This Perfect Day: A Novel [Hardcover]

Ira Levin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1970

Set 150 years after the unification of the nations, Chip fights a desperate battle for freedom in a world benumbed by chemistry and computerization. Chip's grandfather, Papa Jan, first wakens him to a sense of his individuality and later other people crucially affect Chip's life.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Marvelously entertaining. A cross between Brave New World and Doctor No.” —Look Magazine

 

“Ira Levin’s brave new world is populated by eight billion members of The Family. Life is planned and programmed from birth through death by UniComp, the supercomputer down inside the earth.” —New York Times Book Review

 

“Ira Levin’s brave new world.” —New York Times Book Review

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

About the Author

Ira Levin is the author of The Boys from Brazil, Rosemary’s Baby, Son of Rosemary, The Stepford Wives, This Perfect Day, Sliver, and A Kiss Before Dying (for which he won the Edgar Award). Levin was also the recipient of three Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Awards. His website is iralevin.org.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 309 pages
• Publisher: Random House (June 1970)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394448588
• ISBN-13: 978-0394448589
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (107 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #953,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Levin tale of a strange future, August 21, 2002

By 

Gary M. Greenbaum (Fairfax, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: This Perfect Day (Mass Market Paperback)

This underrated cult classic tells us of a future where there is no "selfishness, aggressiveness, or greed" Each is given what he needs, each gives all he can. And all this is enforced by monthly injections or "treatments", and administered by a worldwide computer called Uni.

Our hero, Chip, is born into this culture. But in childhood, he is influenced by his strange (by their standards) grandfather, who dies at at about the same age that everyone seems to, and as an adult, comes under the influence of a group of mild rebels. But Chip seeks more. And exactly why does a map in a historical museum show islands not shown on current world maps?

A fine book, which grapples with the questions of life, liberty, and self-will, and leaves you to find your own answer at the end. Highly recommended.

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Perfect Day by Ira Levin, January 24, 2006

By 

Marci (Phila) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Perfect Day: A Novel (Hardcover)

At age 58 I cannot remember when I first read this book. It's not that I am losing my mind, but it was that long ago. I have haunted used book stores, flea markets and online, and have bought several hard backs and soft backs so that I am not without a copy of this book (Does this ring of the movie "Conspiracy Theory and the Catcher in the Rye"). I also shared this book with my daughter who is not as much a reader as I am and she loved it too. I cannot understand why this book has not been brought back into print, used as mandatory reading in school and also perhaps made into a movie. Ira Levin has had other books made into movies. I am not going review the story but is there anyone out there who wants it not to end when it does? I have read this book once a year for years and like a small child, keep thinking something will click and I will see whether life on the Island will improve once Chip returns...how will the untreated survive... Also I think that Chip and others due to small differences than the norm are more liable to rebel and this is what the powers that be (Programers, is that what they call themselves...hmmm) were watching for.
As a child I was a science fiction freak and I still love it if I can find a good futuristic society book such as "Beggers In Spain" and now I am a Stephen King/horror/mystery freak. But what can I say, ask me what my favorite book is and it will always be, THIS PERFECT DAY!!!

85 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Christ, Marx, Wood and Wei / Led us to this perfect day.", March 30, 2001

By 

John S. Ryan "Scott Ryan" (Cuyahoga Falls, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: This Perfect Day: A Novel (Hardcover)

How can this book possibly be out of print?

For anyone who hasn't read it yet: it belongs alongside _A Clockwork Orange_ among the great literary portrayals of individualism-vs.-collectivism. (I've never been much of a fan of either _1984_ or _Brave New World_, which are usually listed as the top two. And Ayn Rand's annoying novella _Anthem_ is just . . . well, annoying.)

It is the tale of a lad named Chip, in a future world in which the great socialist dream has finally been realized. Preferring one person to another is a sign of social maladjustment. "Fight" is a dirty word; "f**k" is just the usual term for an activity no more important than sleeping or urination. Everyone is told what to do by "Uni," the great computer that organizes society and keeps track of everyone's location via electronic bracelet. (And one of the dirtiest, most maladjusted and antisocial expressions anyone can utter is "Fight Uni.")

There is, in short, no more "juice": all the oranges are clockwork now. Until . . . ah, but that would spoil things, wouldn't it?

So ATLAS SHRUGGED is still chugging along on the best-seller lists, turning unwitting victims into narcissistic misunderstood geniuses -- but this brilliant novel is out of print. What's wrong with this picture?

I'm sure glad I still have my old hardcover copy.