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book data
334 ratings,
3.75
average rating, 37 reviews
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published
January 1971
by Penguin
(first published 1939)
details
Paperback, 256 pages
characters
literary awards
isbn
0140010491
(isbn13: 9780140010497)
description
A Hollywood millionaire with a terror of death, whose personal physician happens to be working on a theory of longevity--these are the elements of Hux…more
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| Language & Gr...: Opposites Attract...Vocab Competition | 323 | 97 | Jan 06, 2010 09:23PM |
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 535)
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4 stars (137)
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3 stars (91)
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2 stars (26)
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avg 3.75
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
One of my favorite books, very disturbing take on American manias and Hollywood. Haven't read it in awhile but recommend it to anyone interested in the roots of literary science fiction or dark satire.
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Read in March, 2010
Satire from 1939 on a older wealthy California businessman obsessed with youth. He has a doctor on staff working on research to keep him alive forever. Also has a young mistress around, and a historian from England cataloging some famous old papers the wealthy man purchased just for fun. The book alternates between chapters where things happen and chapters where the characters get into deep philosophical discussions. The latter chapters can be a bit plodding, but the former chapters are quit...more
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Oh Aldous, you started off so well in this book... then had far too many pages about religion... then went off somewhere else... then became interesting again... and now it's been months since I've been back to you. Hopefully I will finish this odd little book and hopefully it won't disappoint me as much as A Brave New World did.
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I read this book right after taking an evolutionary biology class, which made me appreciate it greatly. Huxley is adept at creating humorous, satirical characters that perfectly exemplify his lasting and meaningful point of view of the weaknesses and limitations of human nature and american society. I loved this book!
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Read in August, 2009
recommends it for:
de-evolution types
Huxley's great tale of a Charles Foster Kane-type funding a fortune on beating the clock of mortality. I like these creepy tales of Hollywood in the Thirties because he did them so well. As usual apes make an appearance towards the end to close the show. Aldous did love his chimps!
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Read in September, 2009
I'm all for philosophical novels. But this one seemed tedious and dated. A wealthy man, terrified of death, hires a scientist to search for ways of extending life. Long-winded philosophical passages by one of the characters made me zone out periodically. 9/09
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Read in July, 2009
Aldous Huxley had a philosophical outlook that is almost un-matched for his era. Much of his writing is more relevant today than when he wrote it, which is really the true test of an author attempting social commentary on this level. My head wasn't really in the "best" place for this book (too many distractions), so I don't think I enjoyed it as much as I could have. Not his best work, but some of the passages are brilliant and overall, he is one of the greatest of all time.
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Read in August, 2009
This book is a mind bender. Jo Stoyte is a rich man obsessed with escaping death. The book is filled with a lot of philosophy that is pretty deep but interesting to wade through. The book ends in a very surprising way.
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Read in July, 2005
Once again Huxleys brilliance is evidenced. The five page conversation between the protaganist and the groundskeeper is magic. It melds philosophy and literature.
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This book is a prime example of dogma dictating narrative. I cannot remember at which point I started skimming through Mr. Propter's pedantic discourses.
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Read in January, 2006
I didn't finish this book. The material was too heavy to enjoy, though I do like the way Huxley writes his books. This book wasn't nearly as witty as his other satire.
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All the gentle, sometimes biting humour and social observation of Huxley at near top form.
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actually liked it more than A Brave New World... Less than The Doors Of Perception/Heaven and Hell.
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Read in July, 2009
Just my kind of fiction: a perfect mix of easily digested story line, philosophy, and social commentary. Through the quest for immortality and conscious struggles to understand patriotism, love, and good will, Huxley's characters highlight greed and the inescapable ego.
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Not to be missed. One of the great books about Los Angeles and the culture of Hollywood.
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Read in February, 2010
Great beginning, flabby reference-packed middle, wonderful ending.
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Read in January, 2009
I'm a Huxley fan and he didn't disappoint. Great story/plot and characters. Too many obscure literary references. Written in 1939, I understood many of the references because of work.
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Read in December, 2009
A book that was just a one-sided argument of how horrible people are. If I had known that the plot on the back of the book was a lie (there was no actual plot until the last 10 pages), I wouldn't have picked this up. It was entirely made of God-hating and people-hating, to the point of being tiresome. I don't mind reading a book that has intelligent (key word, intelligent) arguments throughout, but this book was just one big, one-sided, hating argument.
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This satire explores several philosophical and social issues, some of which would later take the forefront in his final novel Island, about a figure from Greek mythology to whom Zeus gave eternal life but not eternal youth.
”The action revolves around a few main characters brought together by a Hollywood millionaire, Jo Stoyte. Each character represents a different philosophy of living life.
”The action revolves around a few main characters brought together by a Hollywood millionaire, Jo Stoyte. Each character represents a different philosophy of living life.
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