taschenbuch, 187 pages
German language
Published July 21, 2003 by Heyne Verlag.
Fahrenheit 451 is a 1953 dystopian novel by American writer Ray Bradbury. Often regarded as one of his best works, the novel presents a future American society where books are outlawed and "firemen" burn any that are found. The book's tagline explains the title as "'the temperature at which book paper catches fire, and burns": the autoignition temperature of paper. The lead character, Guy Montag, is a fireman who becomes disillusioned with his role of censoring literature and destroying knowledge, eventually quitting his job and committing himself to the preservation of literary and cultural writings.
The novel has been the subject of interpretations focusing on the historical role of book burning in suppressing dissenting ideas for change. In a 1956 radio interview, Bradbury said that he wrote Fahrenheit 451 because of his concerns at the time (during the McCarthy era) about the threat of book burning in the United States. …
Fahrenheit 451 is a 1953 dystopian novel by American writer Ray Bradbury. Often regarded as one of his best works, the novel presents a future American society where books are outlawed and "firemen" burn any that are found. The book's tagline explains the title as "'the temperature at which book paper catches fire, and burns": the autoignition temperature of paper. The lead character, Guy Montag, is a fireman who becomes disillusioned with his role of censoring literature and destroying knowledge, eventually quitting his job and committing himself to the preservation of literary and cultural writings.
The novel has been the subject of interpretations focusing on the historical role of book burning in suppressing dissenting ideas for change. In a 1956 radio interview, Bradbury said that he wrote Fahrenheit 451 because of his concerns at the time (during the McCarthy era) about the threat of book burning in the United States. In later years, he described the book as a commentary on how mass media reduces interest in reading literature.
In 1954, Fahrenheit 451 won the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Literature and the Commonwealth Club of California Gold Medal. It later won the Prometheus "Hall of Fame" Award in 1984 and a "Retro" Hugo Award, one of a limited number of Best Novel Retro Hugos ever given, in 2004. Bradbury was honored with a Spoken Word Grammy nomination for his 1976 audiobook version.
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It is clear why this book is considered a classic. Truly a great read!
I have now read 1984, brave new world and Fahrenheit 451 and all three books were very good in their own way. Fahrenheit like 1984 is pretty violent and oppressive, but on a smaller scale, in this book the story is focused on a few different characters in a small area.
I found it quite hard to get into the story as it takes a long time for things to be explained, once I was brought up to date I enjoyed the story.
The writing style is very interesting, it almost has a jazz free-flow style to it which makes you actually start reading faster and faster, I really enjoyed these bits as it makes things feel chaotic. Here is an example of what I mean...
"One, two, three, four, five, Clarisse, Mildred, uncle, fire, sleeping tablets, men, disposable tissue, coattails, blow, wad, flush"
Imagine a world where books are outlawed. The government dictates what you know. You receive information through television and radio. Technology is everywhere, and free thinking is suppressed. Fireman no longer put out fires, instead they start them, sent out on calls to burn the homes of people who have books.
Guy Montag is a fireman. He burns books for a living. His wife, Millie, lives in a world of television and sleeping pills, and can't (or won't) break away from her technology to really connect with the world, to think, to question. Guy slowly wonders what might be in all of these books being burned. The spark of knowledge takes hold. Montag's internal revolution begins, and opens his eyes to an entirely different world.
Often thought to be a book about the dangers of government censorship, Bradbury says it is instead about how he felt television was destroying literature. …
Imagine a world where books are outlawed. The government dictates what you know. You receive information through television and radio. Technology is everywhere, and free thinking is suppressed. Fireman no longer put out fires, instead they start them, sent out on calls to burn the homes of people who have books.
Guy Montag is a fireman. He burns books for a living. His wife, Millie, lives in a world of television and sleeping pills, and can't (or won't) break away from her technology to really connect with the world, to think, to question. Guy slowly wonders what might be in all of these books being burned. The spark of knowledge takes hold. Montag's internal revolution begins, and opens his eyes to an entirely different world.
Often thought to be a book about the dangers of government censorship, Bradbury says it is instead about how he felt television was destroying literature. I can see why Bradbury feared this, and I think it's important that we always balance our advancements in technology with open thought and discourse. Don't be afraid to speak your mind and argue. Don't be afraid to be wrong. Don't be afraid to learn.
This book an important reminder of how damaging censorship can be, and how important it is to challenge the status quo. Encourage people to read. Read things you don't like. Read things that make you think. Expand your horizons. Then put down your book, and talk about it with someone. Argue, or agree, but share your thoughts. Diversity of thought is vital to maintaining a strong society of advancement and innovation.
I finished this book back in August of 1996. The story was beautifully written and its message was absolutely terrifying. The protagonist lived in a world where people were not allowed to read books because their ideas caused too much confusion. I curled up in my bed that night and thanked whatever deity I was worshiping at that time that it was just a story.
I re-read it for a book club and I am now convinced that Ray Bradbury was quite the prescient mother****er. Don't worry about the book burning...I refuse to believe that will ever happen. Besides, like Dr. Faber says, the books are not the important thing - it's the ideas they represent. But read his description of how people live: everyone's got these "seashells" (like ear buds) in their ears at night so there's constant music and noise, everyone's walls are covered in giant televisions that …
I finished this book back in August of 1996. The story was beautifully written and its message was absolutely terrifying. The protagonist lived in a world where people were not allowed to read books because their ideas caused too much confusion. I curled up in my bed that night and thanked whatever deity I was worshiping at that time that it was just a story.
I re-read it for a book club and I am now convinced that Ray Bradbury was quite the prescient mother****er. Don't worry about the book burning...I refuse to believe that will ever happen. Besides, like Dr. Faber says, the books are not the important thing - it's the ideas they represent. But read his description of how people live: everyone's got these "seashells" (like ear buds) in their ears at night so there's constant music and noise, everyone's walls are covered in giant televisions that are constantly on showing the story of a family and all their drama (reality television), people don't want to think or be unhappy, so they're always popping pills, the teens are lost with no parental guidance driving over 100 mph and running people over for fun, there's a war going on but nobody wants to talk about it and act like it has nothing to do with them. The list is endless and SO #$%!ING DISTURBING. HOW IS THIS NOT A PERFECT DESCRIPTION OF OUR SOCIETY TODAY??? This book was written in 1953!!!
Anyway, great read (even with the bouts of depression it caused). Highly recommend it.
I'm not sure what I could say about this book that other folks haven't already, specifically if you were looking for literary merits or symbolism. Which, funny enough, is just a guess since I haven't actually looked up anything previously said about this book other than it's a stand against censorship, that still holds true today.
It was given to me by a friend, and I hadn't read it before, or seen the movie, or anything of the sort--but I read it anyway.
The language is beautiful. Ray Bradbury writing is poetic and intense, and full of vague symbolism while still painting a clear picture of events. It's beautiful language that still contains point and plot, and I enjoyed it immensely.
The story is simple, and I appreciate that. It gets to the point, and Montag is sympathetic toward the end of things. It's the story of a confused man, …
I'm not sure what I could say about this book that other folks haven't already, specifically if you were looking for literary merits or symbolism. Which, funny enough, is just a guess since I haven't actually looked up anything previously said about this book other than it's a stand against censorship, that still holds true today.
It was given to me by a friend, and I hadn't read it before, or seen the movie, or anything of the sort--but I read it anyway.
The language is beautiful. Ray Bradbury writing is poetic and intense, and full of vague symbolism while still painting a clear picture of events. It's beautiful language that still contains point and plot, and I enjoyed it immensely.
The story is simple, and I appreciate that. It gets to the point, and Montag is sympathetic toward the end of things. It's the story of a confused man, trying to do the right thing, while his friends are small and his wife is unavailable. His little world explodes, and in the middle of all his crisis and focus on books, there's a bigger picture with real threats that include The Hound, a fierce mechanical beast, and a looming war. It's a good story in three parts, with a man going from curiosity to full commitment.
If I had any cause for issue, I would maybe put it on Clarisse and Beatty. A lot of their dialogue wasn't so much dialogue, as it a method of delivery to insert a quick lecture on the state of things and where they're going. It didn't detract too much, but I did notice it was like wrapping what sounded like it wanted to be a lecture to the people inside of a fiction story. Which, it may have well been.
I suppose the end point, is that the book is good, I'm glad I read it--and lecture or not, I think this applies universally. Especially the Afterward and Coda where Bradbury gets angry over the editing of book.
Worth reading, and I suggest you pick it up if you have time.
Those who don't build must burn.
I have heard of Fahrenheit 451 but knew little about it so this story came out of left field and burnt my socks off. Why hadn't I read this book earlier? I have been reading a few dystopian novels but why was this so far down on my list? If you're like me and had not read this yet correct this wrong immediately.
Great story with a dreary future that had details slowly fed to you through the read. My only regret is that I wasn't able to read this book faster because it's a quick read and definitely a page ... burner.
Well this book was somewhat of a disappointment. It seemed so dated and heavy handed. The book was written in 1951 so here was America just coming out of WWII, a world that had seen the rise of fascist governments, the A bomb! the current cold war, McCarthyism... So I guess I can understand what "the future" might have felt like to a "thinking person". Face it, coming out of the war and the atrocities of mankind, the deprivations, people hungered for entertainment, good times, distractions. It might have felt that the real thinking, feeling, creative people were few and far between as America was distracted by buying houses and having children, buying cars and tv sets, plastic drinking glasses and bunk beds...
I feel, the real message here was not that books were "bad", not that television was bad and would rot your brain like the wife Mildred's, but …
Well this book was somewhat of a disappointment. It seemed so dated and heavy handed. The book was written in 1951 so here was America just coming out of WWII, a world that had seen the rise of fascist governments, the A bomb! the current cold war, McCarthyism... So I guess I can understand what "the future" might have felt like to a "thinking person". Face it, coming out of the war and the atrocities of mankind, the deprivations, people hungered for entertainment, good times, distractions. It might have felt that the real thinking, feeling, creative people were few and far between as America was distracted by buying houses and having children, buying cars and tv sets, plastic drinking glasses and bunk beds...
I feel, the real message here was not that books were "bad", not that television was bad and would rot your brain like the wife Mildred's, but that thoughts themselves were bad. Being a contemplative, introverted person meant perhaps you were questioning "why" when you should just go with the flow, let others in charge do the thinking and worrying. Reading books might lead one to think, to question, and thus be considered dangerous. If you consider McCarthyism and all the furor and blackballing that went in the early 50's it was almost as if you weren't even allowed to THINK about other forms of government, or question the status quo. Don't think like a commie for Christ's sake be happy you're in America, the greatest country in the world! go shopping, smoke a cigarette, relax. The war is over, forget about it.
I guess that idea is still relevant today. Consume, buy, be distracted by reality tv and smart phones. Reading books is boring. You can learn all you need to know on the internet! The IDEA still holds, I just think Mr. Bradbury went about telling his story in a clunky, one dimensional way. The character weren't believable or likable. The dialogue was lame. Why was there a war that destroyed the whole town in an instant? Did I miss something other than, yes, that can happen? This might be an important book. It's just not a great book!
This is a masterfully written book about the future and how people in the future will be 'trained' to use their mind. Or perhaps not. The story tells about the adventures of fireman Guy Montag who, at a certain moment in his life, starts thinking about his life, the life of the people around him, and about what he does for a living. Once he gets a grasp on that, everything around him changes.
It's an old book (published in 1953), and it is shocking to see how many things in this book are happening now, be it not to the extent that Mr. Bradbury described in his novel. If you are interested in the ways of how censorship is applied and also like a good book, I can recommend this book.
Objectively this is a good book, I just didn't enjoy reading it very much. Probably not good for a vacation book ...
This was a re-read. I hadn't read it in over 20 years. It struck me as different from my memories.
I didn't read this in school as so many people did. I read it first in 2008 (brief "review" preserved below), and I wanted to read it again because he died last week and I thought perhaps I should give it another shake, since it's the book everyone knows him for. However, coming back to it a second time I still have the feeling that either 1) people haven't really read it, so their praise is in ignorance, or 2) I am somehow unable to understand it.
There are obvious parallels that can be made between F. 451 and today's world with it's "social media" that requires people to focus on little electronic screens to communicate with each other. That said, I think Bradbury does what all grumpy old men do and rushes to the extreme. Yes, Facebook and Twitter and website forums (not to mention BBS and #irc and …
I didn't read this in school as so many people did. I read it first in 2008 (brief "review" preserved below), and I wanted to read it again because he died last week and I thought perhaps I should give it another shake, since it's the book everyone knows him for. However, coming back to it a second time I still have the feeling that either 1) people haven't really read it, so their praise is in ignorance, or 2) I am somehow unable to understand it.
There are obvious parallels that can be made between F. 451 and today's world with it's "social media" that requires people to focus on little electronic screens to communicate with each other. That said, I think Bradbury does what all grumpy old men do and rushes to the extreme. Yes, Facebook and Twitter and website forums (not to mention BBS and #irc and USENET before them...) have created postmodern vices, but they haven't annihilated "society" in any way. Bradbury's fears about greater amounts of time being spent in virtuo, so to speak, have been realized, but the results are vastly different than he claimed — as evidenced by my friends who have posted pics on Facebook and elsewhere from marathons, Tough Mudders and mountain biking sessions in the last month. I don't mean to imply that Bradbury was predicting anything, but his conclusion that society can only be saved by a bunch of academics (with perhaps a recently converted blue collar worker) after the rest of the world destroys itself is an elitistly myopic view.
But more than the ideas, I simply don't believe the book. Montag is a hysterical character, in all that adjective's senses. He goes from maniacally spraying people's homes with kerosene to memorizing passages of the Bible in almost no time. He simply makes no sense as a character. And how exactly does one learn to read in a society that has been burning books for generations, and chastising them for even longer? I don't think an author has to completely describe a society to explore it, and often I think authors err too much the other way by over-explaining how things work, but the society should at least make some sort of internal sense.
Like I said, may I'm just unable to understand it.
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2008: Not as good as everyone seems to claim. While some of the ideas presented by Mr. Bradbury are certainly interesting, this book has not aged very well.
"Fahrenheit 451," first penned by Ray Bradbury in 1953, is another fatalistic look at a futuristic dystopia where "firemen" no longer put out fires--they start them. Written ingeniously and built upon the beautiful characterization of Guy Montag, this tiny novel has the power to invoke a call to arms in even the most stalwart of book haters. In the age of the Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble's Nook, "Fahrenheit 451" is a apocalyptic warning to the dangers of losing physical books--and the dangers of walking down such a treacherous path.
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“Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury is an immensely powerful, well-written dystopia that gets in one's mind through its deceptively simple narrative and heartfelt earnestness. A book about the dangers of censorship and modern-mass culture, it is just as reason...ant today as it was nearly sixty years ago. One notices immediately the vividness of the characters, drawn deeply and delicately. One feels for these characters, even if we do not know much about them – which is a testament to Bradbury's power as a writer and how much he cares about his work. One feels the tension and confusion of Guy, the enchantment of Clarisse, compelled by Beatty's defense of the system, pity for Millie's blindness, and even fear of the Mechanical Hound. What makes the book powerful in my opinion is not its relevance but its simplicity. Unlike books like “1984” and “Brave New World,” the changes in this future society are quite subtle and the story itself is on the surface quite simple. Furthermore, Montag's journey from fireman to rebel is intensely personal and his awakening is has a very visceral feeling - my favorite moment in the book is in part three when Guy is walking through the wilderness and he is beginning to feel nature, to feel the world around him in a new way. The numbness he felt in the city has begun to melt away in a world of new sensations. So much has been said about this particular book but as Bradbury attempts to get across, the books are not important but it is what books do to people which is important. People are the carriers of the ideas within books. Bradbury, an admitted bibliophile, calls not so much for books but for thinking, questioning people informed by the wisdom of books, their worlds expanded and made complex by their ideas.
First of all, Bradbury is a much better writer than I remember him being. His action writing lacks clarity at times, but the major passages in the novel (Beatty explaining the history of the Fireman and needling Montag with literary allusions, Montag yelling at his wife and her friends, Granger explaining the phoenix and the importance of remembering) are all amazingly well-written. Second, I think F451 is more relevant now than it has ever been before. The world of the novel is strikingly similar to today: constant war, obsession with television (including mindless game shows), a willful cultural and historical illiteracy, even the part where the man on the TV says Mildred's name is similar to the recent Old Spice promotion where Old Spice Man would say Hello, {insert Twitter Name} instead of Hello, Ladies. It's scary how accurate Bradbury is in his vision of the near future, excepting of …
First of all, Bradbury is a much better writer than I remember him being. His action writing lacks clarity at times, but the major passages in the novel (Beatty explaining the history of the Fireman and needling Montag with literary allusions, Montag yelling at his wife and her friends, Granger explaining the phoenix and the importance of remembering) are all amazingly well-written. Second, I think F451 is more relevant now than it has ever been before. The world of the novel is strikingly similar to today: constant war, obsession with television (including mindless game shows), a willful cultural and historical illiteracy, even the part where the man on the TV says Mildred's name is similar to the recent Old Spice promotion where Old Spice Man would say Hello, {insert Twitter Name} instead of Hello, Ladies. It's scary how accurate Bradbury is in his vision of the near future, excepting of course for the lack of giant robot spider-dogs in today's society.
I'm sure I read this in high school, but even the first paragraph was a surprise.
