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Can Socialists be Happy?
No thinking person can or does genuinely keep out of politics, in an age like the present one
Unfailingly wise and often startlingly prophetic, George Orwell’s essays are masterpieces of plain English prose. This stirring new collection brings together his most cherished pieces with lesser-known gems, ranging over everything from tree planting to living with the atom bomb, sleeping rough to the perils of getting what you want in politics.
Unfailingly wise and often startlingly prophetic, George Orwell’s essays are masterpieces of plain English prose. This stirring new collection brings together his most cherished pieces with lesser-known gems, ranging over everything from tree planting to living with the atom bomb, sleeping rough to the perils of getting what you want in politics.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 29, 2012
136 people are currently reading
1602 people want to read
About the author
George Orwell
1,302 books51.7k followersEric Arthur Blair was an English novelist, poet, essayist, journalist and critic who wrote under the pen name of George Orwell. His work is characterised by lucid prose, social criticism, opposition to all totalitarianism (both fascism and stalinism), and support of democratic socialism.
Orwell is best known for his allegorical novella Animal Farm (1945) and the dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), although his works also encompass literary criticism, poetry, fiction and polemical journalism. His non-fiction works, including The Road to Wigan Pier (1937), documenting his experience of working-class life in the industrial north of England, and Homage to Catalonia (1938), an account of his experiences soldiering for the Republican faction of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), are as critically respected as his essays on politics, literature, language and culture.
Orwell's work remains influential in popular culture and in political culture, and the adjective "Orwellian"—describing totalitarian and authoritarian social practices—is part of the English language, like many of his neologisms, such as "Big Brother", "Thought Police", "Room 101", "Newspeak", "memory hole", "doublethink", and "thoughtcrime". In 2008, The Times named Orwell the second-greatest British writer since 1945.
Orwell is best known for his allegorical novella Animal Farm (1945) and the dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), although his works also encompass literary criticism, poetry, fiction and polemical journalism. His non-fiction works, including The Road to Wigan Pier (1937), documenting his experience of working-class life in the industrial north of England, and Homage to Catalonia (1938), an account of his experiences soldiering for the Republican faction of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), are as critically respected as his essays on politics, literature, language and culture.
Orwell's work remains influential in popular culture and in political culture, and the adjective "Orwellian"—describing totalitarian and authoritarian social practices—is part of the English language, like many of his neologisms, such as "Big Brother", "Thought Police", "Room 101", "Newspeak", "memory hole", "doublethink", and "thoughtcrime". In 2008, The Times named Orwell the second-greatest British writer since 1945.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
July 18, 2023
I am once again asking people to actually read George Orwell rather than invoking him whenever they’re losing an argument
June 17, 2025
“It would seem that human beings are not able to describe, nor perhaps imagine, happiness except in terms of contrast.”
“The real objective of Socialism is human brotherhood.”
“They wanted to produce a perfect society by an endless continuation of something that had only been valuable because it was temporary.”
“Whoever tried to imagine perfection simply reveals his own emptiness.”
“The real objective of Socialism is human brotherhood.”
“They wanted to produce a perfect society by an endless continuation of something that had only been valuable because it was temporary.”
“Whoever tried to imagine perfection simply reveals his own emptiness.”
July 27, 2025
Excellent set of essays that hold many observations even truer today than half a century ago. Didn't know Orwell was so based.
October 28, 2025
absolutely banger collection — a must read for anyone who wants to better understand orwell’s political ideals and the events that formed them
as ever, his wittiness shines through and the open criticisms illuminate the powerful moral questions that gnaw at him — the final essay in particular shines a novel light into the world of 1984
as ever, his wittiness shines through and the open criticisms illuminate the powerful moral questions that gnaw at him — the final essay in particular shines a novel light into the world of 1984
December 7, 2025
Favs:
Writers and Leviathan
Can socialists be happy?
In Defence of English Cooking
En nu heb ik wel genoeg Orwell gelezen, houdoe en bedankt
Writers and Leviathan
Can socialists be happy?
In Defence of English Cooking
En nu heb ik wel genoeg Orwell gelezen, houdoe en bedankt
May 16, 2025
So, I've known Orwell is a great novelist, having read both the Animal Farm and 1984, but I had no idea how good of an essayist he was. His observations are sharp, which is most notable in his short essay "You and the Atom Bomb". Here he predicts the coming atomic age, not as an age of liberation but an age of further entrenchment of power. Correctly he assumes that the great powers will only use this weapon to further their own goals at the expense of smaller nations. You don't need to be especially politically literate to see this in the present political climate.
So to answer the question in the title. Can Socialists be Happy? Yes and no, I think. The state of the world we find ourselves in leaves much to be desired. We are not inching towards fascism, we are running head first towards it. On the other hand, the opposition is becoming organised, grassroots movements are more and more visible, and overall, the next generation sees clearly the dangers of fascism and authoritarianism. So care about your fellow human beings, analyse the material conditions we find ourselves in, and believe, that a better world is possible.
So to answer the question in the title. Can Socialists be Happy? Yes and no, I think. The state of the world we find ourselves in leaves much to be desired. We are not inching towards fascism, we are running head first towards it. On the other hand, the opposition is becoming organised, grassroots movements are more and more visible, and overall, the next generation sees clearly the dangers of fascism and authoritarianism. So care about your fellow human beings, analyse the material conditions we find ourselves in, and believe, that a better world is possible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2025
otroligt relevant idag!! gillade speciellt essäen "Writers and Leviathan" och sista delen av "Looking back on the Spanish War"
November 2, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
September 16, 2025
idk but george could get it 😝😝😝😝😝
June 14, 2025
Can socialists be happy?
Yes, and no.
We do spend most of our time chasing/dreaming about/aspiring to build or yearn for a form of utopia to rid all of our grievances.
And however terrible it may seem, or is, we can’t afford to forget the fact that people, are all we have. And, of all the ideals that one could fantasise about, this is possibly, the only tangible one.
Yes, and no.
We do spend most of our time chasing/dreaming about/aspiring to build or yearn for a form of utopia to rid all of our grievances.
And however terrible it may seem, or is, we can’t afford to forget the fact that people, are all we have. And, of all the ideals that one could fantasise about, this is possibly, the only tangible one.
July 24, 2025
Good collection of essays from Orwell. Some are better than others, therefore 4/5 stars. Also, it would’ve been nice if they added the publication years of each essay. All the reader knows is that they’ve been written between 1931 and 1948, which is a broad span for themes like the atomic bomb.
January 12, 2026
Bad news for socialists: Hell is just so much easier to imagine than Heaven!
When designing a utopia, one runs into the problem that happiness is only convincing so long as it as incomplete. Utopia, meaning both ‘the good place’ and ‘no place’, signifies a place which does not, cannot, and, perhaps, should not exist. Built as a negation of society’s problems, the utopia is a fantastic thought experiment but a tediously simple place to live. “Nearly all creators of Utopia have resembled the man who has a toothache, and therefore thinks happiness consists in not having a toothache.” Trying to imagine utopia, Orwell argues, only betrays the architect’s emptiness. Instead, he says, we must only concern ourselves with the direction of travel.
So, the answer to the titular question? Socialists may be happy so long as they are also simple. A great win for members of the Socialist Workers Party ;)
When designing a utopia, one runs into the problem that happiness is only convincing so long as it as incomplete. Utopia, meaning both ‘the good place’ and ‘no place’, signifies a place which does not, cannot, and, perhaps, should not exist. Built as a negation of society’s problems, the utopia is a fantastic thought experiment but a tediously simple place to live. “Nearly all creators of Utopia have resembled the man who has a toothache, and therefore thinks happiness consists in not having a toothache.” Trying to imagine utopia, Orwell argues, only betrays the architect’s emptiness. Instead, he says, we must only concern ourselves with the direction of travel.
So, the answer to the titular question? Socialists may be happy so long as they are also simple. A great win for members of the Socialist Workers Party ;)
March 12, 2026
Een paar van m’n fav quotes:
“[…] in exploring the physical universe man has made no attempt to explore himself. Much of what goes into the name of pleasure is simply an effort to destroy consciousness.”
“Nearly all creators of Utopia have resembled the man who has toothache, and therefore thinks happiness consists in not having toothache. They wanted to produce a perfect society by an endless continuation of something that had only been valuable because it was temporary.”
“[…] in exploring the physical universe man has made no attempt to explore himself. Much of what goes into the name of pleasure is simply an effort to destroy consciousness.”
“Nearly all creators of Utopia have resembled the man who has toothache, and therefore thinks happiness consists in not having toothache. They wanted to produce a perfect society by an endless continuation of something that had only been valuable because it was temporary.”
November 9, 2025
quite interesting essays. I recommend checking out the titular essay and Writers And Leviathan. You can probably find them somewhere online
Read
July 25, 2025I have not rated this collection as it seems inappropriate to give Orwell less than 5 stars. However, as much as these small format collections are good ideas, why is there no reference to the original publications? Not even the year published!
March 1, 2026
Orwell continues to baffle me with his eerily accurate predictions of a post WW2 world.
December 24, 2025
A seried of essays. For two or so, I did not really care, some were interesting, some outright fantastic. It did give me new perspectives and I find many of the presented thoughts still applicable today.
June 17, 2025
A question SOAS students ask themselves every day frfr
August 1, 2025
How are these man’s thoughts still relevant even in today’s political climate? 😦
November 4, 2025
(2,8/5)
It's not bad per se, and there are some nice thoughts and anecdotes; but it's not what I was expecting. I guess I am also not a big fan of essays (or reading a book that's just a compilation of essays from an author). I quite prefer George Orwell when writing novels. The essayist feels too snobbish.
"Whoever tried to imagine perfection simply reveals his own emptiness"
It's not bad per se, and there are some nice thoughts and anecdotes; but it's not what I was expecting. I guess I am also not a big fan of essays (or reading a book that's just a compilation of essays from an author). I quite prefer George Orwell when writing novels. The essayist feels too snobbish.
"Whoever tried to imagine perfection simply reveals his own emptiness"
March 13, 2026
4,25/5 ⭐️
Orwell beweist hier, dass er vielleicht einer der besten Beobachter des 20. Jahrhunderts war. Klar, in so einer Sammlung überzeugt einen nicht jeder Text, aber das Gesamtwerk ist eine unfassbar stark.
Besonders faszinierend fand ich den letzten Essay „You and the Atom Bomb“. Es ist fast schon gruselig, wie präzise er das Atomzeitalter nicht als Befreiung, sondern als Ära der festgefahrenen Machtstrukturen voraussagte. Seine Analyse der Großmächte, die auf Kosten kleinerer Nationen ihre Vorherrschaft zementieren, ist heute aktueller denn je. Er zeigt uns, dass politischer Fortschritt nicht nur gegen Faschismus, sondern auch gegen die schleichende Erstarrung globaler Machtblöcke kämpfen muss.
Klar, Orwell war ein Kind seiner Zeit. Während er für die Würde der Arbeiterklasse kämpfte, wirkt sein Blick auf den globalen Süden oft oberflächlich und leider auch von Vorurteilen (teils rassistischen Untertönen) geprägt. Das zu kritisieren gehört zu einer ehrlichen Rezension dazu. Wir können seine extrem wichtige und Kapitalismuskritik schätzen, ohne seine Schwachstellen zu ignorieren.
Können Sozialisten glücklich sein? Orwells Antwort ist gleichzeitig radikal und hoffnungsvoll: Das Ziel des Sozialismus ist nicht die totale Glückseligkeit (die oft in einer sterilen Dystopie endet), sondern menschliche Brüderlichkeit. Glück definiert sich bei Orwell durch Kontrast. Eine perfekte, statische Welt wäre leer. Wir leben heute in einer Zeit, in der wir nicht mehr nur auf den Faschismus zusteuern, sondern teils mitten drin stecken. Doch genau hier liegt die sozialistische Antwort: Das Glück liegt nicht im passiven Konsum, sondern im organisierten Widerstand. Es liegt in der Solidarität und dem gemeinsamen Kampf für Bedingungen, in denen Würde überhaupt erst möglich ist.
Orwell erinnert uns daran, dass wir nicht nach einer perfekten Utopie streben sollten, die unsere Menschlichkeit auslöscht, sondern nach einer Welt, in der wir die Freiheit haben, gemeinsam menschlich zu sein. Analysiert die Verhältnisse, organisiert euch und glaubt daran: Eine bessere Welt ist möglich.
Orwell beweist hier, dass er vielleicht einer der besten Beobachter des 20. Jahrhunderts war. Klar, in so einer Sammlung überzeugt einen nicht jeder Text, aber das Gesamtwerk ist eine unfassbar stark.
Besonders faszinierend fand ich den letzten Essay „You and the Atom Bomb“. Es ist fast schon gruselig, wie präzise er das Atomzeitalter nicht als Befreiung, sondern als Ära der festgefahrenen Machtstrukturen voraussagte. Seine Analyse der Großmächte, die auf Kosten kleinerer Nationen ihre Vorherrschaft zementieren, ist heute aktueller denn je. Er zeigt uns, dass politischer Fortschritt nicht nur gegen Faschismus, sondern auch gegen die schleichende Erstarrung globaler Machtblöcke kämpfen muss.
Klar, Orwell war ein Kind seiner Zeit. Während er für die Würde der Arbeiterklasse kämpfte, wirkt sein Blick auf den globalen Süden oft oberflächlich und leider auch von Vorurteilen (teils rassistischen Untertönen) geprägt. Das zu kritisieren gehört zu einer ehrlichen Rezension dazu. Wir können seine extrem wichtige und Kapitalismuskritik schätzen, ohne seine Schwachstellen zu ignorieren.
Können Sozialisten glücklich sein? Orwells Antwort ist gleichzeitig radikal und hoffnungsvoll: Das Ziel des Sozialismus ist nicht die totale Glückseligkeit (die oft in einer sterilen Dystopie endet), sondern menschliche Brüderlichkeit. Glück definiert sich bei Orwell durch Kontrast. Eine perfekte, statische Welt wäre leer. Wir leben heute in einer Zeit, in der wir nicht mehr nur auf den Faschismus zusteuern, sondern teils mitten drin stecken. Doch genau hier liegt die sozialistische Antwort: Das Glück liegt nicht im passiven Konsum, sondern im organisierten Widerstand. Es liegt in der Solidarität und dem gemeinsamen Kampf für Bedingungen, in denen Würde überhaupt erst möglich ist.
Orwell erinnert uns daran, dass wir nicht nach einer perfekten Utopie streben sollten, die unsere Menschlichkeit auslöscht, sondern nach einer Welt, in der wir die Freiheit haben, gemeinsam menschlich zu sein. Analysiert die Verhältnisse, organisiert euch und glaubt daran: Eine bessere Welt ist möglich.
September 15, 2025
Este é o ensaio cujo título provocador dá nome à mais recente coletânea de textos de George Orwell editada pela Penguin Books. Nele, discute-se o problema do estabelecimento de regimes políticos cujas linhas de ação coincidem com aquilo que, antes, era apenas arquitetado pelos sonhadores, para a manutenção do conceito de utopia. O socialismo, quando eficazmente aplicado, coloca uma questão de peso ao imaginário utópico: como impedir que o patamar de progresso finalmente alcançado não redunde no seu oposto – como impedir que o aperfeiçoamento social se traduza numa obra de Aldous Huxley?
Se é sabido que, sem experienciar grandes tristezas, é impossível ter consciência do valimento das grandes alegrias, é também certo que uma projeção utópica só existe na medida em que supera a imperfeição da realidade vivida. Assim, uma utopia só existe enquanto tal se houver um elemento de contraste entre o real e o imaginário, o efetivo e o possível, o agora e o algures no tempo. Num universo hipotético em que os princípios da esquerda moderada encontram a sua concretização plena e temporalmente ilimitada, a utopia concretizada está destinada a esvair-se no ideal coletivo. Ou seja:
"these pictures of 'eternal bliss' always failed because as soon as the bliss became eternal (eternity being thought of as endless time), the contrast ceased to operate."
Será, então, uma falácia a ilusão de que, uma vez atingido o ápice da civilização, as pessoas viverão mais harmoniosa e alegremente? Não será sensato esperar que a natureza humana abandone a sua característica insatisfação – mas isso é um risco para o projeto sociopolítico socialista alcançado a tanto custo. Constituirá um fim em si mesma a construção de uma realidade de acordo com as diretrizes de um determinado quadrante ideológico? Talvez, mas não é esta a principal preocupação de Orwell – é, em vez disso, a da dificuldade da manutenção do equilíbrio frágil entre a conquista da utopia e a racionalização extrema das potencialidades humanas. Retirando a insatisfação do quadro de possibilidades, resta-nos uma população estagnada no planalto da civilização: desenvolvida e igualitária, mas infeliz.
"All 'favourable' Utopias seem to be alike in postulating perfection while being unable to suggest happiness."
Oitenta e dois anos depois da publicação de Can Socialists Be Happy?, no jornal Tribune, caminhamos no sentido oposto àquele que poderia assegurar-nos uma concretização harmoniosa e alegre de uma hipotética utopia: um desenvolvimento científico e tecnológico acompanhado de forma sustentada pelo fomento da componente humanística da formação do indivíduo. Em vez disso, aprofunda-se o desequilíbrio evidente entre o apoio ao raciocínio matemático e o incentivo à produção artística, filosófica e literária. Insiste-se num investimento voltado para o futuro, sem uma consciência consolidada do passado. O próprio futuro é arquitetado sobre alicerces utilitários, orgulho maior da sociedade digital, racional, mecanizada e automatizada em que o indivíduo ideal é uma unidade de produtividade.
Em suma, será que os socialistas podem ser felizes? Podem - se incluirmos na nossa utopia, paralelamente aos ideais de democracia, progresso científico e igualdade social, uma matriz cultural que permita às pessoas reconhecer em si mesmas o potencial para a criação de felicidade e plenitude.
Se é sabido que, sem experienciar grandes tristezas, é impossível ter consciência do valimento das grandes alegrias, é também certo que uma projeção utópica só existe na medida em que supera a imperfeição da realidade vivida. Assim, uma utopia só existe enquanto tal se houver um elemento de contraste entre o real e o imaginário, o efetivo e o possível, o agora e o algures no tempo. Num universo hipotético em que os princípios da esquerda moderada encontram a sua concretização plena e temporalmente ilimitada, a utopia concretizada está destinada a esvair-se no ideal coletivo. Ou seja:
"these pictures of 'eternal bliss' always failed because as soon as the bliss became eternal (eternity being thought of as endless time), the contrast ceased to operate."
Será, então, uma falácia a ilusão de que, uma vez atingido o ápice da civilização, as pessoas viverão mais harmoniosa e alegremente? Não será sensato esperar que a natureza humana abandone a sua característica insatisfação – mas isso é um risco para o projeto sociopolítico socialista alcançado a tanto custo. Constituirá um fim em si mesma a construção de uma realidade de acordo com as diretrizes de um determinado quadrante ideológico? Talvez, mas não é esta a principal preocupação de Orwell – é, em vez disso, a da dificuldade da manutenção do equilíbrio frágil entre a conquista da utopia e a racionalização extrema das potencialidades humanas. Retirando a insatisfação do quadro de possibilidades, resta-nos uma população estagnada no planalto da civilização: desenvolvida e igualitária, mas infeliz.
"All 'favourable' Utopias seem to be alike in postulating perfection while being unable to suggest happiness."
Oitenta e dois anos depois da publicação de Can Socialists Be Happy?, no jornal Tribune, caminhamos no sentido oposto àquele que poderia assegurar-nos uma concretização harmoniosa e alegre de uma hipotética utopia: um desenvolvimento científico e tecnológico acompanhado de forma sustentada pelo fomento da componente humanística da formação do indivíduo. Em vez disso, aprofunda-se o desequilíbrio evidente entre o apoio ao raciocínio matemático e o incentivo à produção artística, filosófica e literária. Insiste-se num investimento voltado para o futuro, sem uma consciência consolidada do passado. O próprio futuro é arquitetado sobre alicerces utilitários, orgulho maior da sociedade digital, racional, mecanizada e automatizada em que o indivíduo ideal é uma unidade de produtividade.
Em suma, será que os socialistas podem ser felizes? Podem - se incluirmos na nossa utopia, paralelamente aos ideais de democracia, progresso científico e igualdade social, uma matriz cultural que permita às pessoas reconhecer em si mesmas o potencial para a criação de felicidade e plenitude.
February 19, 2026
Σε αυτό το (υπερβολικά) σύντομο αλλά διεισδυτικό δοκίμιο, ο Όργουελ παραδίδει ένα μάθημα πολιτικού και ψυχολογικού ρεαλισμού. Αντί να υποσχεθεί έναν σοσιαλιστικό "παράδεισο" γεμάτο ξεκούραση και αφθονία, θέτει ένα σκληρό ερώτημα: Γιατί όλες οι Ουτοπίες που έχουν περιγραφεί στην ιστορία μας φαίνονται τόσο αφόρητα βαρετές;
Ο Όργουελ υποστηρίζει ότι η ευτυχία δεν είναι η απουσία προσπάθειας, αλλά η παρουσία ενός σκοπού. Καυτηριάζει την ιδέα ενός κόσμου-μηχανή που λύνει όλα μας τα προβλήματα, προειδοποιώντας ότι μια τέτοια ζωή θα μας άφηνε άδειους. Για τον ίδιο, ο σοσιαλισμός δεν είναι ένας προορισμός "τεμπέλικης" ευημερίας, αλλά ένα μέσο για να αποκατασταθεί η ανθρώπινη αδελφοσύνη και η αξιοπρέπεια.
Αξίζει να το διαβαστεί γιατί, αν και ολοκληρώνεται μόλις σε λίγα λεπτά, καταφέρνει να προβληματίσει, λειτουργώντας επίσης ως ένα απαραίτητο φιλοσοφικό συμπλήρωμα για όποιον θέλει να κατανοήσει βαθύτερα το πνεύμα πίσω από τη Φάρμα και το 1984. Μέσα από τη χειρουργική αποδόμηση της καταναλωτικής αντίληψης περί ευτυχίας, το κείμενο αναδεικνύεται σε ένα μικρό διαμάντι που αποδεικνύει ότι ο Όργουελ δεν ήταν απλώς ένας πολέμιος του ολοκληρωτισμού, αλλά ένας βαθύς γνώστης της ανθρώπινης ψυχοσύνθεσης.
Θα του έβαζα 4 αστεράκια λόγω του μεγέθους του, αλλά κρίνοντας με βάση το πόση ουσία καταφέρνει να στριμώξει σε τόσο λίγες σελίδες, θεωρώ ότι το 5 στα 5 είναι δικαιωματικό.
Ο Όργουελ υποστηρίζει ότι η ευτυχία δεν είναι η απουσία προσπάθειας, αλλά η παρουσία ενός σκοπού. Καυτηριάζει την ιδέα ενός κόσμου-μηχανή που λύνει όλα μας τα προβλήματα, προειδοποιώντας ότι μια τέτοια ζωή θα μας άφηνε άδειους. Για τον ίδιο, ο σοσιαλισμός δεν είναι ένας προορισμός "τεμπέλικης" ευημερίας, αλλά ένα μέσο για να αποκατασταθεί η ανθρώπινη αδελφοσύνη και η αξιοπρέπεια.
Αξίζει να το διαβαστεί γιατί, αν και ολοκληρώνεται μόλις σε λίγα λεπτά, καταφέρνει να προβληματίσει, λειτουργώντας επίσης ως ένα απαραίτητο φιλοσοφικό συμπλήρωμα για όποιον θέλει να κατανοήσει βαθύτερα το πνεύμα πίσω από τη Φάρμα και το 1984. Μέσα από τη χειρουργική αποδόμηση της καταναλωτικής αντίληψης περί ευτυχίας, το κείμενο αναδεικνύεται σε ένα μικρό διαμάντι που αποδεικνύει ότι ο Όργουελ δεν ήταν απλώς ένας πολέμιος του ολοκληρωτισμού, αλλά ένας βαθύς γνώστης της ανθρώπινης ψυχοσύνθεσης.
Θα του έβαζα 4 αστεράκια λόγω του μεγέθους του, αλλά κρίνοντας με βάση το πόση ουσία καταφέρνει να στριμώξει σε τόσο λίγες σελίδες, θεωρώ ότι το 5 στα 5 είναι δικαιωματικό.
December 24, 2025
Perhaps the most instructive lesson I took from this collection of essays is that there is nothing like the past to illuminate the present’s progress. And I do mean illuminate. It is one thing to read about medical progress, and quite another to read anecdotes about early 20th century European public hospitals. What struck me most is how Orwell preaches dignity for the poor while also sometimes sneering at them. This is most prominent towards the global, non-Western poor, where Orwell’s analysis is superficial and often racist.
Still, I resonated with some of the essays, particularly the ones about writers. I also found his writing about his own personal experiences to be the most impactful, such as his essays on war and the spike. As for the title, there is wisdom in his line, “The wiser course would be to say that there are certain lines along which humanity must move, the grand strategy is mapped out, but detailed prophecy is not our business. Whoever tries to imagine perfection simply reveals his own emptiness.” And I agree with him about socialism’s objective: not total happiness, which is unattainable and results in dystopia that dilutes humanity’s essence, but human brotherhood.
Still, I resonated with some of the essays, particularly the ones about writers. I also found his writing about his own personal experiences to be the most impactful, such as his essays on war and the spike. As for the title, there is wisdom in his line, “The wiser course would be to say that there are certain lines along which humanity must move, the grand strategy is mapped out, but detailed prophecy is not our business. Whoever tries to imagine perfection simply reveals his own emptiness.” And I agree with him about socialism’s objective: not total happiness, which is unattainable and results in dystopia that dilutes humanity’s essence, but human brotherhood.
November 19, 2025
Orwell brings up some interesting talking points and tells some telling stories but most of it really is just not that interesting to me.
I wasn’t expecting much from a collection of essays and I honestly didn’t get much.
Possibly wasn’t really the best read for me at the moment as it didn’t help the struggle to read more but I guess that’s life for me.
I wasn’t expecting much from a collection of essays and I honestly didn’t get much.
Possibly wasn’t really the best read for me at the moment as it didn’t help the struggle to read more but I guess that’s life for me.
March 11, 2026
beautifully expressed political views through essays, poems, and the events that formed them.
“Whoever tries to imagine perfection simply reveals his own emptiness.”
“All the working man demands is what these others would consider the indispensable minimum without which human life cannot be lived at all.”
“What would the world give back to you?
Always less than you gave.”
“Whoever tries to imagine perfection simply reveals his own emptiness.”
“All the working man demands is what these others would consider the indispensable minimum without which human life cannot be lived at all.”
“What would the world give back to you?
Always less than you gave.”
November 14, 2025
A very interesting and compelling series of essays - I didn’t like the one about sports that much.
“The question only arises because in exploring the physical universe man has made no attempt to explore himself. Much of what goes by the name of pleasure is simply an effort to destroy consciousness.”
“The question only arises because in exploring the physical universe man has made no attempt to explore himself. Much of what goes by the name of pleasure is simply an effort to destroy consciousness.”
December 27, 2025
Nearly all creators of utopia have resembled the man who has toothache, and therefore thinks happiness consists in not having toothache. They wanted to produce a perfect society by an endless continuation of something that had only been valuable because it was temporary.
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