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1.16k reviews for:

Utopia

Thomas More

3.26 AVERAGE

challenging reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: N/A
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A
challenging informative reflective slow-paced
challenging informative reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: N/A
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: N/A
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
inspiring reflective slow-paced
reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: N/A
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

It doesn’t feel right to give a rating to one of the foundational texts on society, both its ills and a vision of an ideal. Unfortunately, I’d argue the 20th century proves the utopian ideal as just fantasy. Still, a short but interesting text that still has some relevance to our issues to today. The critique of More poses of his society is strangely resonant with issues today, especially considering those who consider poverty solely an individual choice. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
slow-paced

3.5
challenging funny hopeful inspiring slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: N/A
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Part science-fiction, part manifesto, part political satire... Utopia was a fascinating read.
I am not quite sure of this book's context in a historical sense, but the text itself was very interesting.

The first half (of this admittedly quite short book) was a bit of a slog for me, and it took a dozen pages or so for me to find my flow with reading the old English of the 1500s.
Once that clicked it made for much smoother reading, and going into the second half, the description and world-building of this Island of Utopia, had me far more engaged.

4 stars

Additional note; the Everyman Library edition of this book is beautiful. Very well put together little hardback

this book was bad and stupid
challenging reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: N/A
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: N/A
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No