhaps by their collective length in comparison to the desired size of a 'penguin great ideas' edition. common threads are books & literature, and the class/social/intellectual politics of england and europe in the first part of last century. the title essay brings these thoughts together through a solid mathematical critique of the idea that reading books is a luxury of the rich. enumerating his own extensive reading habit (books bought, gi...more
I enjoy reading through other people's thoughts and feelings on subjects close to my heart, and with this book being beautiful and pocket sized, I had to pick it up.
Orwell and I have had similar experiences, it seems, in bookselling, however his experiences left him with a growing distaste for books and I still can't get enough of them. Despite all the lifting and shelving and dusting and scanning and so on, I find myself spending half of my wages on stacks and stacks that pile up quicker than I...more
Orwell and I have had similar experiences, it seems, in bookselling, however his experiences left him with a growing distaste for books and I still can't get enough of them. Despite all the lifting and shelving and dusting and scanning and so on, I find myself spending half of my wages on stacks and stacks that pile up quicker than I...more
George Orwell described in Books vs. Cigarettes the price of reading compared to other pastimes such as cigarettes and beer. This was all very interesting, and quite entertaining. I'd recommend the piece, and it might have helped to dispel a myth (certainly at the time anyway) that buying books was only for the rich.
But I was thinking at the time that it wasn't particularly relevant to me as I always quite like reading while doing one of those other pastimes, and that reading is essentially alwa...more
But I was thinking at the time that it wasn't particularly relevant to me as I always quite like reading while doing one of those other pastimes, and that reading is essentially alwa...more
This short collection consisting predominantly of Orwell's later essays is a brilliant insight into Orwell's life and mind. Comprising chiefly of accounts of his life rather than social comment (most notably in the long closing essay 'Such, Such Were the Joys', which looks at Orwell's time at St Cyprian's school) these essays, through Orwell's exquisite use of language, invite you into the mind of the legendary writer and grip you until their conclusion.
The most striking feature of these works,...more
The most striking feature of these works,...more
This book is worth reading for the essay titled 'The prevention of literature' alone.
Orwell has a strikingly good hold on the terrible things that are going on at the time and eludes to many things that did not come out with strong evidence until decades after Orwell wrote this.
It is also a rare example of someone giving a clear reasoned logical argument, well supported with evidence whilst also being passionate about his subject. I found extremely inspiring to read someone who really believes...more
Orwell has a strikingly good hold on the terrible things that are going on at the time and eludes to many things that did not come out with strong evidence until decades after Orwell wrote this.
It is also a rare example of someone giving a clear reasoned logical argument, well supported with evidence whilst also being passionate about his subject. I found extremely inspiring to read someone who really believes...more
This slim selection of essays by George Orwell starts off with a somewhat dry assessment of whether smoking or reading is the more expensive hobby, but really kicks in with the second piece about working in a bookshop. The fact that their Christmas season, for selling cards etc, lasted a whole ten days is an eye-opener (the article dates from 1936), but even more delightful is the discovery that the annoying customer is an ageless universal (not a surprise, per se, but a joy to read). The collec...more
A collection of short essays by George Orwell for various newspapers and magazines. Each chapter is a different essay on something different; the dilema he faces because he does not have enough money to buy both books and cigarettes, his experiences of working in a second hand book store (which was quite and amusing essay), my favourite - an essay called The Prevention of Literature" in which he writes about governments and the press, and how they are no longer free to write what is the truth. T...more
NOTE : see this review and more on http://cocainepages.wordpress.com
I loved this book!
A collection of 7 written pieces of Orwell's is to be considered a really good past-time, and so it was! I got it as a present for my birthday this year, 28th of September, and today, the 29th, I'm already done with it! It was so nice to read something with substance and of which I understood everything completely!
A really good writer, Orwell is truly a master of plastic language, constantly changing the pa...more
I loved this book!
A collection of 7 written pieces of Orwell's is to be considered a really good past-time, and so it was! I got it as a present for my birthday this year, 28th of September, and today, the 29th, I'm already done with it! It was so nice to read something with substance and of which I understood everything completely!
A really good writer, Orwell is truly a master of plastic language, constantly changing the pa...more
This was heading for a three-star rating, but the final essay and the fact that I read the whole book in half a day make me add a fourth. There's nothing all that exceptional here, but Orwell is always very readable, and the first few essays are humorous and interesting. There's a lull in the middle, where outdated discussions of the effect of totalitarianism on literature retain only a modest academic interest, but things are revived at the end by the highly affecting account of Orwell's frankl...more
George Orwell is a man after my own heart. This collection of essays showcases his intellect and his deep cynacism in a manner that is neither pretentious nor overbearing. I think he saves that for 1984. His articles describe the life of a second-hand bookseller, his misadventures as a child in a boarding school, the despairs of a public hospital in Paris, and other experiences he had around 1920- till then end of the second World War. The essays are short and sweet but you are left with humor a...more
I never expected to read this, or really anything by Orwell beyond Animal Farm. But there I was at the bookstore and all the “Penguin Great Ideas” books looked so crisp and pithy that I picked out nine or ten, then forced myself down to six, then to five, then three, of which this was one. This little economics exercise turned out to be pretty relevant considering the topic of the eponymous essay “Books v. Cigarettes.”
I remember my father raving about what a great essay “Such, Such Were the Joy...more
I remember my father raving about what a great essay “Such, Such Were the Joy...more
"I could not invert the existing scale of values (believing that the rich are the supreme), or turn myself into a success, but I could accept my failure and make the best of it. I could resign myself to being what I was, and then endeavour to survive on those terms."
Who would have thought that one of the greatest writers actually had such demeaning thoughts of himself? The literature he has left us with, proved that it is not impossible to overcome adversities.
Simply moving and inspiring.
Who would have thought that one of the greatest writers actually had such demeaning thoughts of himself? The literature he has left us with, proved that it is not impossible to overcome adversities.
Simply moving and inspiring.
A collection of essays about the book trade from the end user on up. Its immensely readable and that I didn't devour such a slim volume is more a failure of mine than the author's.
If you have ever made money by writing you might find the honesty of the portraits he paints of writers, writing and particularly reviewers in his essays a little too close for comfort, even 80-odd years removed from their time.
But, yes, a lovely beautifully produced object that it fun to read on the bus.
If you have ever made money by writing you might find the honesty of the portraits he paints of writers, writing and particularly reviewers in his essays a little too close for comfort, even 80-odd years removed from their time.
But, yes, a lovely beautifully produced object that it fun to read on the bus.
when reading Books V. Cigarettes by George Orwell, you can clearly see what were the early experiences that ultimately lead him to write masterpieces like "Animal Farm" or "1984".
Many readers who loved those books, will find empathy and also resemblance to the feelings Orwell had during (and towards) his early experiences .
If you like non-fiction books,and you know Orwell´s work, It is recommended. For other crowds the book may appear a bit slow IMHO.
Many readers who loved those books, will find empathy and also resemblance to the feelings Orwell had during (and towards) his early experiences .
If you like non-fiction books,and you know Orwell´s work, It is recommended. For other crowds the book may appear a bit slow IMHO.
George Orwell is one of my all time favourite authors. This is a book of essays/articles on various subjects. Not a book you'd expect to make you laugh but it did me. His comments on bookshop customers ring true of many library customers I've had the pleasure(?)to meet and his account of his school days is also funny - a good cure for bronchitis according to his teacher - running! I enjoyed this book so much I bought a copy.
Aug 25, 2009
Sofia
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
George Orwell fans; People who study literature
Shelves:
classics,
non-fiction
This is a collection of seven short essays by the wonderful George Orwell. I really enjoyed reading this, it was interesting to get a perspective of how things were back in the time he wrote this and compare them to what they are now. His analysis of people's reading habits, and the comparison between what they spend on books and another entertainments, was particularly compelling. It was fascinating to read his description of book critics, and how they would probably become obsolete (in regards...more
Estes ensaios-crónicas, sobre literatura, politíca e a sociedade inglesa do fim do séc. XIX e início do séc. XX são escritos com espantoso desassombro e uma mui necessária clareza. São, por isso, lidos com uma familiaridade e compreensão (aos níveis emocional e ideológico) que o leitor de ensaio raro encontra. O humor e a wittiness são marcas claras destes textos e de Orwell, mas o sentimento que os move, aos textos e ao leitor (e cuja existência e pujança são porventura dadas a justificar no ú...more
A selection of essays, showing Orwell's beautiful style at its very best. The eponymous essay is a discussion of whether Orwell spends more money on books or tobacco, and which is the more worthy. He also describes the life of a newspaper book-reviewer, trying to make it seem like a life of hell, but only manages to give it an air of impossibly cool bohemianism.
These are a few essays by George Orwell from before he wrote 1984. Some of the stories he tells show you what sort of things he was concerned about, and it's obvious that those ideas later turned into 1984 and Animal Farm. He's a gifted writer who can make anything interesting, as demonstrated by the title.
I absolutely loved the first few essays in this collection by Orwell. His thoughts on books, writing, and why a society does or does not read were entertaining, witty, and insightful. The last portion of the book, a story about being hospitalized in a ward for poorer patients, and then a sort of memoir about his early years were not quite as valuable to me.
Still, I'm glad I read them and would certainly recommend this collection to anyone who is a fan of George Orwell.
Still, I'm glad I read them and would certainly recommend this collection to anyone who is a fan of George Orwell.
Είναι το πρώτο βιβλίο που διαβάζω από τον George Orwell και μπορώ να πω ότι έμιωσα βαθιά ικανοποίηση διαβάζοντας το. Είναι πολύ ευχάριστο να διαπιστώνεις ότι υπάρχουν άνθρωποι εκεί έξω που έχουν ίδιο ή ανάλογο τρόπο σκέψης με τον δικό σου. Όλα τα κείμενα είναι ενδιαφέροντα, αλλά ειδικά το τελευταίο που μιλάει για την παιδική του ηλικία ο συγγραφέας είναι το αγαπημένο μου.
I read this small collection of essays well within an hour at the library. It consists of everything from his recollections from boarding school and memories of working in a bookshop to his views on book reviewing and freedom of writing. It is wonderfully written, humourous, engaging: hence, definitely worth reading!
it's a collection of long essays and articles by Orwell , most talk about books ,or Subjects related , i loved reading Orwell talks about himself and events around him, we could have been good friends :D
i didn't like all the articles, but i liked Books vs Cigarettes, confessions on a book reviewer , How The Poor Die , and Bookshop Memories
one another note ,Penguin Great Ideas , is AMAZING
i didn't like all the articles, but i liked Books vs Cigarettes, confessions on a book reviewer , How The Poor Die , and Bookshop Memories
one another note ,Penguin Great Ideas , is AMAZING
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Eric Arthur Blair, better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist. His work is marked by keen intelligence and wit, a profound awareness of social injustice, an intense opposition to totalitarianism, a passion for clarity in language, and a belief in democratic socialism.
Considered perhaps the twentieth century's best chronicler of English culture, Orwell wrote fi...more
More about George Orwell...
Considered perhaps the twentieth century's best chronicler of English culture, Orwell wrote fi...more
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“The fact is that certain themes cannot be celebrated in words, and tyranny is one of them. No one ever wrote a good book in praise of the Inquisition.”
—
3 people liked it
“A totalitarian society which succeeded in perpetuating itself would probably set us a schizophrenic system of thought, in which the laws of common sense held good in everyday life and in certain exact sciences, but could be disregarded by the politician, the historian, and the sociologist. Already there are countless people who would think it scandalous to falsify a scientific text-book, but would see nothing wrong in falsifying an historical fact.”
—
2 people liked it
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Jan 07, 2012 04:07am