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)

A shockingly accurate prediction of the world

While I read this, I replaced "sleep conditioning" with "Televised entertainment and marketing" and it is incredible to see how accurate Huxley's vision is. The hook up culture, paired with licit medications and illicit drugs we have prevalent in modern civilization is a terrifying reality. Nearly a century ago, Huxley authored this work as almost a horror story of what the future could look like for the generations to come. Such an insightful book! An essential read!

I’m a word, bizarre.

I should start by saying that this book doesn’t fall into the usual genres I choose books from, but it was free so I gave it a shot. That being said, I really don’t understand all the great reviews this book is getting. For starters the book starts off with a strange and extremely detailed analysis of a fictional process by which human beings are being mass produced in a facility, for nearly an hour you listen to this lecture of sorts about the process of creating human beings at a mass production level without much clue as to why the process is necessary or what the purpose of it is, this does become clear before the actual story starts but nonetheless it was, for me, a very off putting way to begin a story. We then sequence into a disorienting array of conversations in which we switch between different characters very rapidly, so rapidly in fact that for a good 20 minutes or so it goes a little something like this: 2 lines of dialogue, switch characters, 3 lines of dialogue, switch characters, 1 line, switch, 4 lines, switch...you get the idea. If you can make it through all that the story normalizes quite a bit and I can see how it would be enjoyable to some, but there’s still a major drawback for me. At no point in the book did I feel any sort of emotion or connection to the characters, despite the fact that the narrator did a very good job, I felt as if the book was written in monotone. Oh there was drama sure but none of it really pulled me in, I just could not for the life of me connect with any of the characters. I’ve seen some reviews that describe it as a dark comedy, I’m a pretty big fan of dark humor but did not so much as chuckle softly. What’s more is the fact that the end of the book felt very anti-climactic, but I won’t go into details there because I really can’t without spoilers. Again, this is all just my opinion of a book I definitely wouldn’t have read if it wasn’t free, I’m sure from its rating and other reviews that many people will enjoy it, just not my cup of tea. In this listeners opinion, Michael York’s performance was the only redeeming quality about this audiobook, would not recommend to anyone who expects action or major conflict, but if you enjoy dystopian settings and high society drama give it a shot.

Yep- spot on!

I had no expectations for this book, as I had only heard of it casually. Boy was I in for a delightful yet scary surprise. My first reaction was, omg- the Purge... if you don't the series, it's worth taking a look as this too was based on a future dystopian society. The New World echoed being born out of the coup that would occur if the Purge were real.

Now with that out of the way- this book is a sad, truthful, and scary reflection of our society. We are conditioned, conditioned to believe that one group is better or less than based on skin pigmentation, ability, gender, sexual orientation, financial situation, etc. Because of this we have this dualistic society of the haves and have not, the savages and the civilized as the story refers to them.

As in the book, everyone gets the lot afforded to them by the governing body. They are taught that they have a lane, to stay in it and if they don't punishment is often swift and unjust for the have nots. As I listened, I saw American public schools, prisons, homeless populations, disenfranchised persons, the government and the wealthy all rolled into some neatly bound pages.

This book is profound and should be introduced in middle grades.. however, because it is profound and so many discoveries can be inferred from it, it won't be!

Great Narration

The story struggled to pick up at first but then had a great twist for an ending.

Great concept, good plot, poor ending.

Very thought provoking. There are similarities between the society described in this book and the consumer, pleasure seeking culture of modern America. It is definitely worth reading. It is just as relevant, if not more relevant today, as it was in 1932. Enjoyed the plot, but was disappointed by the sudden unsatisfactory ending. Although, maybe that was purposeful. Dissatisfaction is a recurrent theme.

Interesting ideas, odd pacing

I went into Brave New World expecting something like 1984, however Huxley's is a very different, less dark dystopian future. It presents some interesting ideas that spark interesting philosophical questions. Unfortunately I felt that the book takes a rather long way around to arrive at it's point.

York is great, would happily listen to more of him, though his use of accents for the biggest characters was a little distracting.

Good concept, poor delivery, too many details

The way this book is written had me throwing my hands in the air years ago, but I decided to give it a try with audible. I was able to get through it this time, but it wasn't great. The interesting parts are watered down by too many details, and the narrator was pretty monotone.

great listen

was an entertaining story highly recommend important message that has to do with individuals and the society as a whole

A book of rare depth

Incredibly deep and so up-to-date with current developments in the modern world that one simply cannot believe it has been written 75 years ago. For me, every intelligent person should read this one as a tool to reflect on the shape of modern society.

Better in 1969

It's been at least 48 years since I first read this book, which at that time became one of my favorites. I was surprised that age compelled me to downgrade the book from five stars to three. Yes, the first half was engaging and then I began to lose interest, yet that wasn't it--I probably thought that even then. I think it was the novelty of Huxley's ideas at the time that enchanted me. The writing really isn't that good. I was also reminded of how much more sophisticated contemporary literature has become--we demand more of our authors because they are so plentiful and their work is so easy to access. Still, kudos to Huxley for being a visionary and for his enormous contribution to science fiction.