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Walden Two

3.4 of 5 stars 3.40 · rating details · 2,802 ratings · 207 reviews

This fictional outline of a modern utopia has been a center of controversy since its publication in 1948. Set in the United States, it pictures a society in which human problems are solved by a scientific technology of human conduct.

Paperback, 301 pages

Published August 1st 2005 by Hackett Publishing Company (first published 1948)

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Apr 30, 2008 Avery rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People without attention disorders.

Recommended to Avery by: Eric Neibauer

Shelves: half-read

Walden Two by B.F. Skinner is one of those books that you, at the same time, love and hate. Personally, I thought that the idea was a ridiculously interesting concept in and of itself, and Skinner made a valiant attempt to implement it in a fictional novel, but ended up with a pile of literary shit powdered with intellectual diamond dust. I’m sure that both parts of my analogy can easily be explained; Skinner is a Psychologist and not a creative writer. I have to say, I think I liked the book bu...more Walden Two by B.F. Skinner is one of those books that you, at the same time, love and hate. Personally, I thought that the idea was a ridiculously interesting concept in and of itself, and Skinner made a valiant attempt to implement it in a fictional novel, but ended up with a pile of literary shit powdered with intellectual diamond dust. I’m sure that both parts of my analogy can easily be explained; Skinner is a Psychologist and not a creative writer. I have to say, I think I liked the book but the story telling was extremely formulaic, bland and just outright boring most of the time. I still want to finish it but don't know if I can bring myself to do it.

The story, which was written shortly after World War II, follows a college professor, and a group of unlikely companions, in modern (1950’s) America who end up touring a small rural commune for two weeks. Skinner illustrates his controversial utopian society in which a planned economy, social engineering, arts, leisure, and community loyalty are stressed, and democracy and the value of a full workday among other things are rejected. The problem I had with the characters is that the 3 characters that had the majority of dialogue were too polarized; there was the protagonist (Prof. Burris) who started out as indifferent and slowly became partial to Walden two, and then there was Prof. Castle, who’s role throughout the whole book was to challenge Frazier and Burris, and who frequently accompanied Burris, and then there was Frazier, the leader and founder of Walden Two, who emulated Skinner.

The book isn’t entirely without merit though, the actual commune was insanely well thought out. Through a point system for jobs rather than currency, and a series of other improvements of efficiency for numerous tasks, and social engineering, members only work an average of 4 hours a day, and the community focuses on arts, while maintaining self dependency.

Although I still never finished the book, because of it’s bland writing style, slow pace, and formulaic, predictable nature, I would still recommend it as at least worthwhile even if it doesn’t have any other redeeming qualities. I still want to finish it myself, but don’t know if I will, unless of course I have to for school.

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Nov 16, 2007 Sam Nordli rated it 3 of 5 stars

A fictional outline of Skinner's ideal utopian society. The characters are all very flat, and it is obvious that Skinner is using the story only as a vehicle to present his theories of social reform. Nonetheless, those ideas in themselves were interesting enough to hold my attention despite the mediocre writing. It is considered controversial because it espouses 'behavioral engineering' in a non-democratic societal arrangement. However, Skinner's arguments and examples are convincing and thought...more

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Nov 21, 2008 Jonathan rated it 1 of 5 stars

My psychology professor informed us that Skinner at first intended to be a writer. I think the world is blessed in many ways that he changed his mind. My review of the novel (one star) is due to judging it as a work of literature, which is how he wrote it. It sucks. What he should have done was put forth a pamphlet of about 30 pages called "The Walden Two Manifesto" and described the construction, regulation, behavioral principals, etc, that make up the community. Lots of very interesting, progr...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Paulette added it

As a certified behavior analyst, I was excited to discover that Skinner wrote one book of fiction. I picked it up at my local library book sale and found multiple copies. I ended up buying the one that had the name inside the jacket of the woman who bought from us the last house I lived in--weird!

The society uses behavioral principles to teach people to not have jealousy, to have self control to delay gratification and accept slightly annoying circumstances. The goals is "escape from the petty e...more As a certified behavior analyst, I was excited to discover that Skinner wrote one book of fiction. I picked it up at my local library book sale and found multiple copies. I ended up buying the one that had the name inside the jacket of the woman who bought from us the last house I lived in--weird!

The society uses behavioral principles to teach people to not have jealousy, to have self control to delay gratification and accept slightly annoying circumstances. The goals is "escape from the petty emotions which eat the heart out of the unprepared. They get the satisfaction of pleasant and profitable social relations on a scale almost undreamed of in the world at large. They get immeasurably increased efficiency because they can stick to a job without suffering the aches and pains which soon beset most of us. They get new horizons for they are spared the emotions characteristic of frustration and failure."

On page 258 Skinner talks abou tthe determining forces of behavior--that they can be subtle but that they are lawful. There are many factors so behavior isn't always predicatable since we can't measure all the facotrs accurately.

"It's what the science of behavior calls 'reinforcement theory.' The things that can happen to us fala into three classes. To some things we are indifferent. Other things we like--we want them to happen, and we take stepts to make them happen again. Still other things we don't like__we don't want them to happen and we take steps to get rid of them or keep them from happening again. . . if it's in our power to create any of the situtions which a person likes or to remove any situation he doesn't like, we can control his behavior. When he behaves as we want him to behave, we simply create a situation he likes, or remove one he doesn't like. As a result, the probability that he will behave that way again goes up which is what we want. Technically it is called positive reinforcement."

"What is love, except another name for the use of positive reinforcement?"
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Jan 26, 2013 Joanne rated it 1 of 5 stars

Thoreau would be appalled. Thoreau, of course, conducted an actual experiment based on his personal experience living at Walden. Skinner does the opposite: he conducts a mental experiment with a fictional group suggesting an alternative model for society.

The timing of the book is interesting, various ideas about behaviourism had been developing since the turn of the 20th century. Following WWII, the US military-industrial complex took a keen interest in behaviour modification. There are a numbe...more Thoreau would be appalled. Thoreau, of course, conducted an actual experiment based on his personal experience living at Walden. Skinner does the opposite: he conducts a mental experiment with a fictional group suggesting an alternative model for society.

The timing of the book is interesting, various ideas about behaviourism had been developing since the turn of the 20th century. Following WWII, the US military-industrial complex took a keen interest in behaviour modification. There are a number of interesting studies that came about as a result. Perhaps the most infamous of these are the Stanford Prison Study and Milgram's Obedience Study. Dale Carnegie's, How to win friends and influence people suggests a more mundane approach to behaviour modification and, like Walden, became a best seller that actually influenced people's behaviour.

I chose this book after reading Alan Weisman's Gaviotas, a book about an actual attempt to create a better society in the llanos of Columbia. That book has a more accurate claim to the name Walden Two than Skinner's fictional community. Without any behavioural engineering, Gaviotas worked and still exists today. In fact, many of the fascinating innovations developed there have been influential around the world.

The founder of Gaviotas, Paolo Lugari, motivated by Columbia's numerous socio-political problems, determined to develop an alternative society. His reading list includes virtually the entire Utopian canon. I had read nearly all of these excepting Skinner's. Unfortunately for me, I proceeded to obtain and endure this book. As a scholar Skinner had a significant influence on academe; as a novelist he will never be able to say the same. Indeed, I would have found this book less tedious had it been written as an academic paper - that way I wouldn't have had to wade through the tiresome dialogue, the unfortunate descriptions, and the wilted humour that frame some of his best insights. If you're thinking of reading this book, perhaps consider reading Gaviotas instead. (less)

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Jan 13, 2013 David Rutter rated it 3 of 5 stars

I do like a good utopia story, but this one has the distinction of being written around the same time as 1984 (a dystopia) and published shortly after Anthem's U.S. release (another dystopia), being set contemporaneously with its writing, being written by a notable scientist (with scientific viewpoints so progressive they have moved from controversial to widely accepted in time), and directly referencing most of the utopian stories that predate it. In terms of its scientific background, it is la...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Kaitlynn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned, behaviorism

This book has two target audiences, really, and the quality varies strongly depending on where you fall.

As a fiction reader, this book falls short in so many, many ways. Characters are merely loudspeakers for the author, going so far as to be named after him. Most characters, while having distinct viewpoints and personalities, are one-dimensional. There is no discernible plot whatsoever. And I mean none. The plot is the same as a virtual tour on an apartment website. As this is a novel of a utop...more

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Apr 21, 2011 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have to say that I find it funny how often the user reviews call Walden Two "boring." I get as bored reading a philosophical treatise as the next person, but Walden Two is actually easy and engaging to read. It's even funny in the little ways the narrator mocks the hero Fraser as well as the daft intellectual Castle. Skinner has this great way of describing when conversation is awkward, or when people misunderstand each other in little ways, or when a person's ego is showing. I mean, ok, it's...more

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Mar 18, 2011 Megan rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1-star, college-reading, fiction

One time, I threw this book out a window. That should probably tell you how much I detest it. It was required reading for a class, and I fully acknowledge that this "review" is basically just venting the resentment and bafflement that still lingers.

Part of my ire is that Walden Two is presented as a novel (albeit blandly written with no care for depth of characters, emotions, or plot), and man, do I as a reader detest poorly-written fiction that's ultimately trying to argue something. (Well-writ...more One time, I threw this book out a window. That should probably tell you how much I detest it. It was required reading for a class, and I fully acknowledge that this "review" is basically just venting the resentment and bafflement that still lingers.

Part of my ire is that Walden Two is presented as a novel (albeit blandly written with no care for depth of characters, emotions, or plot), and man, do I as a reader detest poorly-written fiction that's ultimately trying to argue something. (Well-written fiction that tries to argue something? I fully approve! Check out Derrick Bell's Faces From the Bottom of the Well for a golden example.) Storytelling-as-a-way-of-teaching-or-explaining is an ancient tradition. I'm all for it! But you have to have a good story for it to work. There's no story here, so it just felt useless and manipulative to me to have Skinner present his argument in a story form.

Not being able to point out the flaws in his arguments (and having to witness straw man arguments representing the opposition) made this a frustrating read. Being that I was a woman of color reading this in the year 2003, so much about this book felt irrelevant to the world I live in. You know, the world where women are not just men with ovaries, where I wouldn't trust a privileged white man in power to assure me that everyone is equal because race is irrelevant, and where heteronormativity is toxic and actively critiqued. Just in regard to reproductive issues: oh, after giving birth to four children, a 23-year-old woman still enjoys both youthful "body and spirit"? OH REALLY? A woman's body doesn't change irrevocably with pregnancy? That having given birth multiple times might not have changed how she relates sexually to her partner, or how she relates to her own body? Pregnancy complications don't affect a woman mentally? Sure, some of this might be culturally conditioned, but most of it, I suspect not.

Two cheers for Skinner for being able to imagine a community where no child goes unloved or hungry, where people are more than commodities or workers. I want a world like that too. But Walden Two is just flimsy, and yeah, I value democracy and individualism and have not been convinced that those values are the root of catastrophic failure in our society.(less)

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Dec 18, 2008 Bruce rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: utopians, role playing game fans

When I think of stories about utopian societies -- Brave New World, 1984, The Time Machine, and Gattaca for example -- I really think of a genre that sends up a dystopia as a means of satire. It's like a subgenre of mystery, with a well-worn formula. The protagonist introduces us to an 'ideal' world whose darker implications are only later revealed (the mystery lies in the discovery of what these implications really are). In the end, the protagonist has either escaped, been co-opted or killed, o...more When I think of stories about utopian societies -- Brave New World, 1984, The Time Machine, and Gattaca for example -- I really think of a genre that sends up a dystopia as a means of satire. It's like a subgenre of mystery, with a well-worn formula. The protagonist introduces us to an 'ideal' world whose darker implications are only later revealed (the mystery lies in the discovery of what these implications really are). In the end, the protagonist has either escaped, been co-opted or killed, or brought the system crashing down. I began Walden Two expecting the genre to be followed but gradually grew disillusioned as I waited for the shoe which never dropped. Instead, the protagonist (a psychologist) decides the utopians were right all along and sets off to join them. Say what you like about B.F. Skinner, he's an original thinker.

That's right, this is a novel by the behavioral scientist B.F. Skinner, inventor of the notorious Skinner Box (an insidious device that had rats atavistically slapping the button of their own private automat like an OCD sufferer with a heroin addiction). Given the way his yarn spins out, I suppose this work can be considered Skinner's proposal to structure a similar behaviorist heaven-on-Earth for people. I didn't inject a spoiler into my first paragraph mind you… the point -- and fun -- of this book is solely the exposition of "Walden Two's" outre social system.

This book has three major shortcomings: first, as a shill rather than foil for a proposed social system, Skinner's antagonists throw only straw arguments (or no arguments) at the feet of his fictional utopian hosts. For example, in a passage (p. 60) discussing how Walden Two's enforced 4-hour work day equates to an 8-hour day elsewhere, Skinner's guide Frazier argues, "'When a man is working for himself instead of for a profit-taking boss... [w]aste is avoided, workmanship is better, deliberate slowdowns unheard of.… Do you agree?'" "'I should be contentious if I didn't,'" is the response. Teetotaler Skinner likewise seems incapable of conjuring a positive argument in favor of alcoholic beverages (though titillation, relaxation, and taste all come readily to my boozing mind).

A second major flaw resides in the book's datedness, reflecting the mores of 1948 when it was first published (either that, or else a sexist Skinner could not envision or embrace women's equality): "The women!... There's our greatest achievement! We have industrialized housewifery!... Some of our women are still engaged in activities which would have been part of their jobs as housewives, but they work more efficiently and happily." (p. 63) Later, the two women in the tour group are spirited off for a private tour of the things in which ladies (as opposed to gents) might presumably take an interest. Tough luck for them.

Finally, no one can lay claim to mastery of all subject matter, and Skinner's utopian schemes suffer where he proposes reforms to practices about which he appears ignorant. For all I know, there may be many such examples, but two that jumped out to me are his theories about child-rearing and artistic endeavor. Regarding the former, Skinner's surrogate community keeps babies in isolettes on plastic sheeting devoid of swaddle. "Clothing and blankets are really a great nuisance…. They keep the baby from exercising, they force it into uncomfortable postures -- When a baby graduates from our Lower Nursery,… it knows nothing of frustration, anxiety, or fear." (p. 98) Dr. Skinner stops short of dictating a specific SIDS-inducing posture, but he's no Dr. Spock. As for the arts, "There are only a few works of any importance which require more than forty-five minutes" (p. 86); "This [sic - the post-war era? the 20th century?] is not a great age in either art or music" (p. 88); "Leisure. Opportunity. Appreciation…. All you need [to create great art]" (p. 92, apparently accounting for hours of practice and development of both technique and audience but discounting inspiration, stimulation, etc.). I suppose Skinner's tastes must have been limited to short pellets of Scriabin… mechanically administered?

Two stars for interesting ideas here about the definitions of leisure and labor, government, marriage, sex, economics, pacificism, civic participation, and (especially) cultural norms of etiquette, all viewed through the (to Skinner, virtuous) lens of submission to appropriate behavior controls. Walden Two offers insight into the philosophy of its author. Despite Skinner's aspirations, (p. 316: "You must realize that some fool professor is going to assign [this] book as outside reading in a course in political science."), this book doesn't quite live up to the bar set by Thoreau. But it makes a fine bathroom browse.
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Feb 16, 2010 Melissa Robinson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: simplicity

Walden Two earns four stars not for its literary value (it's not terribly well written or compelling only as a story), but for the thought provoking social science concepts it raises. Intellectual stimulation earns it a place on my great books list.

The concept of behavioral engineering is both repulsive and intriguing to me. The line between behavioral engineering and brainwashing is just too fine. I have enough Professor Castle in me to balk at the ideas that freedom is nonexistent and democrac...more

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Mar 09, 2008 Beth rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was amazing. I was completely seduced by the idea of behavioral engineering and I was ready to move into Walden Two after finishing it! The discussion of free will at the end was fun. I learned lots afterwards reading critiques of skinner's ideas by chomsky and others.

While I doubt the ideas would work in practice, the way of life presented in this story is what techonology SHOULD be used for: giving us more free time to pursue the things we want!

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Sep 30, 2011 Smashingp rated it 4 of 5 stars

El libro podía haber dado más de sí, el hecho de que "explique" las cosas vagamente (por ejemplo el tema de gobierno:los administradores?planificadores?) lo hace más utópico de lo que ya es de por sí, y tres tantas de lo mismo con el tema de la educación aunque suene atractivo.

De todas formas es un relato demoledor o una especie de lección, el libro tendrá más de medio siglo y aún así por el contexto parece que fue escrito hoy (2011). La parte más interesante desde luego es cerca del final, cua...more

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Aug 12, 2009 Andrea rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, lost-book-club

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Walden Two had so many of the same themes and philosophies as Island, but the difference is I actually enjoyed it. I think it helps to have a plot, and not just as an after thought. Skinner included important things like a protagonist and an antagonist and a big question to be answered at the end. You know, the simple things that make a story interesting?

I can't say it was a quick read. My copy had the smallest font possible and no margins, so a 300 page book read like a 500 page book.

I did no...more Walden Two had so many of the same themes and philosophies as Island, but the difference is I actually enjoyed it. I think it helps to have a plot, and not just as an after thought. Skinner included important things like a protagonist and an antagonist and a big question to be answered at the end. You know, the simple things that make a story interesting?

I can't say it was a quick read. My copy had the smallest font possible and no margins, so a 300 page book read like a 500 page book.

I did notice plenty of parallels to the island, though. As in the Lost island. The inhabitants of Walden Two lived a very simple and rewarding life. They were at the same time tightly controlled and also given all the freedom any American person would expect. The trick was to have them FREELY choose that which was best for the community at large. The behavioral engineering ensured that this would work.

From Lostpedia: Skinner denied that free will existed and supposed that the closest any individual could come to true freedom is a situation where the person is not aware of the social engineering control systems around them.

In fact, utopian cultural engineering seems to be one of the experiments being conducted by the Dharma initiative. The members all wear jumpsuits rather than the latest fashions, a subject Skinner touched on. I didn't see much in the way of community child rearing or a 4 hour workday, however.

Skinner is even mentioned in the Swan video. Of course, the book would have to have been mentioned somewhere for it to have made the list in the first place.

As for Frazier, I found myself comparing him to Locke, Ben and Jacob all in turn. In the end I'd have to say that he reminds me most of Ben due to his psychotic (though kept in much better check than our Mr. Linus) delusions of grandeur and obvious god-complex.

All in all I liked it. It was not a life-changing, best book I've ever read book or anything, but they can't all be.
It definitely could've used a smoke monster. :)(less)

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Jan 02, 2012 Linda rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'd probably actually give 3.5 stars with the extra 0.5 for still being so relevant with regards to the political issues discussed. Unfortunately, it's almost like not much has changed in the past 60+ years in that regard. For example: "The original victory over tyranny was a constitutional guarantee of personal rights, including the right to protest if conditions were not satisfactory. But the business of ruling was left to someone else. Nowadays, everybody fancies himself an expert in governme...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Glenn Bruce rated it 3 of 5 stars

At the time (and it's been a LONG time ago - maybe 1972?), I enjoyed this book because I found Skinner's arguments a bit repellent. That he failed to "convince" all of his characters that the experiment of Walden Two (the community) was a good and grand one, probably worked to his disadvantage as far as convincing the reader; but that was what happened to me, and I went away thinking that such an "ideal" community would never work. Could never work. Time has shown that they, these communities, c...more

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Mar 23, 2010 David rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'll preface my review with full disclosure: I disagree with nearly all of Skinner's presuppositions, many of his methods, and certainly many of his conclusions.

Having said that, it's fair to say this is one of the most mind-blowing books I've ever read, because in new and surprising ways it forces you to extricate your mind from the culture/society you are submersed in and engage in a thought experiment: "What if things could be different?"

Many of Skinner's ideas have found their way into adopt...more

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Dec 25, 2011 Jessica La La La La La! rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: post-apocalyptic-dystopia, music-therapy, psychology

It's a classic, and I have a thing for utopia/dystopian novels. Skinner is a psychologist, not a writer, so read this one for its ideas not it's beautiful writing.
___________

“A world which has been made beautiful and exciting by artists, composers, writers, and performers is as important for survival as one which satisfies biological needs.”
___________

“The mob rushes in where individuals fear to tread, and Führers deceive themselves as to their support.” (37)
___________

A wealthy class to provide...more

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May 12, 2011 Kelsey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopia-utopia-lit

I haven't read this book since taking that Honors Psychology 2 class my Junior year of high school, which was quite a while back. But I recently found it at a yard sale and had to pick it up. It's one of the best books I've read about behavioral psychology in a long time.

The first thing I remember enjoying about this book was that it didn't read like at textbook, but a Utopian, science fiction-y novel. (I myself enjoy a good Utopian book, so this was in my ballpark). Then as we got into the typ...more

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Aug 04, 2009 Samantha Penrose rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who like to think but don't mind lousy writing...

Recommended to Samantha by: (I may have found the title in Brave New World Revisited...?)

Shelves: fiction

I wish that I could give this book 3.5 stars....I am torn. The alternative society that is presented is very well thought out and enjoyable to read about. The plot of this 'story' however is quite underdeveloped to say the least.
In the first 14 pages of the book you 'meet' six of the seven characters of the book. This meet-and-greet is between the characters themselves and you the reader and very little is divulged...a name, status (student, professor, girlfriend..), little else. The rest of th...more

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Jun 03, 2011 Kirsty rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: speculative-and-scifi

At face value, Walden Two is the book I've been wanting to write, before I knew it existed. A description of a utopia that doesn't get bogged down in unnecessary plot and a running psychological and sociological debate throughout is honestly my idea of the perfect novel (particularly if the so-called utopia is more dystopian) and I felt somewhat vindicated in discovering that something that seems to go against the art of storytelling could create something thought-provoking and seemingly eternal...more At face value, Walden Two is the book I've been wanting to write, before I knew it existed. A description of a utopia that doesn't get bogged down in unnecessary plot and a running psychological and sociological debate throughout is honestly my idea of the perfect novel (particularly if the so-called utopia is more dystopian) and I felt somewhat vindicated in discovering that something that seems to go against the art of storytelling could create something thought-provoking and seemingly eternally relevant (hello, pipe dream). Walden Two was everything I ever wanted with regard to inspiration, influence, and philosophy, and yet, some ten hours after completing the read, I find myself feeling quite underwhelmed.

This may be my own fault - I tend to devour books at a rate slightly faster than I'm able to process what I'm reading; my job provides me with literally five to six hours per day in which to do little more than read, and as much as I've been trying to prove otherwise in recent months, I can't help but conclude that I can't really handle more than a hundred pages per day. Anything more, and everything shuts off; paragraphs merge, my eyes jump along sentences, and nothing makes a lick of sense. I'm hoping this is what happened in the latter third of Walden Two for me -- Castle and Frazier's philosophical debates about freedom seemed to go over my head, and losing interest dampened the ending for me a little.

A second read is probably advisable, as everything else in Skinner's work ticked all of my boxes. Essentially an overly long essay slipped into a fictional 'story', I found myself almost instantly enthralled. The set-up served as a sufficient springboard to dive into the utopia, and the intellectual debates were the stuff of my dreams (I appreciate this probably isn't true for everybody, however). Prior reviews criticise Skinner's writing style but I found it effortlessly readable, again perhaps because the whole novel encapsulated all of my interests so perfectly. It's true - he's no creative writer, but he is undeniably a thinker, and for the most part presents his arguments in an accessible, enjoyable manner. Others criticise the characters Skinner forged, but his creations are more functional than they are dimensional, and so though the exaggerated, extreme viewpoints of Castle and Frazier were transparent, they served their purpose exceedingly well. By the end of the story, I wasn't quite sure how I felt about Walden Two as a community, which I believe is a testament to how well presented the opposing arguments were. As for those who pose the lack of storyline as a critique? I laugh. Do we really need an engrossing story to elicit our thoughts and feelings about such broad issues?

There are certain novels I feel compelled to re-read as a means of re-assessing my mental and emotional maturity, and Skinner's work is sure to be added to the pile. Whilst some debates felt beyond my capabilities at present, I can't help but hope that the story's relevance will increase for me as time goes by, and my understanding of myself and the world around me expand alongside it.(less)

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Mar 29, 2010 Mark rated it 3 of 5 stars

A utopia founded on the premise that efficiencies of mass production can be applied at community level to deliver a surfeit & thereby create free time, which is the singular luxury underlying all others, enabling the community a rich and rewarding life.

A quick introductory note that I am reviewing this book for its ideas, more than it's literary merit, which I'd agree with others is marginal. You likely won't read this because you want a fun utopia story, but rather because you want to thin...more A utopia founded on the premise that efficiencies of mass production can be applied at community level to deliver a surfeit & thereby create free time, which is the singular luxury underlying all others, enabling the community a rich and rewarding life.

A quick introductory note that I am reviewing this book for its ideas, more than it's literary merit, which I'd agree with others is marginal. You likely won't read this because you want a fun utopia story, but rather because you want to think. (Just the opposite of the motivation you might want to bring to, say, The Fountainhead.)

I believe he misses a critical point, which is that technology and industrialism, (which tack he eschews in this small scale communal economic model) can create, and indeed even when this book was written, had already long since created and surpassed the incremental multiplier of human efficiency Skinner hypothesizes as needful to enable his utopia. In Walden 2, much effort goes into describing the optimized round-the-clock kitchens which create meals for just 2/3 the work you would in your own home. (...this is approximate, the book is not in my hands.) The kitchens are just exemplary; that saved effort appears in every aspect of work, and adds up to delectable indolence, artistic expression, conversation, enlightenment: all the good things. Well enough. I buy it entirely.

Why then is my point a crux problem for Skinner? Because the fundamental enabler of his nirvana has already been delivered into our hands, and we Have Not Availed Ourselves Of It! Our muscles ARE leveraged, by fuel; we are all many times more productive than our pre-industrial ancestors. Yet instead of writing poetry and eating grapes, we still work all the time, so that we may consume more. Some few individuals check out, work just enough to relax (almost constantly!) in sufficiency instead of slaving to relax in plush luxury for two weeks a year.

I suppose my key conclusion is that Skinner's utopia may well work, but we basically seem not to want it. Is it not there for the enjoying right now? Why are there no takers? I think our work ethic is genetic, possibly vestigial, but nonetheless fundamental. Enough! I gotta get back to work...(less)

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Nov 30, 2008 Judy rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Judy by: can't recall

Shelves: desert-island

This was one of those very impactful stories I read during college (not as an assignment). Skinner creates a modern Utopia, in this story first published in 1948. The story is told as a visitor goes to the "commune" (I don't know how else to describe it), and he is shown around and various aspects of the society are described, discussed, observed, explained, and experienced. It was very fascinating to me as a young adult, to read a story in which many of our negative and violent behaviors are am...more

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Feb 24, 2010 David rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: social-studies

Written in 1948. I was six years old. If you don't know who B.F.Skinner is look him up before you read it. It is a fascinating tale of a fictional attempt at a utopian society. The story is a thinly disquised cover for a series of monologues (not by the protagonist) on the virtues of the manufactured society (cult?). If you have an interest in sociology and the formation or adaptation (influence) of social groups, you will find this interesting.

You may also be interested in books by David May.

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Feb 12, 2009 Charles rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: classics

As a novel, this is not a wonderfully written book. But as a fictional expansion on B. F. Skinner's idea of a utopian society, it is extremely interesting and extremely important. Skinner lays out his idea of a world in which all behavior is guided by clearly stated reinforcement.

Skinner makes the point in his writings, that we are all completely controlled by our world of reinforcement and punishment, but that we like to imagine that we have free will. This books lays out that thinking in a no...more

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Jan 05, 2009 Kenny Johnson added it

In the mid 20th century many efforts were made to establish Utopian communes to usurp the dregs of standard society. This book attempts to cover the reasoning and methods to establish such a place, in respects to contemporary solutions to modern day living. However the book covers a pro/con balanced argument thru its characters but sometimes can leave you feeling like you're reading one long argument. Not written to sway opinion either way rather it's meant to bring these issues to light for the...more

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Nov 28, 2012 Dutch rated it 2 of 5 stars

A very dialogue-heavy book that is somewhat dated giving suggestion of what a utopic world would be like. That aside, the cult of Walden Two must have been something that kept Skinner busy with creating in his mind and putting to paper--it couldn't have been easy.

To sit and idealize what would be the best world to live in, create unforseeable problems, and correct them all within one novel is quite remarkable, but in modern times, there are many things left out. What would Walden Three be like?...more

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Apr 27, 2012 Benjamin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Hated the writing. Dog-eared about 20 relevant passages. Skinner's critique of politics was dead-on. The world apparently has not changed since 1948, Skinner says everything I've been shouting to people about. Namely, people aren't fit to govern themselves. 4-hour work days could be more efficient because people wouldn't be exhausted. People still aren't taught how to learn anything. Society doesn't scientifically test any of its values, and neither do politicians.

And most importantly, it's poss...more Hated the writing. Dog-eared about 20 relevant passages. Skinner's critique of politics was dead-on. The world apparently has not changed since 1948, Skinner says everything I've been shouting to people about. Namely, people aren't fit to govern themselves. 4-hour work days could be more efficient because people wouldn't be exhausted. People still aren't taught how to learn anything. Society doesn't scientifically test any of its values, and neither do politicians.

And most importantly, it's possible to force someone to do something without them being aware that they're being forced. No one complains about how awesome it is to be rewarded with a stimulus. And nobody notices they're being manipulated.

Look at today: we have increasingly cool gadgets to buy but no one questions the value of these products in the long run. My computer makes my life easier but accordingly I end up shaping my life around my computer like a rat hangs out at his bar-press for more food pellets. Our behavior, how society, that is, how businesses want us to behave is completely planned out for us and we follow that plan to the best of our ability just to receive that reward and we thank the company for the innovation. Instead of getting pissed we're obese, sedentary, overworked and drugged out of our minds.

Where's the art, music, and literature our leisure class produces? Nowhere. If you want something new look in the past because every idea today has been recycled, processed and stripped of nutritive value.

Why? Because the leisure class with its infinite resources is too busy pushing the pleasure bar to produce anything new. We've been castrated of our creativity, and we're shooting blanks.

Anyway, terrible writing, boring plot, incredible concept. This is B. Fing Skinner. He practically invented positive re-inforcement and operant conditioning. There's some juicy stuff in this book, even if it is a philosophical wank.

Last critique: he never addresses how creepy it is to experiment on people, even if they are willing. (less)

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Jan 28, 2012 Chris Watkins rated it 1 of 5 stars

An appalling and unrealistic view of a utopian society, rejecting personal liberty and democracy, based on the author's belief in behavioralism, rather than on a real understanding of human nature.

There may have been some good ideas in there as well, but mainly it described a stifling environment. Surely it's obvious that the vast majority of people do not want to surrender their autonomy? The book description (viewable on Amazon and elsewhere) for Living Walden Two by Hilke Kuhlmann states that...more

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Dec 28, 2011 Aaron Slack rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: science

Brave New World Lite. Walden Two is a novel about a hypothetical scientifically-planned utopian community based upon Skinner's research. The overall premise is that most of society's problems stem from people being unhappy, alcoholism to cite an example. Have society train it's members to be happy, and the problems like divorce and drug-abuse go away mostly by themselves. How is this training accomplished? Power is placed in the hands of a few highly-trained sociologists who engineer the communi...more Brave New World Lite. Walden Two is a novel about a hypothetical scientifically-planned utopian community based upon Skinner's research. The overall premise is that most of society's problems stem from people being unhappy, alcoholism to cite an example. Have society train it's members to be happy, and the problems like divorce and drug-abuse go away mostly by themselves. How is this training accomplished? Power is placed in the hands of a few highly-trained sociologists who engineer the community so as to have the highest amount of happiness with the least amount of work and material possessions.

Skinner apparently had a large amount of faith in the scientific method and those who use it, so long as they kept humanity's best interests in mind. How can we be sure that they will always keep humanity's best interests in mind? Why, because their own happiness depends upon it. I was not convinced. He set aside a belief in the basic goodness of man for a belief in the basic goodness of man's science.

The result is a society governed by experts. Parents, for example, are said to be largely unfit to raise their children, since they do not have the necessary scientific training to do so properly. In order for children to have the maximum amount of happiness possible, children in Walden Two are mostly separated from their birth parents and spend their childhood years with other children in a scientifically-controlled environment, where their carefully trained caregivers adjust the children's environment for optimum development. This environmental engineering largely replaces teaching per se. As someone in the early childhood field, I found this to be one of the more interesting parts of the book. A weakening of the family and strengthening of larger community bonds is a stated goal. ("It takes a village.") This is quite similar to how modern early childhood education operates - it is no longer science fiction.

Skinner wanted the results of a Brave New World without the overt force and violence. As he points out, it is possible to achieve great control over people without them knowing it using psychological and behavioral engineering. A happy populace is likely to be little interested in things like government and societal engineering; they are too busy being happy! Most people will just go along with the system. They're already happy, after all. I found all of his wonderful concepts greatly open to potential abuse were these things attempted in the real world. Why not just drug everybody happy, for example?

As a lot of other reviewers have pointed out, this book is less an actual novel then a showcasing of Skinner's ideas using a novel's format. The plot was paper-thin, but the concepts very interesting, if not especially original. Although without the physical violence, I found his vision of humanity's future no more comforting than A Brave New World or 1984, and just as open to abuse by a strategically-placed minority.
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topics	posts	views	last activity
Future of the Science of Behavior at Walden Two	1	17	Oct 26, 2009 01:14pm
Walden Two and the Outside World, Freedom vs Determinism	1	24	Oct 26, 2009 01:13pm
Politics in Walden Two	1	11	Oct 26, 2009 01:12pm
The Good Life at Walden Two	1	4	Oct 26, 2009 01:11pm
Marriage and Child-Bearing at Walden Two	1	9	Oct 26, 2009 01:10pm
Behavioral Engineering of Emotions at Walden Two	1	4	Oct 26, 2009 01:09pm
The Nursery at Walden Two	1	3	Oct 26, 2009 01:07pm

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About B.F. Skinner

Burrhus Frederic Skinner was a highly influential American psychologist, author, inventor, advocate for social reform and poet. He was the Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology at Harvard University from 1958 until his retirement in 1974. He invented the operant conditioning chamber, innovated his own philosophy of science called Radical Behaviorism, and founded his own school of experimental resea...more

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Quotes from Walden Two

“The only geniuses produced by the chaos of society are those who do something about it. Chaos breeds geniuses. It offers a man something to be a genius about.” — 22 people liked it

“No one asks how to motivate a baby. A baby naturally explores everything it can get at, unless restraining forces have already been at work. And this tendency doesn't die out, it's wiped out.” — 20 people liked it

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