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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Great historical insight. I'm not sure he fully understood the full implications of socialism at this point. Missing some of the natural human tendencies that doom it to fail every time.
A non fiction book from Orwell that may seem out of date nowadays, but these labor problems still exist in the world. He travels to mining towns in the north of England to see how people are living. It's not very luxurious for sure. They are living on mere shillings a week if they have work at all. The miner's work conditions are to the point where it's hard to imagine they will make it to the next day. The second part of the book gets a little dry with him critiquing socialism and telling how it is the only way to fight fascism. That part drags a little. Otherwise a pretty good read.
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
The first half of this book was brilliant and completely engrossed me. It depicts everyday life (work, bills, salary, house conditions etc) for many in the industrial north in the 1930s. I knew little about any of this until reading this book. It opened my eyes, bringing me into a world I would not have had access to otherwise. For this reason, it’s one of the best things I’ve read.
The second half of the book wasn’t for me. It was mainly Orwell’s opinion. Generally, I’m not interested in opinion pieces (unless the writer has first-hand/expert experience). I didn’t feel Orwell was in this category regarding working-class northern life. To me, Part 2 felt like a very long time reading all about socialism (fine, but it was all a lot of theory). I’d much rather have read a continuation of Part 1, and learnt more of what real life was like for many.
The second half of the book wasn’t for me. It was mainly Orwell’s opinion. Generally, I’m not interested in opinion pieces (unless the writer has first-hand/expert experience). I didn’t feel Orwell was in this category regarding working-class northern life. To me, Part 2 felt like a very long time reading all about socialism (fine, but it was all a lot of theory). I’d much rather have read a continuation of Part 1, and learnt more of what real life was like for many.
informative
sad
medium-paced
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
This was a book of two halves, combining two things i find interesting- history and philosophy, and this is arguably how the book was divided. The first half explored the plight of the working class- through staying in deprived northern areas, following miners into the bowels of the earth and meeting those in lodging houses- demonstrating the dire living conditions resulted out of industrialisation. Whilst the second half built upon these findings, using this factual and anecdotal evidence to fuel his political message. Written in the midst of the spanish civil war, with an ever increasingly divided europe, Orwell presents socialism as the solution, an antidote to fascism and a means to raise living standards. In this latter half, Orwell also delves into the potential criticisms of socialism- the necessity of a mechanised world in order to have a functioning socialist system- a topic ever present today with globalisation threatening a homogenisation of cultures whilst art being undermined by the systematic nature of mechanisation- as seen with ai. Yet Orwell also looks into the concept of class, with the 1930s (as arguably the 2020s are too) seeing a turning point for class identity, as in the 1930s the once upper middle class began to fall in status and power (linked perhaps to the disintegrating empire as well as the growth of an interventionist, and therefore higher tax, state) yet still trying to grasp onto their public schoolboy identity- these individuals being those most likely to succumb to fascism and thus should be the target for socialist messages. Whilst, when it comes to the socialist messages themselves it is imperative that the target audience- the proletariat- are not alienated or ostracised by the ‘socialist rhetoric’ spouted by bourgeoise intellectuals. Thus in this rather succinct book, Orwell raises the problem and offers the solution, whilst acknowledging his own middle class background, he strives for a more far-reaching and appealing socialism to use as the only weapon left against fascism.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
the fact this was written in 1937 but almost every point has held up perfectly and applies to today. England do better.
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This book is like stepping back in time and journeying to the 1930s in England, way before World War II, to get into the harsh realities of working-class life was all about.
Orwell divided this book into 2 parts. The first part takes us on a tour of the industrial heartland of Northern England, telling the hardships coal miners and their families face. The narrative is both a social critique and a personal exploration, as Orwell shares his own experiences of living among the working class. His descriptions make you feel the coal dust in your lungs and the bone-chilling cold of the miner's cottage. It's not a glamorous picture but that's precisely the point. It made me grateful for being alive in luxury now compared to back then. I felt like Orwell humanized the statistics of these working-class wages.
In the second part, Orwell didn't refrain from addressing political and economic ideologies either. He created an argument and suggested a better socialist counterpart to the bookish Marxism and socialism. He also talked about class distinctions and the role of intellectuals in the 1930s. This section made me learn more about socialism in England during that time. It's not just suggesting a better socialism, Orwell also depicts the reality of socialism during that period. It's fair to say that probably a lot of socialists and Marxists find Orwell's views on socialism controversial, but nonetheless, it does make sense at that time.
The strength of the book lies in its readability and the ability to spark self-reflection. I thought at first that this book was fictional lol, but no, it does indeed serve as a historical document and an exploration of the human condition, societal challenges, and an aim for a better society where the oppressed aren't oppressed anymore.
In the end, Orwell leaves readers with a lot to ponder about. it's a powerful reminder that behind every statistic, there's a story waiting to be heard. I'll reread it when I have a chance in the future!
Orwell divided this book into 2 parts. The first part takes us on a tour of the industrial heartland of Northern England, telling the hardships coal miners and their families face. The narrative is both a social critique and a personal exploration, as Orwell shares his own experiences of living among the working class. His descriptions make you feel the coal dust in your lungs and the bone-chilling cold of the miner's cottage. It's not a glamorous picture but that's precisely the point. It made me grateful for being alive in luxury now compared to back then. I felt like Orwell humanized the statistics of these working-class wages.
In the second part, Orwell didn't refrain from addressing political and economic ideologies either. He created an argument and suggested a better socialist counterpart to the bookish Marxism and socialism. He also talked about class distinctions and the role of intellectuals in the 1930s. This section made me learn more about socialism in England during that time. It's not just suggesting a better socialism, Orwell also depicts the reality of socialism during that period. It's fair to say that probably a lot of socialists and Marxists find Orwell's views on socialism controversial, but nonetheless, it does make sense at that time.
The strength of the book lies in its readability and the ability to spark self-reflection. I thought at first that this book was fictional lol, but no, it does indeed serve as a historical document and an exploration of the human condition, societal challenges, and an aim for a better society where the oppressed aren't oppressed anymore.
In the end, Orwell leaves readers with a lot to ponder about. it's a powerful reminder that behind every statistic, there's a story waiting to be heard. I'll reread it when I have a chance in the future!
informative
reflective
medium-paced