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Brave New World

A chilling vision of a controlled future society

Aldous Huxley author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Vintage Publishing

Published:6th Dec '07

£9.99

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Brave New World cover

Aldous Huxley's Brave New World offers a thought-provoking glimpse into a future society prioritizing pleasure over individuality, raising critical questions about happiness and freedom.

In Brave New World, Aldous Huxley presents a chilling vision of a future society that prioritizes stability and happiness above all else. Set in New London, this dystopian world is characterized by the absence of traditional values such as monogamy, privacy, and family. Instead, the citizens are conditioned to embrace a life of superficial pleasure, aided by the use of a drug called Soma, which dulls their emotions and enhances their sense of contentment. The narrative explores the implications of a society that sacrifices individuality and freedom for the sake of collective happiness.

The novel delves into the consequences of a highly controlled environment, where personal connections and historical context have been erased to maintain harmony. Huxley's portrayal of this brave new world raises profound questions about the nature of happiness and the cost of a utopian society. Through his characters, the author illustrates the dangers of complacency and the loss of critical thought in the face of overwhelming societal pressure to conform.

Brave New World remains a relevant and provocative work, prompting readers to reflect on the balance between technological advancement and human values. With its sharp social commentary and vivid imagery, the book serves as a cautionary tale about the potential pitfalls of sacrificing individuality for the sake of societal peace and stability.

It is impossible to read Brave New World without being impressed by Huxley's eerie glimpses into the present * New Statesman *
The 20th century could be seen as a race between two versions of man-made hell - the jackbooted state totalitarianism of Orwell's Nineteen Eight-Four, and the hedonistic ersatz paradise of Brave New World, where absolutely everything is a consumer good and human beings are engineered to be happy -- Margaret Atwood * Guardian *
Aldous Huxley was uncannily prophetic, a more astute guide to the future than any other 20th century novelist ... Nineteen Eighty-Four has never really arrived, but Brave New World is around us everywhere -- JG Ballard
A brilliant tour de force, Brave New World may be read as a grave warning of the pitfalls that await uncontrolled scientific advance. Full of barbed wit and malice-spiked frankness. Provoking, stimulating, shocking and dazzling * Observer *
The most prophetic book of the 20th century... If you have time for just one book, this would be my top choice. -- Yuval Noah Harari
What Aldous Huxley presented as fiction with the human hatcheries of BraveNew World has become fact. The consequences are profound and, if we don't get it right, deeply disturbing -- John Humphrys * Sunday Times *

ISBN: 9780099518471

Dimensions: 197mm x 128mm x 17mm

Weight: 205g

288 pages