Brave New World

nobody@vox.com(Chezz - C'Tack!) — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 10:45:01 +1000

Far in the future, the World Controllers have created the ideal society. Through clever use of genetic engineering, brainwashing and recreational sex and drugs all its members are happy consumers. Bernard Marx longs to break free. A visit to the Savage Reservations where the old, life still continues, may be the cure for his distress.

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Nineteen Eighty-Four

nobody@vox.com(Chezz - C'Tack!) — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 10:41:45 +1000

Despite the title of the book, Nineteen Eighty-Four (also referred to as 1984)was actually first released more than 50 years ago, way back in 1949, just 4 years after World War II was over. Considering the time period, it was a pretty bold move for George Orwell to write such a book as it contains many radical ideas and themes. It generated so much controversy up till the point where it was banned in several libraries around the world. However, along with a few other books, 1984 has often been cited as one of the most famous dystopian novels out there. Having not only left a profound impact on English Literature as a whole, till the point where even the author’s name is now an actual english word. “Orwellian” has come to be used to describe actions or organizations reminiscent of the totalitarian society depicted in the novel. As if adding a new word to the English dictionary wasn’t enough, 1984 has been translated into 62 other languages, so that no matter what language you read, you can still enjoy this book. As it was written in 1949, Orwell tried to depict what life would be like in the year 1984, and it is a really frightening world to live in to say the least. The story mainly focuses around the life of Winston Smith, who works at the “Ministry of Truth”. His job? To re-write history every single day. Yes, literally, he does all sorts of things, from editing a few sentences, or removing a picture from somewhere, or at times rewriting an entire newspaper article to replace the current one in the archives. All for the sake of ensuring that history is what the Party wants it to be. Furthermore, people are constantly monitored 24/7, as there are “telescreens” all over the place that serve to keep track of every action and every word that is spoken by the citizens of Oceania, which is the fictitious country this novel is set in, through cameras and microphones. They are found in every street, every building, and even every single home. People don’t even have any privacy at all when they’re in their very home. The telescreen also doubles as a television, but there is only one channel, which keeps on spewing out propaganda. Every single citizen is brainwashed to believe that the Party is something like the “almighty god”, and that whatever they do is right and nobody should ever question the authority or position of the Party. If anyone is caught having rebellious or revolutionary thoughts, or in other words committing “thoughtcrime”, they would be severely dealt with by the Thought Police. Even the children are encouraged to report their very own parents if they were found to have any anti-Party thoughts. There have been incidents whereby people just suddenly disappear from the face of the earth, without any explanation why he/she went missing, and nobody would dare or bother ask what had happened. Every single record of him/her would be erased and it would be as if the person hadn’t existed. The worst part is that the people are brainwashed till the point where the process of having sex with one’s husband or wife is merely for reproductive purposes, and is commonly referred to as the couple’s “duty to the Party” to produce even more children. That is the amazingly frightening world of 1984. It’s hard for me to really describe what the world is actually like, because the only person that can really do it is Orwell himself. I don’t want to give away any of the plot either, as it would take me too long to summarise it all anyway. Let me just state here that the plot is absolutely full of twists and there is no way at all to guess what will happen next. Anyone who reads it for the first time will definitely get many many shocks and surprises along the way. The way Orwell manages to describe everything really strikes fear into your heart if you were to imagine yourself living in such a society, where you had no freedom, no privacy, and couldn’t even think what you wanted to think. The first part of the book might be a bit boring for some, as the plot never progresses at all. Orwell describes EVERY detail about the world of 1984, from the telescreens, to the nature of the party, the Thought Police, and even Newspeak, which is a supposedly “new” form of English used in 1984. However, once he’s done with those in part one, the plot really begins to kick into high gear, as events occur one after another. Readers will definitely be engrossed in the plot and cannot wait to turn the page to find out what happens next. Yes, the plot is that good.

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The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason

nobody@vox.com(Chezz - C'Tack!) — Tue, 29 May 2007 15:23:56 +1000

Delivers an analysis of the clash of faith and reason. This book offers a historical tour of mankind's willingness to suspend reason in favour of religious beliefs, even when those beliefs are used to justify harmful behaviour and sometimes heinous crimes.

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Mindful Politics: A Buddhist Guide to Making the World a Better Place

nobody@vox.com(Chezz - C'Tack!) — Tue, 29 May 2007 15:03:55 +1000

Addressing less-discussed aspects of politics, from the potential value of religion in politics to the emotional challenges facing today's activists, a volume of essays includes pieces by such writers as Thich Nhat Hanh, Sam Harris, and bell hooks, and explores how Buddhist ideas can contribute to positive political change.

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The Aussie Pot-Bellied Pig's Sty

Brave New World

Nineteen Eighty-Four

The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason

Mindful Politics: A Buddhist Guide to Making the World a Better Place