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Lisa's Reviews > Fahrenheit 451
Fahrenheit 451
by
by
The Wall Controls You - The Silent Take-Over Of Screen-Time!
What does "Fahrenheit 451" mean to me? Most of all, it is a declaration of love for books in an era of fast entertainment and instant gratification as a means of political control of the masses.
I used to think Brave New World and 1984 - or a combination of those two - had a more accurate take on human mind-slavery in the age of technology than "Fahrenheit 451". But increasingly, I see the world as Bradbury saw it, with people sitting in front of screens, absorbed by meaningless entertainment without purpose or fulfillment, losing their ability to talk to each other. And with the dialogue, reflection disappears from our homes and schools.
Students do "research" without ever touching a book and spit out slogans they find online, but they can't put them into context. They write their essays on screens and unlearn how to spell. They dream of a career which makes them visible on screens as well: they want to be athletes, singers, movie stars. Out of the 200 teenagers I asked, only 2 had read a book during their ten weeks of summer holidays, and most of them couldn't even say what they had been doing instead. Time passes without being noticed in front of a screen - a WALL, as it is called in the novel.
If you do not practice the skill of reading and of appreciating literature, it is lost. The book burning that takes place in "Fahrenheit 451" is not even necessary in the real world of today. Those rare students that like reading can't share their interest with anyone anymore, and it doesn't spread:
"With school turning out more runners, jumpers, racers, tinkerers, grabbers, snatchers, fliers, and swimmers instead of examiners, critics, knowers, and imaginative creators, the word 'intellectual,' of course, became the swear word it deserved to be."
What Bradbury meant as satire is my work reality.
So what have I done myself, hopeless book lover that I am? I have taken to the woods, figuratively speaking, like the characters in "Fahrenheit 451". Barring television screens and computer games - the walls - from my home, I have made sure reading stays alive. My walls are filled with books, not screens. I waste no opportunity to talk about books with my children, and I make them learn poems by heart. To develop a lasting love for literature, it has to be nurtured. You are not born a reader, just like you are not born a football player or a dancer. Accessibility, motivation and training are necessary prerequisites for any interests to form. It takes time and care.
Fahrenheit 451 - the temperature at which books burn. I think Bradbury got that wrong. It is what happened to books in the past, when politicians actively tried to destroy specific books. There is no need for them to do that anymore. In our world, books drown - in the flood of quick information and easy entertainment.
The year of the flood... after the fire came the water, and it caused more damage!
What does "Fahrenheit 451" mean to me? Most of all, it is a declaration of love for books in an era of fast entertainment and instant gratification as a means of political control of the masses.
I used to think Brave New World and 1984 - or a combination of those two - had a more accurate take on human mind-slavery in the age of technology than "Fahrenheit 451". But increasingly, I see the world as Bradbury saw it, with people sitting in front of screens, absorbed by meaningless entertainment without purpose or fulfillment, losing their ability to talk to each other. And with the dialogue, reflection disappears from our homes and schools.
Students do "research" without ever touching a book and spit out slogans they find online, but they can't put them into context. They write their essays on screens and unlearn how to spell. They dream of a career which makes them visible on screens as well: they want to be athletes, singers, movie stars. Out of the 200 teenagers I asked, only 2 had read a book during their ten weeks of summer holidays, and most of them couldn't even say what they had been doing instead. Time passes without being noticed in front of a screen - a WALL, as it is called in the novel.
If you do not practice the skill of reading and of appreciating literature, it is lost. The book burning that takes place in "Fahrenheit 451" is not even necessary in the real world of today. Those rare students that like reading can't share their interest with anyone anymore, and it doesn't spread:
"With school turning out more runners, jumpers, racers, tinkerers, grabbers, snatchers, fliers, and swimmers instead of examiners, critics, knowers, and imaginative creators, the word 'intellectual,' of course, became the swear word it deserved to be."
What Bradbury meant as satire is my work reality.
So what have I done myself, hopeless book lover that I am? I have taken to the woods, figuratively speaking, like the characters in "Fahrenheit 451". Barring television screens and computer games - the walls - from my home, I have made sure reading stays alive. My walls are filled with books, not screens. I waste no opportunity to talk about books with my children, and I make them learn poems by heart. To develop a lasting love for literature, it has to be nurtured. You are not born a reader, just like you are not born a football player or a dancer. Accessibility, motivation and training are necessary prerequisites for any interests to form. It takes time and care.
Fahrenheit 451 - the temperature at which books burn. I think Bradbury got that wrong. It is what happened to books in the past, when politicians actively tried to destroy specific books. There is no need for them to do that anymore. In our world, books drown - in the flood of quick information and easy entertainment.
The year of the flood... after the fire came the water, and it caused more damage!
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Reading Progress
June 25, 2014
– Shelved
June 25, 2014
– Shelved as:
favorites
Started Reading
October 1, 2017
– Shelved as:
postliterate-fiction
October 1, 2017
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 74 (74 new)
Ich habe das Buch immer gemocht. Wie du deine Wirklichkeit darin entdeckst, ist gleichermaßen erhellend wie erschreckend.
Quite a timely review in view of the horrible events that took place today in my country....
"My walls are filled with books, not screens."
Plot thickens. We stage the same play AND live in the same house.
Plot thickens. We stage the same play AND live in the same house.
Like 1984 it also speaks of the danger of ignorance. Tyrannical regimes actively encourage passivity and award lazily consuming propaganda. Anyone who refuses to be led like a sheep by the common culture will find himself alienated by a society programmed to fear and hate him for his individuality.
Jean-Paul wrote: "Brilliant review, Lisa. I share many of your concerns about modern-day society. Thank you for always reminding us, where the pitfalls lie."There is hardly any place in real life where I can vent them. People just shrug their shoulders - showing me that we here at GR are the community in the woods, ironically!
Matt wrote: "Passend (vielleicht) dazu ein besinnliches kleines Lied von Simon & Jan. Schöne neue Welt.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcyVe..."
Ja, so ist es. Und mit ihren akkustischen Gitarren sind sie schpn Rebellen!
Steffi wrote: "Ich habe das Buch immer gemocht. Wie du deine Wirklichkeit darin entdeckst, ist gleichermaßen erhellend wie erschreckend."Ja, leider uebertreibe ich nicht. Das wäre schön. Aber es stimmt und nimmt zu.
Dolors wrote: "Quite a timely review in view of the horrible events that took place today in my country...."Yes, Dolors! What a weekend. Soul-destroying!
T for Tongue-tied wrote: ""My walls are filled with books, not screens."Plot thickens. We stage the same play AND live in the same house."
We are quite strange Scandinavians. Me at least. In Sweden, I am definitely the odd one. But maybe Norway has kept more of a reading culture?
Tariq wrote: "Like 1984 it also speaks of the danger of ignorance. Tyrannical regimes actively encourage passivity and award lazily consuming propaganda. Anyone who refuses to be led like a sheep by the common c..."Well put, Tariq! I couldn't agree more!
Spricht alle goodreaders deutsch!
Fabulous review, Lisa! I agree with what you said whole heartedly!
Sad, but beautifully written review. Goodreads does feel like Bradbury's woods, and I'm just grateful such a place exists.
Missy J wrote: "Fantastic review!"Thank you, Missy J!
Lisa wrote: "We are quite strange Scandinavians. Me at least. In Sweden, I am definitely the odd one. But maybe Norway has kept more of a reading culture?"
I really want to believe people read more than just their annual, tradition-imposed påskekrim somewhere between their ski extravaganza and a Kvikk Lunsj chocolate bar... There's certainly a fair amount of spectacular readers in my local cafe where every occasional loner seems to be hiding from the world behind the pages of their book rather than a shot of vodka so my hopes for humanity still fly rather high;)
I really want to believe people read more than just their annual, tradition-imposed påskekrim somewhere between their ski extravaganza and a Kvikk Lunsj chocolate bar... There's certainly a fair amount of spectacular readers in my local cafe where every occasional loner seems to be hiding from the world behind the pages of their book rather than a shot of vodka so my hopes for humanity still fly rather high;)
Jaline wrote: "Fabulous review, Lisa! I agree with what you said whole heartedly!"Thank you, Jaline!
"In our world, books drown - in the flood of quick information and easy entertainment." Great line, Lisa!This book has been on my TBR list for quite some time, but I still don't feel enthused to read it.
Brave move - banning TVs and screens from your home. My teenagers (and preteen) would move out if that happened.
Regarding your point about nurturing a lasting love for literature, how do you actually make kids read when they don't want to? Is there a risk that "forcing" them to read might actually have the reverse effect and make them hate books instead?
Ray wrote: "Brave move - banning TVs and screens from your home. My teenagers (and preteen) would move out if that happened."It is what they are used to. There have never been video games or television at home, so they don't know any other way of life at home. They have never asked for it actually, as our days are quite busy anyway.
Zak wrote: "Regarding your point about nurturing a lasting love for literature, how do you actually make kids read when they don't want to? Is there a risk that "forcing" them to read might actually have the r..."It is not possible to force it. You can only show your own enthusiasm, provide opportunities to discuss and take them to bookstores and libraries. I don't believe in "rewarding" children for reading either, as it gives them the impression it is a chore. As woth music or sports, it is the parents' own love for it that rubs off, not an artificial ambition. I know that because I have taught literature and literacy long enough to see when and why it fails too.
Kevin wrote: ""In our world, books drown - in the flood of quick information and easy entertainment." Great line, Lisa!This book has been on my TBR list for quite some time, but I still don't feel enthused to r..."
Thank you, Kevin! To be honest, the language is somewhat dated, but I enjoyed it immensely anyway. It is one of those books I have read with teenagers, and they always stay close to my heart afterwards.
Aaron wrote: "Totally agarre, nice review"Thanks, Aaron!
it is a nightmare for book lovers. our worst dystopia. Thank you for the review.
Kathleen wrote: "Sad, but beautifully written review. Goodreads does feel like Bradbury's woods, and I'm just grateful such a place exists."Me too, Kathleen!
Terrific review of this classic Lisa!
Wow!! Excellent review!!
Mohamad wrote: "it is a nightmare for book lovers. our worst dystopia. Thank you for the review."Thank you, Mohamad! I agree!
Mackey wrote: "Terrific review of this classic Lisa!"Thank you, Mackey!
A shiver ran down my spine while reading your review, Lisa.
Excellent, Lisa, I agree with you wholeheartedly!
Cyndi wrote: "Wow!! Excellent review!!"Thank you, Cyndi!
Jasmine wrote: "A shiver ran down my spine while reading your review, Lisa."We live in a chilly world at the moment. Thanks, Jasmine!
Edward wrote: "Excellent, Lisa, I agree with you wholeheartedly!"Thanks, Edward!
Beautiful review. The film ( from Truffaut I think) is also gripping but beautifully made.
Tariq - "Anyone who refuses to be led like a sheep by the common culture will find himself alienated by a society programmed to fear and hate him for his individuality" ... yes sir. Couldn't have put it better myself.
Deanna wrote: "Great review, Lisa!! :)"Thank you, Deanna!
Super review Lisa. How right you are in what you say. But if we all remain bonded to and by our love of books and inspire by example all may yet be well. (Heavens! I sound so old).
You write precisely why holding the mirror to the world today isn't a promising prospect, Lisa. It is scary.
Annelies wrote: "Beautiful review. The film ( from Truffaut I think) is also gripping but beautifully made."Thank you, Annelies! I will definitely watch the film as well at some point.
John wrote: "Super review Lisa. How right you are in what you say. But if we all remain bonded to and by our love of books and inspire by example all may yet be well. (Heavens! I sound so old)."That is what makes me go to work each morning, John - the belief that putting in the effort will pay off, never mind the odds. But that is also what makes my heart break regularly, after a long day, tired and disillusioned.
Seemita wrote: "You write precisely why holding the mirror to the world today isn't a promising prospect, Lisa. It is scary."Yes, teaching is a scary profession at the moment - we see more than we like to see.
Wonderful review, Lisa! I read this many many years ago but I do hope to re-read it sometime soon. Thanks for the nudge to get it done!
Brilliant Bradbury. Sad, but true. You really got me with this line, Lisa, "The book burning that takes place in "Fahrenheit 451" is not even necessary in the real world of today. Sigh. Nice review, as always.
Wen wrote: "So well said!!!"Thank you, Wen!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcyVe...