Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
medium-paced
It had some interesting ideas. However, I hate political and economical subjects. That's why this book dragged for me. It was not for me, but the conversation about classism in the UK at that period and how poor and middle-class people lived and felt was really interesting.
One of the most influential books I've ever read. So much of what he says is as true now as it was 79 years ago, and it's both heartening and gutwrenching to think how far we've come and how far away we still are. His predictions of fascism's continued domination into the last years of the 30s and early 40s are astonishing. Likewise, his vicious criticisms of the left and rallying calls for a new type of left politics are as important today as they were then. Orwell remains one of my great literary loves and political inspirations. I wonder what he'd think of Britain today.
challenging
informative
sad
medium-paced
The introduction to this edition opens by calling the book "broken-backed," and it's not wrong. The first half is fascinating and worth five stars, being a series of chapters on the nature of poverty in the North of England, particularly in the mining and industrial regions. Orwell immersed himself in that life for a short period, experiencing what he reported on, and the details of how the working class lived, the sheer grinding degradation of their housing and so forth, are horribly vivid. It's immediate and affecting, an entirely sympathetic approach to communicating inequality and the costs of unrestrained capitalism. Then comes the second part, a rather more woolly- if still mildly entertaining - rant on the necessity of socialism and, not gonna lie, it kind of felt as if it went on forever.
Apparently the original editor wanted to publish the first half but not the second; he did not get his wish. That's kind of a shame. I can understand why Orwell wanted the two halves together: the first is there as motivation for the second, but he's kind of missed his own argument. Part of his explanation as to why socialism isn't more accepted by the general public, at time of writing, is that some of its adherents were far more focused on theory instead of practical fairness... and yet the very effectiveness of Wigan Pier's first half is absolutely undercut by this far less interesting pontification in the second half. It would have been more compelling if left to stand alone, I think.
Apparently the original editor wanted to publish the first half but not the second; he did not get his wish. That's kind of a shame. I can understand why Orwell wanted the two halves together: the first is there as motivation for the second, but he's kind of missed his own argument. Part of his explanation as to why socialism isn't more accepted by the general public, at time of writing, is that some of its adherents were far more focused on theory instead of practical fairness... and yet the very effectiveness of Wigan Pier's first half is absolutely undercut by this far less interesting pontification in the second half. It would have been more compelling if left to stand alone, I think.
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Another great entry by George Orwell, should be mandatory reading to learn about history, politics and humanity.
The first section about the life of coal miners and industrial towns in England was amazing. A very clear picture is painted and it is very striking and informative.
The second section is a constructive analysis of socialism, why it is so necessary and how it should best move forward. The analysis of the machine civilization we can no longer avoid, the necessity of socialism especially in the face of rising facism, feels very relevant to our current times and was very enlightening. Lastly his suggestions to improve the way socialism is presented to people are incredibly intelligent. Throw away the elitism and ideology and literature. Focus on justice and liberty. Show people that what is important is we are all oppressed, whether white or blue collar. If we unite under that fact and our common desire for justice and liberty, we can build a strong socialism for everyone and thus a better world.
I will say this book does drag a bit in the middle and is thus less engaging that Paris & London or Catalonia. However it is definitely worth reading and has some great insights of its own, even just for the detailed picture of the life of coal miners and those in industrial towns. It also ties Paris & London and Catalonia together very well and its nice to see how his life and ideas came together.
All of George Orwell is incredible reading and can't be missed. This book lives up to the standard.
The first section about the life of coal miners and industrial towns in England was amazing. A very clear picture is painted and it is very striking and informative.
The second section is a constructive analysis of socialism, why it is so necessary and how it should best move forward. The analysis of the machine civilization we can no longer avoid, the necessity of socialism especially in the face of rising facism, feels very relevant to our current times and was very enlightening. Lastly his suggestions to improve the way socialism is presented to people are incredibly intelligent. Throw away the elitism and ideology and literature. Focus on justice and liberty. Show people that what is important is we are all oppressed, whether white or blue collar. If we unite under that fact and our common desire for justice and liberty, we can build a strong socialism for everyone and thus a better world.
I will say this book does drag a bit in the middle and is thus less engaging that Paris & London or Catalonia. However it is definitely worth reading and has some great insights of its own, even just for the detailed picture of the life of coal miners and those in industrial towns. It also ties Paris & London and Catalonia together very well and its nice to see how his life and ideas came together.
All of George Orwell is incredible reading and can't be missed. This book lives up to the standard.
The book's back cover mentions that the book commissioners got more than they bargained for, and I think that so did this reader. The book is divided in two parts. The first part addresses the reality of the English coal miners in the 1930s. I was very touched by their conditions of the miners, the mines, the business revolving the coal towns, and the unemployment around England. In the second part of the author depicts the idiosyncrasies of Socialism and Fascism, and the unavoidable class struggle. Although instructive, it felt this totally out of place since it doesn't make a connection to the coal miners ever again.
My interest in the book was for the miners and mines, and for that the first part sufficed.
My interest in the book was for the miners and mines, and for that the first part sufficed.
This could have been written in 2017. Identity politics, propaganda, fascism, voting against economic best interest, shrinking middle class, automation, party messaging, etc. etc. If it was called Hillbilly Elegy of 1930's England would you read it?
Orwell's tireless honesty just burns through his writing. So deep does he dig you always end up learning something new about yourself.
Kind of funny how the last thing people would have expected in the 30s was that the same old way of doing things would just keep on chugging.
Kind of funny how the last thing people would have expected in the 30s was that the same old way of doing things would just keep on chugging.