Brave New World

By: Aldous Huxley

Narrated by: Michael York

Length: 8 hrs

Publisher's summary

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

Critic reviews

"British actor Michael York's refined and dramatic reading captures both the tone and the spirit of Huxley's masterpiece." (AudioFile)

Similar to 1984 but different

This is the first Aldous Huxley book I’ve read but I don’t plan on it being the last. Huxley has a brilliant and vivid imagination on par with Orwell. The narrator does a very good job, absolutely no complaints.

Brilliant performance of a timeless classic.

Beautiful narration. An absolute pleasure to listen to. Huxley's prescience has never been more obvious than it is today.

So Lost

Let me begin by saying science fiction and myself dont get along. I am a fan of Huxley so I wanted to give his fiction a try. I tried reading this and was completely lost, tried to give the audiobook a try and still was lost. I'm sure it's worth every bit of the hype it gets, it just doesn't work for me.

Another book that you have to read at least once

I had heard about this story as one about a dystopia. But in reality, the book is deeply more philosophical and asks some very thought-provoking questions. Whats surprising is the relevance of the story even today.
The narrator does an excellent job as well.

A decently aged classic

This is the first time reading/listening Brave New World and while it no doubt posed new and provocative questions at its release, its popularity is probably what causes it too feel all too familiar.

The familiarity is nonetheless something that adds to the book as the ideas in it are unfortunately again highly relevant.

The themes in the book have since been iterated on and explored in many later works. Still, it is one of the absolute classics on the topic and as long as you don't mind the occasional stretch of events which no longer feel as provocative as was probably intended, it is a great read.

Uncanny and Brilliant

At first, the story is too ridiculous to really be familiar... but slowly and surely as the world gets built out, You can see how this world is a warped reflection of our own. Sure we're not all born on an assembly line of test tubes, but some of the consumerist concepts are a little too close to the mark.

Scary

Well written, I couldn't stop listening. Huxleys view of purposeless, socialist consumer culture in the future is scary. Considering?

a different society at a glance

the performance was pretty good esoecially tge character voices. Story when it comes to society details is the best. The inter character relations is less interesting

This is a classic?

This was a tough book to get through. I won't deny Aldous Huxley's ability to create a world and deftly give birth to the characters within...but, this book was difficult to read. I think part of it may have to do with the thick descriptions often given for a variety of situations and scenes. Though I think much of my trudge through the pages would have to be because of the dislikable society that the pages teamed with.

It is true to it's goal of creating a true dystopian society, but in that success brought about a real sluggish read. Perhaps it was my own bias in how well the society was described. It was very well crafted! But, I hated EVERYONE in it!

I have to say, I totally agree with the reaction of the character at the very end. If you've read this book, you know what I mean.

“AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY”

Always and forever timeless.

Truly a classic. Akin to 1984, this should be part of everyone's "must listen to" list.

AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY