Brave New World and Brave New World Revisited [Paperback]

Aldous Huxley (Author), Christopher Hitchens (Foreword)

Book Description

Release date: July 5, 2005

"Aldous Huxley is the greatest 20th century writer in English." —Chicago Tribune

Aldous Huxley is rightly considered a prophetic genius and one of the most important literary and philosophical voices of the 20th Century, and Brave New World is his masterpiece. From the author of The Doors of Perception, Island, and countless other works of fiction, non-fiction, philosophy, and poetry, comes this powerful work of speculative fiction that has enthralled and terrified readers for generations. Brave New World remains absolutely relevant to this day as both a cautionary dystopian tale in the vein of the George Orwell classic 1984, and as thought-provoking, thoroughly satisfying entertainment.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“One of the most important books to have been published since the war.”
—Daily Telegraph

“Such ingenious wit, derisive logic and swiftness of expression, Huxley’s resources of sardonic invention have never been more brilliantly displayed.”
—The Times --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

The astonishing novel Brave New World, originally published in 1932, presents Aldous Huxley's vision of the future -- of a world utterly transformed. Through the most efficient scientific and psychological engineering, people are genetically designed to be passive and therefore consistently useful to the ruling class. This powerful work of speculative fiction sheds a blazing critical light on the present and is considered to be Huxley's most enduring masterpiece.

Following Brave New World is the nonfiction work Brave New World Revisited, first published in 1958. It is a fascinating work in which Huxley uses his tremendous knowledge of human relations to compare the modern-day world with the prophetic fantasy envisioned in Brave New World, including threats to humanity, such as overpopulation, propaganda, and chemical persuasion.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics (July 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060776099
• ISBN-13: 978-0060776091
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (81 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,527 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > Literature & Fiction > British

More About the Author

Aldous Huxley (1894-1963) is the author of the classic novels Island, Eyeless in Gaza, and The Genius and the Goddess, as well as such critically acclaimed nonfiction works as The Devils of Loudun, The Doors of Perception, and The Perennial Philosophy. Born in Surrey, England, and educated at Oxford, he died in Los Angeles.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#20 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Classics

#30 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction

#71 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Science Fiction

#76 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy

#20 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Classics

#30 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction

#71 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Science Fiction

#76 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 83 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best In-Print Edition of Huxley's Controversial Classic! April 27, 2006

By K. Wilson

Format:Paperback

Huxley's classic tale of future dystopia seems to become more relevant with the passing of time. At its' original time of publication, some of the novel's social commentary was safety masked inside science fiction.

Today's readers may relate more to Huxley's vision of over medicated, over-sexed consumerism. With topics like genetics, DNA testing and stem-cell research constantly in the news... perhaps the yuppies of today aren't so far off from the Alpha's of the future.

The edition includes the novel, Brave New World, with the non-fiction work, Brave New World Revisted. This content is prefaced by a truly interesting foreword that offers some insights into Huxley's life and experiences. This edition also benefits from a psotscript section which includes interviews, commentary and a letter Huxley wrote to George Orwell (author of 1984).

47 of 51 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars They don't get much better than this! August 20, 2001

By David Robinson

Format:Paperback

You *MUST* read this book!

Huxley wrote a masterpiece of a book in "Brave New World". "Brave New World Revisited" is a fantastic critical analysis of "BNW", how it differs with Orwell's "1984", and the world as Huxley saw it some 30 after the book debuted. His commentary and social criticism cut deep, and this cautionary tale is perhaps more applicable today than it has ever been (as evidenced in George W. Bush's reference to "BNW" in his speech concerning government funding of stem cell research).

This surely is an important book.

The amazing thing is, though, that even as such, it is a thrill to read. The dialogue is snappy, the narration rich, and the scenarios hilarious and frightening -- often at the same time. This is SF at its best. This is SF as literature.

I cannot sing the praises of "BNW" highly enough. I will waste no more of your time talking about it -- use it to read this book instead!

Recommended for: Everyone (even those who don't normally read SF)

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book that questions government control March 4, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I am a high school student who studied this book for an English independent study. It is one of the most intriguing books I have ever read. It is written as a futuristic prediction of what the world might be like if the progess of science and governmental control are not checked. The theory of the government in Brave New World is that in order to ensure a stable society (Utopia) the individual must not exist. I strongly recommend this book as it provokes serious critical thought on the part of the reader.

30 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A gramme is better than a damn, Aldous October 16, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

It's not as pessimistic as "1984" nor as cleverly metaphorical as "Animal Farm", but I hold both "Brave New World" and its cousin, the non-fiction analysis of Huxley's text ("Brave New World Revisited") higher in my esteem than either.

Huxley himself was a brilliant man (what else can u expect, descending from Darwin's Bulldog himself?), and BNW is a brilliant novel. It's my favourite kind of book, just bursting at the seams with ideas and thoughts and theories, and told craftily through the eyes of a cast of intriguing characters.

Because, aside from being a brilliant novel, such fantastic three-dimensional creations as Bernard Marx, Helmholtz Watson, Lenina Crowne and John the Savage will win you over forever. That's what makes this prophetic combination of BNW and BNWR so effective; the first shows you a startling vision of the future, and how it affects a wonderful cast you'll come to love; the second is a thought-provoking analysis written some years later, considering just how far the world has progressed towards achieving that 'utopia'. All kids should read this book at some stage. After all, we're the future (apparently), and this is a memorable example of what we do NOT want it to become.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than 1984! November 15, 2005

By Wayward Son

Format:Paperback

This was a novel that I had wanted to read for years and years, but could never seem to get around to it. I was not disappointed. This is a brilliant satire of a world where population control and social programming are taken to the extreme. All of the citizens are happy. The pursuit of pleasure and conformity are the goals in life. Mindless consumption is encouraged and people never age. If you have any troubles, don't worry, just take some soma. How could there be anything wrong with a society where happiness, sex and drugs are in overwhelming abundance? There is a loss of individualism, caring, passion, creativity and history among other things. George Orwell's 1984 was a great dystopian novel, but this novel written more than 70 years ago is, in my opinion, a greater warning. I am sure that Huxley would look at society today with complete disgust as we move closer and closer to his nightmare.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars cautionary October 30, 2000

By Orrin C. Judd VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Welcome to a future where everybody's happy. Independent thought and feelings have been banished and genetic engineering, brain washing and drugs keep the population docile and comfortable. But several characters dare to ask the question, "Wouldn't you like to be free to be happy in your own way?"

Huxley has isolated the fundamental conflict in Human History--the conflicting impulses towards Security and Freedom. In the Brave New World, the impulse towards Security has won and there is no Freedom.

The problem for advocates of Freedom is that it includes the freedom to be unhappy. For this reason, many find it unattractive and the fight for Freedom is always an uphill struggle. At the time that Huxley and George Orwell were writing, it seemed entirely possible that Socialism, Communism & Fascism and all of the ism's that promise Security would vanquish Freedom. We are fortunate to live at a time when Freedom is resurgent, but Brave New World is a cautionary tale about what's at stake in the struggle.

GRADE: A