F is for Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Blurb: (from goodreads) The terrifyingly prophetic novel of a post-literate future.
Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to burn books, which are forbidden, being the source of all discord and unhappiness. Even so, Montag is unhappy; there is discord in his marriage. Are books hidden in his house? The Mechanical Hound of the Fire Department, armed with a lethal hypodermic, escorted by helicopters, is ready to track down those dissidents who defy society to preserve and read books.
The classic dystopian novel of a post-literate future, Fahrenheit 451 stands alongside Orwell’s 1984 and Huxley’s Brave New World as a prophetic account of Western civilization’s enslavement by the media, drugs and conformity.
Bradbury’s powerful and poetic prose combines with uncanny insight into the potential of technology to create a novel which, decades on from first publication, still has the power to dazzle and shock.
I think this is a book that deserves a place on the to-read pile on my Kindle.
I read a short story in the same vein some years ago. In it, a nonconforming professor of higher mathematics set about to demonstrate that it was possible to do simple arithmetic without using a computer.
Is mental arithmetic still taught in schools?
Keith Channing A-Zing from http://keithkreates.com
It’s been a long time since I’ve read it. Can’t answer your question about mental arithmetic in schools… maybe in the earlier years but with calculators and what not, probably not so much anymore.
I visited your blog and love your A to Z limericks! 🙂
I have definitely got to get this one! The thought of a society without books is a very sad thought indeed.
Have a blessed day. 🙂
It has been a long time since I read Farenheit 451. When I was in high school in a smallish town, one of the school board members wanted to burn some books. I was (and still am) shocked by the idea. This is a great book–thanks for sharing it.
I find the idea of burning books appalling. I’m glad you stopped by, Susan.
I’ve never read Fahrenheit 451, somehow I’ve missed out on reading it so far. I really like dystopian books though especially 1984 and Brave New World so I’ll try to find a copy soon.
I read this many, many years ago, but with this reminder I think I may need to pick it up again. Wasn’t there a movie made based on this book? I’ll have to look it up.
I think you’ll enjoy this one, Rosie. Thanks for stopping by Celtic Connexions. 🙂
Yes, there was a movie made based on the book. I didn’t know this off the top of my head, I had to look it up. Here’s the link for the movie at IMDb http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060390/ Books are always better than the movies, I think.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. 🙂
The distopia novels are deliciously terrifying because of their painful truths. I enjoyed your post. Thank you!
Thanks for stopping by, Michelle. Glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂