I finally got round to reading.......1984

[Board Game Geek]

Rarely have I ever found a book so compelling, so insightful, so frightening and so damn close to modern day politics than this. The fact that it was written over 50 years ago is a testament to Orwell's deep understanding of the working of politics and how it would evolve in the UK, and beyond.

I'm still reeling.

If you haven't read it, or seen the film, I honestly beseech you to get the book. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Unless you are hoping for some hot snail-on-snail action. As it doesn't have any.

The book explains so much about the machinery of power and control, and its use and abuse by the State to achieve the State's objectives. It also explains quite convincingly how the people let this happen and do not offer resistance.

Off to read Animal Farm next.....(the book not the, ahem, "movie")

[cojak]

If you're into doom and gloom, try Brave New World. I read that and 1984 back-to-back many years ago and was depressed for weeks...

[xoggoth]

Yes, we let it happen because we have forgotten how to be violent. "Violence never solves anything" Stupidest saying ever. Nothing was ever gained without either the reality or the threat of it.

[threaded]

After those may I suggest: Plato, Last Days of Socrates, and Herodotus, Histories. Then you'll see that none of this is new, and Xoggoth is correct, the only way to clean up such a mess is for good people to get violent.

[thunderlizard]

The other bit of eerily prescient Orwell that often gets trotted out is his essay on "Politics and the English Language". Just in case you haven't come across it.
tl

[TheMonkey]

Animal Farm describes Labour rule perfectly.

[OrangeHopper]

I enjoyed the shortened version with the young women running up the cinema aisle throwing a large hammer at the screen.

[Denny]

Rarely have I ever found a book so compelling, so insightful, so frightening and so damn close to modern day politics than this. The fact that it was written over 50 years ago is a testament to Orwell's deep understanding of the working of politics and how it would evolve in the UK, and beyond.

I'm still reeling.

If you haven't read it, or seen the film, I honestly beseech you to get the book. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Unless you are hoping for some hot snail-on-snail action. As it doesn't have any.

The book explains so much about the machinery of power and control, and its use and abuse by the State to achieve the State's objectives. It also explains quite convincingly how the people let this happen and do not offer resistance.

Off to read Animal Farm next.....(the book not the, ahem, "movie")

Much as I love 1984 and AF, his best works are undoubtedly his inter-war essays. Notes on Nationalism, Lion and the Unicorn particularly stand out for me. However, there are loads to get your teeth into.

Do read them.

[Denny]

The other bit of eerily prescient Orwell that often gets trotted out is his essay on "Politics and the English Language". Just in case you haven't come across it.
tl

Brilliant. I've read it too. It's hilarious the way he pulls apart convoluted writing styles that ramble on but say nothing in particular or just confuse the reader.

[bogeyman]

Brilliant. I've read it too. It's hilarious the way he pulls apart convoluted writing styles that ramble on but say nothing in particular or just confuse the reader.

I particularly like his treatment of the 'not un-' construct. e.g. "it is not unknown".

However, enjoyable though the essay is, he does verge on suggesting that any subtly and shades of meaning should be removed (is "not unknown" really the same as "known"? - I don't think so. There is a subtle extra meaning in the former).

If you eradicted every one of his pet annoyances from the English language then you'd end up with something resembling Newspeak.

Personally, I just think he was just trying to be provocative and entertaining.