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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I had read this book a long time ago and remembered it as a difficult read - my english was not quite on the same level as it is today. When re-reading it now i was blown away. An amazing story paired with wonderful storytelling. After reading "boring" contemporary novels this was delightfully refreshing
Oh heavens, this book chills me. I read it and at times it confuses me and makes me want to scream how the hell the world got in such a way, and I wanted Guy to wake up and do something about it. Yes, he learns more, but I have to remind myself to slow down and soak in the world, to read the hateful hateful words of his boss, Beatty, and others who know more about Guy.
Amazing work of dystopia, looking all happy and pretty in the home, but the world outside is cruel. I cringed when I read the bits about teenagers racing around and beating each other up and killing each other. Horrible stuff, and when Guy has had enough at one point and tells off his wife's empty-headed friends, I was doing a happy dance for him, even though it would create more problems.
It's …
Oh heavens, this book chills me. I read it and at times it confuses me and makes me want to scream how the hell the world got in such a way, and I wanted Guy to wake up and do something about it. Yes, he learns more, but I have to remind myself to slow down and soak in the world, to read the hateful hateful words of his boss, Beatty, and others who know more about Guy.
Amazing work of dystopia, looking all happy and pretty in the home, but the world outside is cruel. I cringed when I read the bits about teenagers racing around and beating each other up and killing each other. Horrible stuff, and when Guy has had enough at one point and tells off his wife's empty-headed friends, I was doing a happy dance for him, even though it would create more problems.
It's a frightening world that's depicted, because it isn't just books, it's about thought going extinct as well...and that scares me. Will be kept forever.
While Fahrenheit 451 is a good book that has interesting parts, I feel as if it's more like a sketch than a complete book. This might come from me not having read fiction in a while and the book being 70 years old, but I couldn't get the sense that this was a literary work on the same level as other books I've read.
However, I still found this to be a good book. As someone who's interested in philosophy and social sciences, I was very intrigued by the topic of this book and it's dystopian nature. It has undoubtedly made me reflect more on how society works, how information in society works and how reading (in my opinion) makes us better people.
Una novela infantiloide. Y no me refiero a los personajes, que viven en un sistema que los quiere idiotizados, me refiero a la forma en la que está escrita, parece un libro dirigido a niños o a gente de derecha (que ya sabemos que no le da la cabeza para mucho). Si quieres una buena distopía: 1984.
We need this story right now. The number of people willing to burn books is so disheartening to me.
An incredibly powerful, timely novel. I read it once long ago but today's world makes it more relevant than ever. It should be required reading for every intolerant person on the planet, all 7+ billion of them.
Me ha parecido genial el tratamiento de la historia y la construcción de la socidad por parte de Bradbury. La novela es sorprendentemente cortita y, aún así, tiene la capacidad de lanzar ideas que no dejan al lector indiferente.
É incrível como uma obra tem impactos diferentes em momentos também distintos de nossa vida. Não que da primeira vez que tenha lido Bradbury não tenha achado a obra uma das maiores peças da literatura mundial, pelo contrário, a 12-15 anos atrás minha visão limitada e adolescente de mundo não sequer me dava capacidade para ver o que mais tinha ali, tal qual Montag antes de conhecer Clarisse. Mas é que talvez eu tenha irremediavelmente mudado desde então e esta obra me caiu com ainda mais peso e significado.
O mundo mudou, desde que foi escrito e desde que li a primeira vez. Talvez o maior erro de Bradbury esteja no tamanho da tela que nos prende, não são telas enormes que tomam paredes inteiras e que são repetidas em 3 dimensões, mas sim pequenos espelhos negros na palma da mão que nos dão acesso diário a feeds pré-selecionados e …
É incrível como uma obra tem impactos diferentes em momentos também distintos de nossa vida. Não que da primeira vez que tenha lido Bradbury não tenha achado a obra uma das maiores peças da literatura mundial, pelo contrário, a 12-15 anos atrás minha visão limitada e adolescente de mundo não sequer me dava capacidade para ver o que mais tinha ali, tal qual Montag antes de conhecer Clarisse. Mas é que talvez eu tenha irremediavelmente mudado desde então e esta obra me caiu com ainda mais peso e significado.
O mundo mudou, desde que foi escrito e desde que li a primeira vez. Talvez o maior erro de Bradbury esteja no tamanho da tela que nos prende, não são telas enormes que tomam paredes inteiras e que são repetidas em 3 dimensões, mas sim pequenos espelhos negros na palma da mão que nos dão acesso diário a feeds pré-selecionados e recheados de conteúdo que foi escolhido com base no 'nosso' consumo.
Ray previu com exatidão o quanto a ciência seria desprezada - principalmente em tempos tão duros de de pandemia, o quanto as faculdades humanas e o quanto o conhecimento seria subjulgado e tratado como inútil por uma parcela dominadora da população, bem como uma máquina que quer as pessoas sem senso crítico, tal qual uma máquina de ódio que quer MITOS governando enquanto a moenda humana rola solta nas bases.
Fahrenheit 451 vem como um livro necessário para qualquer pessoa que tenha no mínimo mantido suas convicções e enxergado além da superfície comum, além do Whatsapp, além da fake news. Como não é possível comparar as queimas de livros na história à perseguição que as pessoas tem tido por apenas pensar diferente da massa movida pelo ódio atual? Como não associar tudo isso à sandices de Olavo de Carvalho e afins? E por fim, como não associar os questionamentos de Guy Montag respondidos pelo capitão Beatty ao revisionismo histórico que tem sido tão ostensivamente praticado?
Por fim, o livro é de tirar o folego e tem a capacidade de ser atual mesmo sendo escrito em 1953. Se você ainda não leu, o faça - e nas palavras do poeta alemão Heinrich Heine eu finalizo:
"Aqueles que começarem a queimar livros, logo acabarão queimando pessoas."
It must be close on 25 years ago that I first heard about this book, and now finally I can tick it off the list. Surprisingly also, this is the first time I've read anything by Bradbury, even though I have a number of his works on my shelves.
The book is such a classic, that I'd be surprised if people don't know the general premise, and of course in that sense there wasn't too much wow factor or plot twists that one uncovers here. With that said, it is wonderfully written. The clarity of the landscape the characters see themselves in is simple and clear to the reader. Depressing, vapid and shallow as one continues through the story as it becomes more and more fatalist.
Such a simple phrase, such a beautiful phrase, as Montag meets the group by the fire at the end:
"... and Time was there." …
It must be close on 25 years ago that I first heard about this book, and now finally I can tick it off the list. Surprisingly also, this is the first time I've read anything by Bradbury, even though I have a number of his works on my shelves.
The book is such a classic, that I'd be surprised if people don't know the general premise, and of course in that sense there wasn't too much wow factor or plot twists that one uncovers here. With that said, it is wonderfully written. The clarity of the landscape the characters see themselves in is simple and clear to the reader. Depressing, vapid and shallow as one continues through the story as it becomes more and more fatalist.
Such a simple phrase, such a beautiful phrase, as Montag meets the group by the fire at the end:
"... and Time was there." Truly gave me chills.
I have many thoughts about this book but recognizing that I'm unlikely to take the time to get them all coherently stated here, I'm going to opt for a few bullet points instead.
● People seem to like arguing about whether this is a book about the dangers of technology or the dangers of censorship. I think it's somewhat both, sure, but more about the dangers of being content to engage only with things that make us feel good.
● I say it's only sort of about censorship because, as Faber argues, "Remember, the firemen are rarely necessary. The public itself stopped reading of its own accord. You firemen provide a circus now and then at which buildings are set off and crowds gather for the pretty blaze, but it's a small sideshow indeed, and hardly necessary to keep things in line. So few want to be rebels anymore. [..]. …
I have many thoughts about this book but recognizing that I'm unlikely to take the time to get them all coherently stated here, I'm going to opt for a few bullet points instead.
● People seem to like arguing about whether this is a book about the dangers of technology or the dangers of censorship. I think it's somewhat both, sure, but more about the dangers of being content to engage only with things that make us feel good.
● I say it's only sort of about censorship because, as Faber argues, "Remember, the firemen are rarely necessary. The public itself stopped reading of its own accord. You firemen provide a circus now and then at which buildings are set off and crowds gather for the pretty blaze, but it's a small sideshow indeed, and hardly necessary to keep things in line. So few want to be rebels anymore. [..]. People are having fun."
● One other bit I thought was interesting: before reading this book, I assumed it would be all about the book as savior. But another Faber quote: "It’s not the books you need, it’s some of the things that once were in books. The same things could be in the ‘parlor families’ today. The same infinite detail and awareness could be projected through the radios and televisors, but are not." As SparkNotes summarizes, "...the stories and ideas told in books could just as easily be told through different forms of media. But, those types of stories are not what people are interested in. [..]. It is not just books that are absent from society, but knowledge and curiosity about the world in general."
● Some reviewers reject the book because "the future" (now the present) hasn't unfolded the way Bradbury described it. At least one other reviewer points out that sci-fi is never about an accurate prediction of the future, but instead a means of wrestling with timeless challenges in humanity. I agree, and for that reason consider the book incredibly timely. A whole lot of the issues we're facing currently (like social media bubbles and a seeming inability to have civil discourse about anything meaningful) come back to the preference we humans have for "feeling good" and avoiding discomfort.
ok
It's been years since I read this, years before being online and years before newspapers started folding. It's a different world now, and this short novel, written in the early 1950s, is eerily prescient. Ray Bradbury did not predict the internet, exactly, but something very much like it; many people are addicted to sitting in their "parlors," places in their houses in which meaningless conversation is piped, soap opera like, to keep people senselessly occupied. There are no educational programs, and books are burned. Suspect someone of hoarding books? Send an alarm! The firemen will come and burn down the guilty person's house and arrest him/her.
Books cause thinking and different opinions. Some books make people uncomfortable. Many books would belie the history that's been rewritten for the masses. Therefore, books are poisonous--away with them all!
This story focuses on one fireman named Guy Montag, and his yearning for life …
It's been years since I read this, years before being online and years before newspapers started folding. It's a different world now, and this short novel, written in the early 1950s, is eerily prescient. Ray Bradbury did not predict the internet, exactly, but something very much like it; many people are addicted to sitting in their "parlors," places in their houses in which meaningless conversation is piped, soap opera like, to keep people senselessly occupied. There are no educational programs, and books are burned. Suspect someone of hoarding books? Send an alarm! The firemen will come and burn down the guilty person's house and arrest him/her.
Books cause thinking and different opinions. Some books make people uncomfortable. Many books would belie the history that's been rewritten for the masses. Therefore, books are poisonous--away with them all!
This story focuses on one fireman named Guy Montag, and his yearning for life and curiosity about what came before and what else there could be--which leads him to books.
Meanwhile, there is a war going on--somewhere. No one knows anything about it, or anything about other countries, or the plight of other people. People aren't even raising their own children. There is little empathy to be found, but certainly enough violence--children are killing children. Among these young people is a girl named Clarisse, who is labeled as an outcast for asking the wrong sorts of questions and being so--social. Guy never hears exactly what becomes of her.
Guy Montag's main adversary is Captain Beatty, a fireman who has obviously read many books. He's an interesting character, one who must be conflicted, and yet he's more adamant about destroying books than anyone around him. For most, it's a job. For Beatty, it's a philosophy and a mission. Meanwhile, Montag's wife, Mildred, is a study in boredom, depression, and emptiness.
Bradbury painted a scary mirror all those years ago--in just about 172 pages. Incredible.
An excellent adaptation that places a different (but equally important) emphasis than the original book. In the book, the burnings that take place are described in exquisite detail, but in the graphic novel, this is represented visually. With so much less space taken up by this simple change, more emphasis is put on the toxic society and its impact on the main characters. It's chillingly similar to today and the lessons it imparts are both topical, informative and helpful.
One of the best books I have ever read.
I am not going to write a long review.
I remember two scenes particularly.
One, when Montag opens his mouth and the flying jets do the screaming for him.
Two, when, a book is burning, its visual similarities with a pigeon and its unfolded wings.
Ray Bradbury has exceptional and powerful capability of creating a meaningful scene. A dramatic scene.
Not only for the scenes I shall remember this book, I also have to remember it for its philosophical and creative value.
The concept of men becoming books and the layer of meaning it hides is of a tremendous value from all creative, dramatic and philosophical perspectives.
What irony that I read this book digitally, having it fed to me 400wpm. Fahrenheit's self-inflicted dystopia seems very close to our present of 'fake news' and celebrity babies dominating media while genocide is concurrently perpetrated. I always forget how poetic Bradbury is, how empty & full he can make you feel all at once. A warning and a comfort that we create the world around us, & that all ages have a beginning & an end.
