Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

A Brave New World is a dystopian novel set in a future society where technology, genetic manipulation and social engineering have created a “perfect” society. Born into rigid caste systems, each member is assigned a specific role - from the high-ranking Alpha-Plus to the lowly Epsilon. The government maintains control of the population through the use of drugs designed to prevent any sort of dissent. Huxley’s Bernard Marx is an Alpha-Plus who doesn’t feel he fits the mold of his class. Joined by Beta worker Lenina, Marx visits a “savage” reserve, where he meets John, a non-genetically engineered young man who is shocked by the hedonistic world he and Lenina come from. The novel critiques a society controlled by consumerism and explores theme of the loss of individuality and humanity. Its powerful commentary on the consequences of totalitarianism places it firmly in the midst of history’s most frequently banned and challenged books.