Brave New World: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love to Read

[Steve]

I used to hate reading when I was a kid, except for when it was "cool" to read, like Harry Potter. Then, senior year of High School, we had British Lit and we had to write a 5-page paper on a book from the reading list.

So, one day my sister found the reading list and asked me what it was. I told her, and she said that I should read this "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley. I took her advice and started reading it. I was psyched to write that paper! I loved it! So I wrote about how Huxley tries to say that when all of your worries are taken away, your aspirations are too.

I reread it during Freshman year of college and found myself even more awed than last time. I decided that I wanted to read more. Naturally, it's still a favorite.

Anyone else just completely astounded by Huxley's boundless insight?

[Raphael]

Hi Steve.
I also read Brave New World last year. It came as a suggestion from the afterword of my 1984 edition.
I liked it very much too, and every now and then I see some things Huxley "predicted" happening today.
However, 1984 is still my favorite and perhaps the most powerful and shocking book I ever read.

I saw that you've read 1984 too. Did you liked it?

Cheers,

[Steve]

I absolutely loved 1984, with the exception of the entirety of Part Two. It came across as a complete detour, from this story about political subterfuge in a totalitarian state to a forbidden romance carried out in the slums. I didn't really see a point. It wasn't boring, just out of place.

The rest of the book, however, is impeccably written, with an expert examination of the elements of a totalitarian state, and the emotions of being beneath such a rule. One line that always sticks out goes something to the effect of : "He who controls the past controls the future, he who controls the present controls the past." (I wish I had my copy to make sure that's correct) And I didn't realize what it was really taking about until that Texas school curriculum controversy. Just really enlightening how, even in democracy, someone can increase their political power just through the history they teach.

[Bevin Kutluoglu]

This book was brilliant & inspired. Stumbled onto it in high school -- grade 12 English was "Dystopia" & we read Brave New World, The Handmaid's Tale, 1984 & probably more I'm forgetting.

Check out the movie 12 Monkeys -- I remember my project for the year was drawing parallels between the movie & the course texts.

Steve, your favourite line of 1984 is also my favourite line in Rage Against the Machine's 'Testify.'

Also, I just finished Shades of Grey, which totally brought to mind Brave New World & 1984, but with a lighter spirit (if you can believe it).

I guess what I'm saying, in referencing all of these other bits of media is that these two novels have had a profound effect on many, leaving an indelible mark on popular culture. Would you agree?

[Steve]

When I watched 12 Monkeys, I had just had surgery, and I had so many painkillers in my system that it just came across as a bad trip. I don't even remember what it was about (I think it involved time travel?)

Also, I'm curious as to how Shades of Grey invoked similar imagery. I'm a little bit skeptical, but I'd like to hear.

Yeah, those two did have a profound cultural impact, especially when you consider that terms like "Big Brother" have entered the public vernacular. What really disappoints me is that We by Yevgeny Zamyatin, which inspired both Brave New World and 1984 is such an overlooked book, despite being as well written as both. Then again, I have a soft spot for Soviet literature, and I suspect that a reactionist attitude against communism blocked the popularity of soviet literature, even when the literature was counter-revolutionary (I bought a used copy of We online, and I ended up with an edition from the 50's, impeccable condition when you consider it's age, and the author was listed as Eugene Zamiatin. A clear attempt to westernize his name, and something I couldn't appreciate for another year.) Still, if you like the dystopias, give it a shot, the influences drawn are clear as day.

[Bevin Kutluoglu]

Well, I'd like to make sure you notice that I'm referencing Jasper Fforde's Shades of Grey -- not the book that women worldwide seem to be crazed over.

So in Fforde's world, there's basically a caste system set up, based on what colours one can see -- if I recall correctly, some sort of system (obviously not based on colour) like this existed in Brave New World. Those who can't see colour are called Greys. How they see the world is very much how I see the 1984 world -- shades of grey, no colour or brightness anywhere. There's also a Council that watches over the residents & if they're bad, they are sent for reprogramming, similar to being sent to Room 101. Finally, there's a girl (there's always a girl), who doesn't quite march to the society's drum, hence leading our protagonist into the action of the story.

I'd be into trying We; can you recommend a good translation? This is why I'm late getting into Russian literature: I've read a few bad translations & the awkwardness of the language just destroyed the stories for me. But when I find a good translation ... man, those cats could write!

[Steve]

My mistake, I was indeed thinking about the popular erotica novel.

So after scouring the internet, I found that my edition of We was the original Zilboorg english translation. I personally found the translation completely acceptable. The book itself is, in story, written by a mathematician, not a writer, and Zilboorg's translation captures that without making the language dull. However, Zilboorg's translation isn't held with much esteem by the academics, since he wasn't a translator by trade, but rather, a psychoanalyst.

If I'm not mistaken, I think it's Mirra Brown that also has a translation, and I haven't read her translation of We, but I think she may have been the one who translated the edition of The Master And Margarita that I own. If that's the case, then I'd expect her translation to be good as well, but that's pure speculation.

Another fascinating (although admittedly shallow) contribution to this genre is Anthem by Ayn Rand. It's the only Ayn Rand I've had the stomach to read, despite the fact that I enjoyed it (sorry to any Rand fans, but I still stick to my position that she was a woman in need of an editor.) It's enjoyable, I just feel like all the messages are right there at the surface.

[Steve]

Scratch that, The Master and Margarita edition was Mirra Ginsburg, not Mirra Brown, sorry.

[Bevin Kutluoglu]

Definitely will look for these! Thanks Steve!

[Steve]

No problem! Glad my nerdy dystopia love came in handy.

[Rachael]

Sorry, I know this thread is from a million years ago but to drag it up again I absolutely love this book. I found it a lot more 'human' than 1984. Orwell sort of just deals with the followers and the resistance as groups who are all much the same within those groups. However, Huxley actually deals with the people who are happy to go along with the details of their 'paradise'. Orwell is completely dismissive of the followers, Huxley explores them. I thought this was brilliant, because in the end I daresay that if one of these circumstances were actually to eventuate that is the category that the vast majority of readers would fall into. It is confronting when Huxley actually delves into the psyche of the general population, and to see your own likely response to indoctrination is nonplussing and powerful.

The conflict of pessimists is which of the alternate realities will prevail. To contrast modern society with both works is also very interesting. One can chart civilization's journey from a world living in fear and taking extreme precautions against communist and totalitarian rule to a world of rampant promiscuity and recreational recreational drug use; to see the world take steps in the direction of what we have identified to be dystopic in literature (yet refuse to recognise as such when it becomes our reality) is deeply disquieting and yet, a perversely interesting spectacle.

Thanks for the venting opportunity!

[Diana]

I read one time that Huxley and Orwell gave to very different pictures of the future. And it was starting to look like Huxley got it right. With what is happening in our society today is see their point. the obsession with entertainment. The disappearing of the traditional family unit. The Changing morals. The growing control big business has of our culture. In many ways it is looking more and more like Brave New World.

[Bevin Kutluoglu]

Diana wrote: "I read one time that Huxley and Orwell gave to very different pictures of the future. And it was starting to look like Huxley got it right. With what is happening in our society today is see their..."

Such an interesting idea, Diana! I definitely am due to reread BNW, so perhaps I'll approach it with this theory in mind. Should make for an interesting read, to be sure.

I'm wondering if anyone's read Atlas Shrugged & has any thoughts on how it fits in. I've got some ideas, but if no one's read it ... well, I won't spoil it for you!

[Jaerith]

One of the more memorable quotes from the book:

"And if ever, by some unlucky chance, anything unpleasant should somehow happen, why, there's always soma to give you a holiday from the facts. And there's always soma to calm your anger, to reconcile you to your enemies, to make you patient and long-suffering. In the past you could only accomplish these things by making a great effort and after years of hard moral training. Now, you swallow two or three half-gramme tablets, and there you are. Anybody can be virtuous now. You can carry at least half your morality about in a bottle. Christianity without tears---that's what soma is."

[Maggie the Muskoka Library Mouse]

This is one of my least favourite books. I just couldn't appreciate the story, and the characters bugged me.