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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Orwell combines observations of the lives of miners in the north of England with pointed critiques of Socialism’s PR issues. I really responded to the honesty with which Orwell wrote all parts of this book. He confesses things about himself with openness and vulnerability. I also appreciated the moments of humor and funny turns of phrase he uses. It’s a very readable book and contains some scarily accurate predictions about the rise of Fascism in Europe. Do yourself a favor and read this!
challenging
informative
You’re all reading 1984, and that’s grand—Are you talking about it?—but the Orwell you need to read is The Road to Wigan Pier - a clear-eyed, direct-voiced, unflinching critique of liberalism in hopes of uniting all against Fascism. Still, the critique rings true.
Road to Wigan Pier is divided into 2 parts: Orwell's observation of poverty throughout England and his view on socialism (on why it should prevail and why the condition at that time prevent it). The first part is classic Orwell. No one could narrate man's hardship and struggle better than him. The second part is new to me. This the first instance of Orwell talking descriptively about an idea, rather than going back and forth from occurrence to interpretation. A lot of things that aged like milk in hindsight but after all, it is an enjoyable memoir and description of socialism in that time. After reading this, I got more curious to learn about the fall of socialism/left-wing in England, for it should not be the same as what happened in Indonesia (falling abruptly without any echo).
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
funny
wow britian is hell!
1. you can tell george is a true hater thanks to how much he hates himself
2. i appreciate the part on how short yet muscular working class men are and the part on how hairless the burmese are. thank you george. those are the details i needed to know.
3. says only snobs know how to hate --> proceeds to hate
the man has some good roasts in here, i will give him that. and i appreciate him linking the concepts of annoying dogma catholics and annoying dogma marxists. its true i hate them for the same reasons! i personally think it's a really funny read tho. my man is really laying his soul bare via his pov on things. i had a good laugh.
1. you can tell george is a true hater thanks to how much he hates himself
2. i appreciate the part on how short yet muscular working class men are and the part on how hairless the burmese are. thank you george. those are the details i needed to know.
3. says only snobs know how to hate --> proceeds to hate
the man has some good roasts in here, i will give him that. and i appreciate him linking the concepts of annoying dogma catholics and annoying dogma marxists. its true i hate them for the same reasons! i personally think it's a really funny read tho. my man is really laying his soul bare via his pov on things. i had a good laugh.
Did you know George Orwell was a pen name? I didn't until I looked up his wikipedia page prior to my class discussing this book.
Summary: Orwell investigated conditions for the working class and it turned into a discussion about socialism.
Thoughts: There are some very vivid examples in this book such as the coal miner whose black thumb print covers the bread and the statement that middle class children are told that the working classes smell, basically from birth. This creates conditions where those who might be sympathetic to socialism and would benefit more from it than from capitalism look down on the socialists. The language used also pushes people away. It's especially remarkable because the book opens with a letter from the people distributing the book, disclaiming some of the attitudes expressed. It definitely encourages me to get started on reading "1984."
Overall: 4/5. I prefer his fiction but this is very readable and raises some interesting issues.
Summary: Orwell investigated conditions for the working class and it turned into a discussion about socialism.
Thoughts: There are some very vivid examples in this book such as the coal miner whose black thumb print covers the bread and the statement that middle class children are told that the working classes smell, basically from birth. This creates conditions where those who might be sympathetic to socialism and would benefit more from it than from capitalism look down on the socialists. The language used also pushes people away. It's especially remarkable because the book opens with a letter from the people distributing the book, disclaiming some of the attitudes expressed. It definitely encourages me to get started on reading "1984."
Overall: 4/5. I prefer his fiction but this is very readable and raises some interesting issues.
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
What a professional hater. Orwell always has this massive problem with everything, and most importantly, he’s on the right side of the dispute. His descriptions of the living conditions in the first half of the book are tragic and harrowing. They’re so effective, and their pairing with the political essays in the second half is brilliant. I love to see a clear path forward after learning something disgusting and/or painful. It’s not necessarily essential reading in terms of political theory or development, but it would work so brilliantly to include as a precursor to reading other Orwell texts. His warnings against polite inaction leading towards Fascism were as timely then as they are now.
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced