Brave New World

By Aldous Huxley

Book Overview

Now more than ever: Aldous Huxley's enduring masterwork must be read and understood by anyone concerned with preserving the human spirit"A masterpiece. . . . One of the most prophetic dystopian... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060929871
• ISBN13: 9780060929879
• Release Date: September 1998
• Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics
• Length: 268 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.7" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Wrong book sent

I received the wrong book.

“O brave new world that has such people in't!” – Miranda （The Tempest）

O wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world That has such people in't! –Miranda The Tempest Act 5, scene 1, 181–184 In a world where everyone knows their purpose and is alike, is being different a blessing or a curse? We are treated to a glimpse of a possible future world where friendship can still exist. This is a story of a handful of individuals in a world that emphasizes "Community, Identity, Stability" who find each other and discuss subjects that most of the people of that time could not understand. However, we do. Naturally, the author Aldous Huxley builds his scenarios and draws his conclusions through the characters' speeches and descriptions of experimental history. Bernard Marx, who is about to lose his job because he is different (quite different) from those around him, decides to take a vacation to visit the Zunis. There, he meets a misplaced person named John. Together with the help of Bernard's friend Henry, they intend to change the world. Soon, they discover that the world is incapable of changing. We receive an Ayn Rand-esque speech from Mustapha Mond, one of the world controllers, which helps us realize that in this brave new world, the three friends are the anomaly. How can this enigma be solved? Now look for “Brave New World” (TV Movie, 1998), starring Peter Gallagher and Leonard Nimoy as Mustapha Mond. Also, a three-hour (1980) TV Movie version starring Julie Cobb, Bud Cort, and Keir Dullea.

Great book

My history teacher suggested this book to me and I’m glad I took his advice and read it. Probably one of the best books I’ve ever read.

Excellent book

I will admit that I do like 1984 better, but Brave New World is excellent in its own right. My copy was in excellent condition. I think most thinking people should take note of any of these dystopian books and compare them to today's political climate and how close we are to their content. The only one of its kind I disliked was We and that I thought was meh.

Wrong edition.

I did not receive the edition that I ordered, nor the condition that I ordered. The spine of this book I received is broken. Very disappointing.

Good, but..

The book itself is amazing! But the copy I received had a lot of highlighting and writing in it that made it hard to focus on the actual book itself, and not the distracting colors and words written ALL OVER THE PAGES.

Snoozefest, and came in very poor condition

I have recently been very interested in cult classics and dystopian novels. I had heard wonderful things about this book and was so very excited to read it, but I really struggled with staying interested. The first chapter felt like I was reading a biology book and then the rest of the book I was really just going through the motions. I felt deeply unsatisfied, especially because I paid $13 for a "Good" quality book, but when I received it the cover and back were nearly falling off the spine, and the pages were very stiff. Normally, I really enjoy older looking books, but for $13? Just not a great experience with this book. I'd highly recommend looking for something else in the same vein.

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.

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.