Brave New World: The Pleasure Principle

Please enjoy an excerpt from Ben Shapiro's Book Club, where Ben breaks down Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World". This book represents perhaps the scariest form of utopia, a utopia that so many people today seem to crave. It reminds us that we are a culture that desires immediate pleasure. Is there hope for us after all? Join Ben as he navigates the blurred lines between truth and science-fiction in a futuristic caste society where genetic engineering, psychological conditioning, and forced pharmaceuticals are utilized to destroy free will.
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[@oliverwashington8108]

This is why I’ve always thought Brave New World is a more realistic than 1984. Instead of imposing power on people, just make them very comfy so they won’t want to rebel. Amazing book.

[@UNKNOWN-sn8uw]

With drugs of course, many people in America is very drug in this times

[@DigitalDuelist]

The first book I ever read cover to cover as a young adult. I think about it more each year as we move closer toward that society. We already have SOMA. The show handled that part well for its many failings

[@antepapic9107]

In 1984, the givernment controly people by hurting them and causing pain and suffering. But in Brave new world, the governments control people by giing them pleasure.

[@kknn523]

@@UNKNOWN-sn8uw They would simply provide it through smut, fast food, and so on. The critical thing is actually people creating high quality products and experiences. And, focusing on that act of creation. Much more desirable, and much more satiating long term.

[@thedinnerparty4795]

When I locked everyone down in Australia, the people did not rebel. Soon the government will have complete control over our money and no one can say anything against the government. 1984 is very true.

[@peskylisa]

“But I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin.” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

[@saurabhpericherla5454]

Is it possible to ask for and have both sin and God? Intriguing 🤔

[@bradysmith4245]

@@saurabhpericherla5454 there’s no possibility of sin if you are in a society that endorses all pleasure. So in a certain sense it’s paradoxical but there’s no feeling of breaking the rules if there are no rules so it makes psychological sense.

[@seriousmonkey5654]

There's no sin in hell.

[@cypresse1620]

@@seriousmonkey5654 what do you mean by that please?

[@reginaldcampos5762]

@cypresse1620 everything goes. Society is hell. There's no such thing as good or bad, sort of thing. Only pleasure and discomfort.

[@Devin7Eleven]

Nihilism and pleasure, the perfect foundation to build up a dystopia.

[@dbefore7165]

Or paradise

[@Oper8Fur07]

@@dbefore7165 Reject degeneracy and weakness, or when the shit hits the fan, The Strong, Will Reject You.

[@Fearless3773]

@@dbefore7165 epicureans would agree with the pleasure part, but nihilism on a societal level would be terrifying in true practice.

[@crimson6172]

@@dbefore7165 That "paradise" falls under the dystopia category so let's just call it as it is.

[@williamrgutrich7694]

"We are Nihilists -- We believe in Nothing!" Great line from a great movie.

[@pgplumsparkle]

I read Brave New World. I am surprised about how prescient it is! Especially considering the fact that Aldous Huxley wrote Brave New World in 1931 and published Brave New World in 1932.

[@markallen2984]

I believe that governments around the world are now more willing to legalize use and possession of marijuana because it is essentially the real life Soma. Governments want populations to be docile, intoxicated, indolent and passive. When I see especially how common frequent marijuana use is in the American black community, I just think that they have thrown off their chains of steel and voluntarily replaced them with ropes of hemp. All these rap videos showing kids smoking pot like it's some sort of act of rebellion when it's simply voluntary enslavement.

[@diamond6695]

@@markallen2984until now I thought about pot as a simple drug of fun, that is almost harmless compared to alcohol, but you actually put first time an actual idea that I never thought about.

[@patrickhenry9584]

Scientific Outlook - Bertrand Russell 1931

[@directmiss]

Read this book in high school, so about ten years ago for me, and I remember even back then finding the ideas presented in it disturbing and creepy. It's alarming to see how much closer we've gotten to it now.

[@desordenpublico]

“Everyone belongs to everyone “. Crazy quote and it’s mentioned throughout the book

[@benzman7347]

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

[@joshuat42]

One of my favorite childhood books. I remember it well. Really made me think. A very well written novel.

[@LegacyXJudah]

Same. It was part of my syllabus.

[@jaroddavid5933]

Same except I decided to read it on my own

[@bookscatsandcoffee]

Yes.. one of the best books and a warning for all. I guess this is why most schools don't make this one required reading anymore..

[@Kevin-qo6jw]

They still require people to be able to read?

[@arget_aiedail]

I read this in English in 2008 and it's on my yearly reading list.

[@whatsonyofeet]

reading it right now in my english class lol

[@evhwolfgang2003]

Well, the GOP have banned the book everywhere they can...

[@andersvestengen2716]

same lol@@whatsonyofeet

[@rekindlefitness]

Brave New World is my favorite dystopia of all time. Is terrifying in it's analysis. Thank you for covering it, Ben.

[@splums]

Agree, yet maybe not completely with his analysis.

[@frans3950]

Great compliments to the people who made the background. Fits perfectly with the theme.

[@splaartflunterklufn9797]

Wow, I have an oral exam about this book literally in 3 days. Awesome Ben.

[@ENFPerspectives]

Lol

[@leonid5021]

Time to plagiarize 🥵

[@lexie9109]

Thank you for showing it's still needed read in hs that's good to know :) I'm glad it's not gone yet

[@johncrow5552]

@@leonid5021 its an easy read. can be read in 3 days and higly recommended.

[@MichaelSHartman]

A KZbin audiobook is available. Btw: Steve Parker Audiobooks has a dramatized version of 1984, if you are interested.

[@gurururuwarararara8164]

North Korea is 1984, China is largely 1984 with some sprinkles of Brave New World, whilst Canada is mostly Brave New World, with a dash of 1984. The U.S is very much like Brave New World, but especially in regard to language and doublethink, both Canada and the U.S are linguistically adopting a very 1984-esque culture. Sorry for my bad English 🙏

[@psycomutt]

"The giver" was great kids book along these lines. Really recommend for the younger kids.

[@darrellshoub7527]

i loved the Giver, if I had a kid I would make Sure he she read it !

[@ketanjibrownsfavemolester7592]

Ditto...👍

[@lexie9109]

Good book. What age do you recommend this for? Been a while since I read it

[@psycomutt]

@@lexie9109 I was around ten, but I was a strong reader.

[@davidwilliams8405]

How well do I remember having to read that book in 10th grade...as a scrawny, geekish teen it didn't really strike a chord with me, but that was a thousand years ago, in 1975! My oh my how the times have changed, and in this case, the world we live in is now trying to imitate art, the fashion our society into the image of "Brave New World!"

[@MichaelSHartman]

I might add 1984, and Fahrenheit 451. Even the "equality of outcome" in "Harrison Bergeron" seems relevant.

[@dianesulpizio2542]

BNW was written in response to the Protestant English church's acceptance of artificial birth control. AH knew societal acceptance of ABC would create a sexualized world which prioritizes adult pleasure and priorities at the expense of intact families. Look around to see how right he was. Ppl moving from partner to partner, intact family for kids be damned. All manner of sexual disorder now normalized (abortion, LGBT, straights going from marriage to marriage, partner to partner,egg/sperm donation, surrogacy ). And here we are......

[@roccocavalier3549]

Reading this for my capstone in MA. One of the best books I’ve ever read. And thank you Ben for deepening my understanding of it.

[@zeedevel7141]

I always preferred Brave New World to 1984. It always felt more tangible to me. Huxley had a brilliant understanding of human nature

[@zonechillout]

Aldous Huxley had a profound understanding about human nature and society. All humans have desires. It is what guides us. But as i was once told 90% of humans need to be told what to do which is why they would rather choose a job. They don`t need to think just follow a daily routine. Ben will share his opinion based on his beliefs as would anyone else. Each belief will have it`s own ideas how the world should function. If we are born into particular culture we will embrace those beliefs as our own. Aldous Huxley was able to see past these beliefs and see what human nature is, good or bad. The doors to perception helps us to see past all these human beliefs and rather look at things from a conscious perspective.

[@dianesulpizio2542]

BNW was written in response to the Protestant English church's acceptance of artificial birth control. AH knew societal acceptance of ABC would create a sexualized world which prioritizes adult pleasure and priorities at the expense of intact families. Look around to see how right he was. Ppl moving from partner to partner, intact family for kids be damned. All manner of sexual disorder now normalized (abortion, LGBT, straights going from marriage to marriage, partner to partner, egg/sperm donation, surrogacy). And here we are......

[@rosemarietolentino3218]

Thank you for refreshing our memories and pointing out the differences in the books. Going back for a reread.

[@spindoctor6385]

If you like audiobooks, try Steve Parker audiobooks. His Brave new world version is next level. Read along with it or just listen, you will not be dissapointed.

[@coleauten5612]

I remember reading Brave New World in High School... and I hated it. I found the whole idea of the society disgusting, and I actually decided I wouldn't even read the rest because it was so disturbing to me. (I read it an in depth summary of it for school though lol) Regardless, I think it's actually something that everyone should read these days... Maybe it'll help them understand the sick and twisted ideas being pushed in modern society. Pleasure is not joy, and it never has been.

[@88ferrarienzo]

Spark Notes

[@ameribano8910]

That’s interesting, because I remember reading it and I loved it. I loved it because it showed how disgusting a world that is described in the book actually is. It showed the importance of free agency, and how we need to go through the pleasure and pain of the consequences of our own choices and even those of others in order to grow as an individual.

[@lldjslim]

Demolition man

[@jfields3036]

Our world is becoming very much like brave new world. The alphas, the betas, the sigmas...

[@markallen2984]

I have always thought that everyone should read Brave New World and 1984. Very different books of a very different imagined future, but both are themed with the diminishment of individuality and the trivialization of humanity

[@leeyi4286]

Me also I have always thought that everyone should read Brave New World and 1984

[@IndelibleHD]

Agreed. Must reads.

[@nichola10901]

And Fahrenheit 451 is a nice in between of the two hahaha

[@Yesica1993]

I'll have to save this for after I have read it. I re-read 1984 this past (?) year and it was amazing and depressing as always. But Brave New World is one that I somehow haven't yet read. I did buy nice editions of both books, in case they are ever "cancelled." You can never be too careful these days!

[@pitchforkpeasant6219]

Just like the disappearance of left wing fascism on the internet including Wikipedia. Hope i printed it and have it somewhere

[@leeyi4286]

Me also I have to save it also

[@IndelibleHD]

Give it a go....

[@kimbarbeaureads]

Make Sure you have a copy of Fahrenheit 451 tucked under the floorboards just in case. 😁

[@MichaelSHartman]

The fact that your half jest of cancellation, another commenter's suggestion of keeping a copy under the floorboards, and present events causing the same thoughts in my mind makes me realize how close we are approaching that time. 1984, and its ilk are no longer required reading. How many understand the story, or simply echo phrases, and quotes?

[@e.paradigm7415]

I am so glad that Shapiro recognized this book! I think it is a highly unappreciated work and most people I’ve talked to have never even heard of it. Our pleasures control us…

[@lisandroCT]

I talked to a guy defending the cast system of Brave New World. He got everything and thought it was a great idea.

[@SydneyCarton2085]

Social caste systems form naturally. Do you really think you are as important to society as a "pro athlete" or Arianna Grande? We actively disrupt these systems in every arena where blacks generally do not excel. Now, how we treat people according to our ability is what matters. I am at the mercy of someone more capable than me as are those who are less capable than me. It is a fact but as a Christian, God is my Alpha and His righteousness and judgement is greater than any man.

[@prot07ype87]

*caste** system

[@lisandroCT]

@@prot07ype87 I'm not a native speaker, thank you for the correction. 👍🏻😃

[@flyingkite2972]

Because.. it is a good idea? I am not sure what are you insinuating? Are u saying the caste system was a bad thing?

[@srbaran]

Brave New World inspired so many dystopian stories. Aldous Huxley is one of my favorite authors. He also predicted the Great Depression and WWII pretty accurately (at least timeline-wise) in a novel he wrote in 1928 (Point Counter Point).

[@h.davidburstein3578]

I would like to recommend Neil Postman’s “Amusing Ourselves To Death”, written in 1986 in which a big part of the book compares Brave New World to 1984. His conclusion was we are more BNW

[@ciscornBIG]

Why not both?

[@CleverGirlAAH]

I actually got it last week!!

[@MichaelSHartman]

Trying to recall the mid 1980s I remember microcomputers, feeling Stagflation, and the energy crisis easing while unemployment was still with us. The Soviets continued to rapidly build their nuclear arsenal. Korean Flight 007. "The Day After", and "Threads". Chernobyl. We are closer to authoritarian communism now than we ever were under Reagan. Over the pandemic, I saw how close we were approaching an authoritarian (1984) regime. Over the past month, I can see Brave New World in our youth that has been caused by feminism, and the Woke. Maybe not an engineered state as it is a decline in society.

[@skeletonkeysproductionskp]

I'm writing a film script of "Brave New World", its a shame that no one has made an accurate modern version of this classic!

[@rrobak6477]

DailyWire should try to do it, drawing more paralles to gnostic, hermetic theology of Marx.

[@cedk144]

The 3 hr 1980 TV movie was not exact but pretty close.

[@rngd0875]

They released a 2020 TV series on Peacock. No one will be picking up a re-hash for another 5 years at least. And yes, it was not accurate.

[@aethefledladyofmercia9572]

Hollywood won't portray it accurately anytime soon. It goes against everything they've been pushing for the last 50 years.

[@paulgleason7191]

I’ve read both 1984 and Brave New World and I agree with Ben that our society is heading towards Brave New World. That makes AI very scary because conditioning humans will be easier. I think 1984 is more of a N Korea and Cuba society. China seems to be even closer to Brave New World than us.

[@pitchforkpeasant6219]

Conditioning has always been easy. Propaganda, marketing, and learning all use the same principle. Association through repetition. Edward Bernays was the nephew of Sigmund Freud. Goebbels allegedly studied Bernays. Walter Lippman, Ivy Lee, Gustav Le Bon. People are highly impressionable stemming from the appeal to self preservation

[@RaulGonzalez-rs1be]

A kind of agree with you, 1984 is more of an imposed power on people and making them suffer like Cuba and North Korea, Brave New World is more of a birth control state and consumerist society and also and technological advanced society, in which I think mostly relates to China nowadays.

[@zengmaxxing]

I disagree, I think China is closer to 1984 and we're closer to BNW. Chinese are still very socially conservative and hookup culture is far less intense there.

[@RayNomadic]

Would be kinda cool if you did a book reading every week. Just pick a book you think would be interesting and read it. You could do little teasers of your books even to get people wanting to read the rest of it. So they will go out and buy a copy.

[@MichaelSHartman]

Steve Parker Audiobooks

[@kathyyore309]

I couldn't wait to see this! Brave new world has been my favorite book since I was twelve. It is so clever and original.

[@aaronlopez492]

'Brave new world' or as I call it 'The world of the Meta-modernistic savage'. It doesn't roll off the tongue but you get the drift.

[@luciusael]

I think some young people read the book and say, "This sounds amazing! I don't see anything wrong with this."

[@therandominfochannel6619]

I knew a guy in college who said he thought the society in Brave New World was actually a utopia and he was dead serious.

[@avivastudios2311]

I actually read a goodreads review like that.

[@x97s]

That's correct.. Too much pleasure is torture

[@Marina-nt6my]

It's really sad but true, not just young people too but adults.

[@dianesetzler8888]

I found it horrific when I had to read it for my senior project in high school in 1989!!

[@endofsight9841]

Yeah I remember reading BNW right after I had graduated high school and it chilled me to the bone back in 2013. That book left a huge impact on me and it's a book that ignited my love for Dystopian literature like 1984, We, This Perfect Day etc etc.

[@lycandavis6804]

I love Brave New World. Perhaps the closest novel to the world we are currently in today. Or all least the world we're careening towards. After Brave New World, the final next step is the world found in Anthem by Ayn Rand. This final is the last step. Two incredible books.

[@lycandavis6804]

And you are whom, again?

[@terryfriend16]

Read it, but it was never forgotten... 1972... I was 17... and though I didn't completely understand it, it has come home to roost. How telling the book would be in 2022.

[@leeyi4286]

I also read it but I never forget about it

[@nuqwestr]

HA, me too, same year, same age, also read "Soul On Ice" and "The Hobbit" that year.

[@shonmoody1706]

Zuckerbergs Metaverse would be a perfect addition to this books foundation. He wants everyone to be stuck in their own world without emotional or physical interaction in anything besides sex. No wonder it's failing miserably. People with half a brain can see where it was going...S.M.H

[@benstallone6784]

Our society is much closer to Brave New World than 1984. And it makes sense because the dystopia of Brave New World is much more insidious and subliminal.

[@dianesulpizio2542]

BNW was written in response to the Protestant English church's acceptance of artificial birth control. AH knew societal acceptance of ABC would create a sexualized world which prioritizes adult pleasure and priorities at the expense of intact families. Look around to see how right he was. Ppl moving from partner to partner, intact family for kids be damned. All manner of sexual disorder now normalized (abortion, LGBT, straights going from marriage to marriage, partner to partner,egg/sperm donation, surrogacy ). And here we are......

[@queenofmulberry]

in my 11th grade english class we had the option to read 1984 or Brave New World.. I was one of only 3 people to read Brave New World and I remember it being soooo good. I need to read it again!

[@horvathgergely452]

I've been waiting for this review for a while now. The parallels are frightening

[@elvinaescobar]

In Canada, sometime around 1977-1979 I read only 2 required books in school. One was The Outsiders, the other was Rumble Fish. I didn't read any counter culture books until I was about 44, Ya, a little late, but better than never.

[@jedscratchard1204]

Such a powerful book. I definitely didn't get any of that when I read it in high school

[@BobSmith-lb9nc]

You are so right, Ben. I read Brave New World as a high school student and found it deeply troubling -- a shallow and meaningless future. I consider it to be our most likely future, the result of Ray Kurzweil's coming "singularity."

[@PlantsForHire]

Intelligent organisms being produced in a lab with a societal purpose in mind seems like a better solution than having intelligent organisms be the product of randomly combined DNA, wandering aimlessly through the society to figure out where they can be of service, and then endlessly questioning with anxiety if they made the right choice when they do find a societal role to fill. Society would be more productive, and the organisms would be able to wake up every day with confidence, knowing their existence was created for a divine purpose in a greater society. I’m surprised that this is an unpopular opinion. It seems like the general consensus is that BNW is a dystopia deprived of freedom, but absolute freedom is chaos deprived of any kind of existential meaning.

[@zhulikkulik]

BNW is a very heavy book. I bought it when I was bored working at food market. Couldn't finish. My mom works at Russian tv and one of Russian propangandists gifted her this book. She also couldn't finish reading it because of how heavy and realistic it is. 1984 is an antiutopia and not even remotely as hard to read because there's an external force at play. A party that oppresses people. And people just try to live their life under given conditions. In bnw people enjoy their lack of freedom and choice. They love it, they genuinely enjoy participating in any act as long as they're part of the crowd. Clockwork orange is another very realistic novel. The worst thing is that you can see both “predictions” being true almost all around the world.

[@ellimaine22]

Just read it. It horrified me, and I cried a few times EXACTLY because it shared many similarities to the world today…😔

[@dianesulpizio2542]

BNW was written in response to the Protestant English church's acceptance of artificial birth control. AH knew societal acceptance of ABC would create a sexualized world which prioritizes adult pleasure and priorities at the expense of intact families. Look around to see how right he was. Ppl moving from partner to partner, intact family for kids be damned. All manner of sexual disorder now normalized (abortion, LGBT, straights going from marriage to marriage, partner to partner, egg/sperm donation, surrogacy). And here we are......

[@TeleoRedleg]

Thanks for the great work, DW warriors. As we approach Dec 11 (Solzhenitsyn's birthday), I am motivated to think that a separate DW channel that does nothing but read 1984, Brave New World, and Gulag Archipelago (if it's legal to do so), would be just as informative as the great work you guys do. Maybe it would be less entertaining, but just as useful.

[@alanhaggarty9880]

The one thing that strikes me about both 1984 and Brave New World is at the heart of both totalitarian systems, the destruction of the family is key to much of the state’s ambitions and machinations. The only only differences between is that one is patriarchal and the other matriarchal in distinction.

[@ethankillion786]

I think its popularity is because it's a satire of an idea that we've held onto for over a century: utopia through industrial advancement. It's a world where everything is automated, everything is optimized, and everything is geared to make a life that's as full of pleasure and free of pain as possible. The end result, however, a soulless world that's devoid of genuine emotional attachment and personal fulfillment.

[@sparkleclap]

Because without the pain, we would not know pleasure. Without struggle, we would not know satisfaction.

[@dianesulpizio2542]

BNW was written in response to the Protestant English church's acceptance of artificial birth control. AH knew societal acceptance of ABC would create a sexualized world which prioritizes adult pleasure and priorities at the expense of intact families. Look around to see how right he was. Ppl moving from partner to partner, intact family for kids be damned. All manner of sexual disorder now normalized (abortion, LGBT, straights going from marriage to marriage, partner to partner,egg/sperm donation, surrogacy ). And here we are......

[@spindoctor6385]

Anyone looking for a good audiobook version of Brave New World check out Steve Parker audiobooks. He has also done 1984, Animal farm, Frankenstein among many others. I promise that his is the best version of all of these by a mile, second place is not even on the radar.

[@seanhawthorne65]

You are awesome, thank you.

[@spindoctor6385]

@@seanhawthorne65 You are welcome. I enjoyed his work so much, I think everyone who likes that form of "reading" should experience what he creates.

[@williamrgutrich7694]

The title of an old South Side Johnny and the Asbury Jukes tune comes to mind, "All I want is everything." Also, the reprogramming of Alex in "A Clockwork Orange."

[@johndukes3079]

And our Soma is the internet.

[@CleverGirlAAH]

Soma is Disney material and the internet** lol

[@johndukes3079]

Good one 😆

[@lazarusravelstein1311]

That is impressive work Ben. I've always appreciated Huxley's intellect and I appreciate your's as well. If you can convince Americans to read good books you will have accomplished something extraordinary in itself. The fact that Huxley was writing this book 100 years ago helps illustrates that the subject matter is nothing new. I hope you do a book show on Allan Bloom's "Closing of the American Mind." You remind me of Maimonides in some ways, which is huge compliment and no small responsibility, or burden, Ben. You know Ben, a whole lot of Americans want the very thing that Huxley tried to warn against.

[@stevetessier8467]

Wow. I've read 1984 but not A Brave New World. I will now. Very thought provoking. Excellent asthetics in this video. The color pallet perfectly captures the somber tone of the topic. Brilliant.

[@brynleyjones3635]

There are a lot of interesting parallels between Brave New World and Dostoevsky's The Grand Inquisitor in The Brothers Karamazov

[@bemat57]

It sounds like currently certain Western European Countries have been practicing some of these principles already.

[@fuckles3830]

This book completely changed my view of modern society. It’s crazy the parallels

[@whozyourdaddy]

Farenheit 451, 1984, Brave New World, Animal Farm, Clockwork Orange...where is humanity headed?

[@sirsinnes]

That's an...ambitious set you've got there, Ben.

[@NCWildHeART]

Read this in two days after watching this for 3 minutes. I'm still disturbed by it all. Excellent suggestion Ben. The correlation between his world and this one now is boggling. Albeit ours is through “entertainment” be wise. Be careful.

[@dianesulpizio2542]

BNW was written in response to the Protestant English church's acceptance of artificial birth control. AH knew societal acceptance of ABC would create a sexualized world which prioritizes adult pleasure and priorities at the expense of intact families. Look around to see how right he was. Ppl moving from partner to partner, intact family for kids be damned. All manner of sexual disorder now normalized (abortion, LGBT, straights going from marriage to marriage, partner to partner, egg/sperm donation, surrogacy). And here we are......

[@angelatan7478]

Me getting recommended this video right after attending a four hour long lecture on Freud 👍

[@musicforever08]

Neil Postman said in his book "Amusing Ourselves To Death" that the difference between Brave New World and 1984 is that 1984's threat comes from an outside source (the government), while Brave New World's comes from the inside

[@Roarshark12]

Wow, that's a great-looking jacket and matching background set. So professional

[@viscache1]

What seems to separate the Liberal mind from the Conservative is that the Liberal is raving, angry, aggressive, destructive and warlike. The Conservative mind seems to focus on the status quo in which everyone can pursue their highest dreams and intellectual pursuits.

[@blakelewis9622]

the foreword to the second edition is great

[@Donnellion]

Love this guy..💪🏾

[@backwoodscommonsense1578]

I remember my required reading from so many years ago. Each put a different color in my mind as I read them. Brave New World - White & only white, 1984 - levels of grays, Animal Farm - brown, Catcher in the Rye - dark yellow & Lord of the Flies - red. Other books were filled with many colors yet those books were disturbing enough to be imagined in a single color.

[@MichaelSHartman]

Interesting. I thought it was only me. Looking back it seems logical. Antiseptic white, shades of gray depression, earthy barnyard brown, various emotions associated with red plus the Nazis flag.

[@timmy18135]

Based on We by Zamyatin We (Russian: Мы, romanized: My) is a dystopian novel by Russian writer Yevgeny Zamyatin, written 1920-1921.[2] It was first published as an English translation by Gregory Zilboorg in 1924 by E. P. Dutton in New York, with the original Russian text first published in 1952. The novel describes a world of harmony and conformity within a united totalitarian state. It influenced the emergence of dystopia as a literary genre. George Orwell said that Aldous Huxley's 1931 Brave New World must be partly derived from We,[3] although Huxley denied this

[@dreamingdreamerdream]

Aldous Huxley wrote a letter to Orwell stating that his version of an apocalyptic world is much more horrifying than that of 1984.

[@Styxswimmer]

Orwell feared the banning of books. Huxley feared there would be no need to ban books, since no one would desire to read one. I find that idea far more terrifying than banning books

[@titsmcgee8885]

Great book. Just finished it. My favorite read this year.

[@andyMutale]

I've always said that culture currently is a perverse mixture of 1984 and brave new world

[@chasepatton7430]

Good analysis, I need to re-read this book. Interesting way to frame an argument comparing attributes and goals of present day groups to the group(s) depicted in the book.

[@ActiveAdvocate1]

PS: I'm an Anarcho-Communist, and I object to the same things John does. It's vapid, it doesn't cost enough, it doesn't mean anything, it's told by an idiot, as he puts it. I want meaning, which is to say choice, which is to say real danger, which is to say art, beauty, science, real pain, real death. If you think the Left consists of hedonists only (I know you didn't say that, but if that's what you think), read Noam Chomsky, or David Graeber. I love those men.

[@tamtamm84]

I am so glad you covered this , I am writing a paper on this book in my final Language arts class, with a liberal teacher and trying to put my spin on it without ruining my grade

[@kennethobrien8386]

Brilliant summation of an important book that accurately reflects our culture now.

[@leeturnbull2082]

Auldious Huxleys brother was in a club who's purpose was Eugenics, they gave many lectures and wrote papers on altering humans in this way, it is believed that Brave new world was a warning, His brother Julian Huxley had ideas and started societies that today have a lot of power and a hand in social engineering, from Tavistock to the humanist association.

[@bobbyg4100]

Ben, Thank You as always for your take on a Book. Your Analysis is Spot on as usual. As a man Married 42-Years and 5-Children 2-Boys, 3-Girls we have raised our Family living a Devout Catholic Life and Home Schooled for 31 years. Moderation being continually taught as it keeps all the other Virtues in Check, and all extremes are to be avoided . It’s so evident that Aldous Huxley seemed to have a Prophetic Vision that is in uncandidly accurate. Truly our current generation of FOMO youths are not taught to control their appetites for pleasure. You have said it best Ben “ How about if we start with the Ten Commandments for our Start for our Societal rules “ just love you have told all these College Tours you made this truth to live by. Great Book Review and May God Bless you and your Family 🙏

[@ds698]

It’s totally happening now or on its way for sure lol. It’s insane

[@tahirhunter]

I agree 10old little girls should not be forced to give birth Talk about tyrant's being out of control

[@brockdavid]

There’s also a short story, ‘Harrison Bergeron’. It’s about the uglification of mankind, and the diminishing of our potential and prowess to make ‘others’ feel comfortable in mediocrity.

[@thedinnerparty4795]

I really was born sexual and suffered frustration throughout my childhood into adulthood. It’s not fair that society puts this guilt on us children. One girlfriend told me she was having a gay relationship at 7. She being the female. If we are going to talk about such things then we must accept that there are kids as with me who have these feelings and I always wanted a women with their big hips. I was never interested in children.

[@johnmchugh8049]

Excellent analysis Ben

[@olivierarnold_]

I just got a Ben Shapiro ad on a Ben Shapiro video. Congratulations, you have ruled over all algorithms

[@smokethis2285]

Just finished this book and one of the best reads I've read

[@thomascee]

Thanks for doing this. This book is on my list to read.

[@hadenohhh]

I'll be honest I zoned out on the set around Ben, like dayum that shit is fire. Who ever did that set needs a raise.

[@exxosetty]

This set is amazing

[@daviru02]

I've never read this book. I am interested in it. Ben's mentioned of everybody respecting each other's identity is the core view of the society in the book. But I'm willing to bet some views have are not tolerated. For instance, what about a person who doesn't think your identity is a good thing? Those people are obviously ousted. However, that ousted person's view is also based upon that ousted person's identity. So if you want to have respect for all identities, you would have to listen to that person's view and respect it and have an open dialogue. If not, then you are picking and choosing which people to listen to in society. Which in that case, would mean the society is a tyrannical society with no free speech. That is why as good as that society sounds, it would not work.

[@anon_y_mousse]

Wait, you think that society sounds good?

[@alexalexalex797]

What exactly would be wrong with listening to all sides? The only people who have an issue with that are leftists. Because their ideas would be dismantled and laughed at in a heartbeat, especially as far as all these modern gender theories go. Which is why there’s all this censorship constantly from 1 side.

[@dianesulpizio2542]

BNW was written in response to the Protestant English church's acceptance of artificial birth control. AH knew societal acceptance of ABC would create a sexualized world which prioritizes adult pleasure and priorities at the expense of intact families. Look around to see how right he was. Ppl moving from partner to partner, intact family for kids be damned. All manner of sexual disorder now normalized (abortion, LGBT, straights going from marriage to marriage, partner to partner, egg/sperm donation, surrogacy). And here we are......

[@andreadenise2800]

I remember reading that in high school and writing a paper about how people in the book seemed to lose their individual identity in the community mentality.

[@scottkidder9046]

I think this really shows the limits of saying “right vs left.” I find myself deeply rooted in values of family, of treating sex as sacred, of believing in liberal values. I think a brave new world is the kind of society we want minus the drugs, destruction of family, etc.. In many ways, society needs to have human flourishing as it’s main objective and it needs to bring scientific and empirical data to bear on solving social problems. If a brave new world really was meant to maximize human flourishing, it wouldn’t force people to do things that didn’t yield that for them. Ostensibly, empirical data would reveal that women are happier in monogamous relationships or that some people are and others aren’t. We could theoretically design humans to either desire monogamous relationships more or we could choose to engineer them the other way whether socially, genetically or otherwise. It just depends which of those things allows for more flourishing. We’d constantly be optimizing society and individuals to live in such a way that maximized flourishing. Obviously the pain/pleasure concept is pretty effective, but it would ultimately prove insufficient just as it is now. This idea that drugs solve everything or that mindless pleasure is the goal just means this society has the wrong goal. The goal is flourishing, not pleasure. What I’m saying is that a brave new world is ultimately the beginnings of a society all of us should want. It just gets a lot of the specifics wrong and even our best description of a perfect society today will get things wrong. We won’t know until we figure it out. And it really is only in a society that maximizes flourishing where true freedom can exist. Suffering will be something you can opt into rather than having it forced upon you. And I say all of this while having many of the same objections Ben has to all of the principles held in this dystopia. And I say this while considering myself a liberal as well. I consider myself on the left and yet I agreed with pretty much everything Ben said here. I’m pro choice because I want planned families, I want women to have the option because sometimes it’s the lesser of two evils, and ultimately, I believe the only way to truly end abortion is to keep it legal and study ways to make it unnecessary or find better interventions etc. I want happy and functional families. I believe in secularism not because I’m anti religious, but because I believe empiricism does a better job describing physical reality and can largely inform us on how to reform our Christian values over time and love one another better. I also believe in the freedom of religion which means we have to be secular when it comes to matters of policy and public social institutions. I believe people should have equal rights regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, intelligence, political ideology, sexual orientation, age, or physical ability. I believe we should have equality of opportunity. All of these things are generally considered liberal. And yet I see the problems with drugs, alcohol, sex, addiction, and lack of discipline. I see the value in the individual, responsibility, self-sufficiency, individual identity, tradition, religion etc. where does that leave me?

[@dianesulpizio2542]

BNW was written in response to the Protestant English church's acceptance of artificial birth control. AH knew societal acceptance of ABC would create a sexualized world which prioritizes adult pleasure and priorities at the expense of intact families. Look around to see how right he was. Ppl moving from partner to partner, intact family for kids be damned. All manner of sexual disorder now normalized (abortion, LGBT, straights going from marriage to marriage, partner to partner,egg/sperm donation, surrogacy ). And here we are......

[@patricknewton1368]

Thank you for reviewing this novel. Would you please Ben, review Huxley’s “Island”.

[@spectrepar2458]

Definitely had to use headphones rather than just playing it outloud when reading this audiobook.

[@fernandoaquino7193]

I would totally subscribe just on the bookclub alone so I wish there was something where you can only do the bookclub

[@bluevip3015]

Ok I just have to give props to Ben’s stylist cuz that blazer is AMAZING great color combo

[@jiziz5751]

When I read the brave new world when I was a teenager l couldn't get over this book for 5 years. And at that time which was almost 30 years ago, living in Poland, which till this day is not as woke as US now, I thought that the book was a description of the reality

[@CosmoPhiloPharmaco]

Uhh, I thought Ben's reviews were only accessible to members of the Daily Wire (who paid for the subscription).

[@Davilla888]

Do a video on BF Skinner’s Walden Two, Ben!

[@Deadfall_Telemetry]

I think as usual we can't see the wood for the trees. It's a common problem we have. The thing is with the Huxleys is, that they were in with the whole progressive California Esalen milieu that promoted the very ideas we find in the novel. They moved very much among those who would become architects of our current "Brave New World". Laura Huxley for example mixed with esoteric psychologists who followed Alice Bailey; being a mystic who espoused the idea of Heirachy etc... So it appear Huxley is against something he was working towards - a kind of Gnostic Utopia. So there is something we are missing somewhere.

[@jiha8550]

1984: War is peace Freedom is slavery Ignorance is strength Brave New World: Community, Identity, Stability

[@rajunaidu7751]

The governments of 1984 and BNW both want the same goal of absolute order and power by a central authority. When I read about BNW ten years ago I thought it was sad because the people just 'got high' all day rather than living a full life.

[@dianesulpizio2542]

BNW was written in response to the Protestant English church's acceptance of artificial birth control. AH knew societal acceptance of ABC would create a sexualized world which prioritizes adult pleasure and priorities at the expense of intact families. Look around to see how right he was. Ppl moving from partner to partner, intact family for kids be damned. All manner of sexual disorder now normalized (abortion, LGBT, straights going from marriage to marriage, partner to partner, egg/sperm donation, surrogacy). And here we are......

[@apiet56]

I read Brave New World in High School. It was in the early 70's. Not many understood the main context of it, which I did. It the 60's and 70's the world was, I believe more in context of the story. The years of drugs and free love. So when I read it, it was closer to life then, than it is now. Look back at Woodstock, Greenwich Village, California. The lifestyle then was much closer to Brave New World than it is today. My question in the lifestyle it portrays, better than the world we live in today. Leftist thought, terrorism, hatred, racial boundaries. We also have CRT being taught, teaching children what their true gender is. How many kids would play doctor because they had urges and wanted to see differences. Sneaking Hustler and Playboy magazines. My point is, are we better off in the current direction this world is headed or would a world of Huxley's novel be a safer less stressed out world. Through the years remembering the Novel, it begs the answer of which road would be a better choice.

[@MichaelSHartman]

Interesting synopsis. During the last few weeks I have been shown the startlingly reversal of courtship, love, marriage, sex, and children pattern to described in the book.

[@samn8309]

A Clockwork Orange fits into this theme very well.