My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is a speculative fiction novel written about a future in which books and homes are burned instead of being saved.

My Overview

This story takes place in a dystopian world, at an undisclosed time in the future. In this future, books and ideas are banned. Doing so, is meant to keep society happy. After all, how could anyone not be happy with an absence of contradicting ideas, thoughts, and opinions? Burning books at a temperature of Fahrenheit 451, therefore, should keep society happy.

Guy Montag, the main character in the novel, is a firefighter. He’s been at the job for ten years, and takes great pride and satisfaction in his job. He’s doing the same job he and his father did before him, and has never questioned why books are burned. It’s the life he knows, and he’s accepted it. As he encounters certain individuals, he begins to question his life and the society he lives in. With that, comes great turmoil and change in his life.

The theme of the novel is the battle of knowledge vs. ignorance. This novel gives a view into a world without knowledge, the interest for knowledge, or the ability to explore and exchange ideas with others. Written seventy years ago, this novel still resonates today. Interestingly, this novel was written in 1953 and mentions the year 2022. I found that interesting, since it’s now 2023.

I found the concept of the story interesting. The writing style was dark and redundant, but I appreciated the message. Overall, this is a thought-provoking novel that resonates with the world we know today.

My Recommendation

If you haven’t read Fahrenheit 451 yet, I highly recommend it. I specifically recommend the 60th Anniversary edition, which includes a Foreword by Neil Gaiman. As an aside, I tried the audiobook and didn’t enjoy it. I’m glad I gave the book another try by reading the Kindle edition. I just wanted to mention it, in case you find yourself in that same situation.

Have you read this book?