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Brave New World

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Brave New World

By: Aldous Huxley
Narrated by: Michael York
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About this listen

Originally published in 1932, this outstanding work of literature is more crucial and relevant today than ever before.

“One of the most prophetic dystopian works of the 20th century”—Wall Street Journal

Cloning, feel-good drugs, antiaging programs, and total social control through politics, programming, and media—has Aldous Huxley accurately predicted our future? With a storyteller’s genius, he weaves these ethical controversies in a compelling narrative that dawns in the year 632 AF (After Ford, the deity). When Lenina and Bernard visit a savage reservation, we experience how Utopia can destroy humanity.

A powerful work of speculative fiction that has enthralled and terrified readers for generations, Brave New World is both a warning to be heeded and thought-provoking yet satisfying entertainment.

©1932 Aldous Huxley; 1998 BBC Audiobooks America (P)2003 BBC Audiobooks America Classics Dystopian Genetic Engineering Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Fiction Mind-bending Thought-Provoking Wall Street Utopian

Critic reviews

"British actor Michael York's refined and dramatic reading captures both the tone and the spirit of Huxley's masterpiece." (AudioFile)
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Bleak and excellent. An interesting thought experiment. As opposed to Orwell's "1984", in which a totalitarian government rules by fear and brutality, the Brave New World leaders remain in power by enslaving their population to unbounded, self-indulgent pleasures. All humanity is lost when grief, pain and suffering are eradicated, and the book cleverly introduces a 'savage' from an 'old world' reserve who understands the loss that the new world has undergone. Despite it's cautionary tone (that seems to be more relevant in this day and age than when it was written) I couldn't help feeling I could do with just a little bit of unbounded, self-indulgent pleasure. Huxley would turn in his grave!! Clear sound and excellently narrated.

Excellent

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Michael York makes listening to this book very easy.

The story portays a world where human engineering has advanced so far that children are grown in test tubes rather than born naturally. Distinct classes of people are manufactured in the test tube. Love and partnerships no longer exist as everyone belongs to everyone else. Subliminal teachings repeat the mantras of the new world order, ensuring stability and conformity. Drugs are freely available to wash away any hardship or stress. Gone are the writings of Shakespeare and all references to God.

But there are a few that are not content with the way of the world and look for answers to their feelings of emptiness.

The story follows these characters through their journey of self realisation and weakness, exploring the state's reaction to their outspoken views.

I really enjoyed the story and considering its age was impressed by the forward thinking.

Interesing characters and ideas of the future.

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I simply could not believe that a book as prescient as this was written in 1931 / 1932. This gets to the heart of so much that is wrong in our own era and reads like a creepy but amazing prophecy speaking into all the problems of our age.

what an amazing book!

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I read this a few years ago because I love dystopian books. I read it straight after reading 1984 and I remembered finding it a bit boring. I thought maybe it seemed less amazing just by comparison with 1984, so gave it a second go. On a second reading I still found it a bit un-enthusing. Still worth a read, but doesn't live up to the story's potential in my eyes.

I appreciate this book was written in a "different time" however it is quite sexist, in a way that other books of this age / older are not. For example the only women in the book are Lenina, the love interest who only exists in that capacity, her friend who only exists so Lenina can discuss the men with her, and then Linda who's purpose is to be hideous and unattractive. All of the important characters which have any substance to them are men. It is irking that in this future society where men and women equally promote and engage in "promiscuity" that the narrator still sees this as the women giving something away and the men taking it.

Disappointing

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Michael York is an ideal choice of narrator for Brave New World. The tone of his voice sounds convincing, as if he genuinely enjoyed reading the story. He uses various accents which are entertaining and unique. His voice is rich with a fine quality to it. I found this book hugely enjoyable.

Brave New World

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