Review: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (audiobook)

Back in the day before internet lists, I was very fortunate to have a friend who was in the know about philosophical books. He would key me in every time he read something interesting and of course, I would check these books out. I read a lot of dystopia as a teen. I know I read this a very long time ago. I was overdue for a re-read/listen of this classic book by Bradbury. This is slightly different from his other science fiction books.

The book starts by introducing the main character of Guy Montag. Montag is a fireman, but not in the way we think. You see in his world firemen don't stop fires they start them. They don't put out house fires they light them if they are filled with books. One day Guy walks home from his job to run into his new neighbor.  Montag's awkward interaction's with this teen neighbor show us the reader how people in his world do not talk to each other. He has to learn how to talk to a person and how to share ideas and concepts because this society does not interact with each other. They don't talk and speculate and ponder things. The main character, Montag later tries to have a conversation with his spouse and sees that she is so absorbed into her screens that she doesn't really talk but just replies with automatic responses. Their house is filled with the constant chatter of programs and music playing in the background. Programs that lack substance and no real meaning found in them. Even the music they listen to is just jingles...no real thoughts in song.

In this world, books have been removed because the concept or ideas in some may have offended someone. History has been re-written and no one must question things because if they do "they would be sad". Screens are often found in multiples, as rooms are oversaturated with electronic stimulation. This reminded me of how they were similar to smartphones and how people often ignore loved ones because they can't miss that status update. Everyone in this world has no opinion and they all think the same....even look the same in some instances. There is a fear of free thought, and ideas. People refrain from talking about politics and know nothing of other nations. They base voting a candidate based on shallow ideals such as looks and manners.

I could go on and on telling you about this world, and I hope you don't overlook some of the warnings found in this book. I would not recommend just plowing through this, as you should take the time to think about the scenes and try to understand what the author is trying to convey. I will admit that after the Fireman History speech that I had to rewind and listen to it again and then ponder over what I had heard.

I heard from a review that they thought this book was the ravings from an old man or was this rather wisdom from an elder....one who saw with the development of technology how far we would stray from being social free thinking people into something less than ideal and sheepish. In this day of fake news, and reality TV stars turned President the ideas in this book still resonate. I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.com and recommend this for almost anyone.

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UK and Canada click here - Fahrenheit 451