Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is a relatively recent book that has been winning over book critics. A major part of its popularity stems from its not-so-subtle message of how people can easily be swayed into "thinking," even without education.
 |
Image Source: wikiemedia.org
|
The book is relatively short, and without giving much away, the concept is very fascinating. Book enthusiasts say the book carries undertones of 1984 by George Orwell in that it introduced the idea that we may be on a path that encourages non-thinking. Admittedly, the book takes the dystopian concept to the extreme. It is doubtful that such a society – where all books are burned – would ever exist. But it does strike a chord in today’s society.
Studies made by mental health practitioners have suggested that empathy, or its sibling, sympathy, is learned somehow through books, which are pathways to other people’s lives. Fahrenheit 451 talks about this and how a society built on just a small group of people’s beliefs can dramatically change thinking. When a tiny percentage of people control the thoughts of a larger group, it creates a disproportion. Societies thrive when there is a healthy amount of difference in thinking. A presence in either extreme (too little thinking and too much thinking) creates chaos.
 |
Image Source: amazon.com
|
That being said, book critics all suggest that this book is a definite must-read, especially in conjunction with other similar literature as Orwell’s 1984.
John Covington loves to read books tackling education. Learn more about his passion for books by liking this Facebook page.
