Harrison Weinstein

An odd piece of science-fiction unlike most in its genre, Huxley has created a social commentary through Brave New World's depiction of short thrills, artificial comfort, and an uncomfortable sense of orderliness. The entire caste system in BNW's society uses intense conditioning from an early age to promote loyalty to the World Order, removal of long attachments such as parenthood, and having the right mindset and physical attributes for predetermined work. While suspension of disbelief is usually needed with science-fiction and dystopia novels, Brave New World feels a little too ridiculous; it's hard to take its message seriously when its society praises Henry Ford as its God and promotes mass sex. I do believe that its message of modern societies whittling away meaningful relationships and personal lives is a good one that the book is mostly successful in conveying, but besides its uniqueness, the book isn't really that special.