Island

Reviews (See all 346) Write a reviewfor this

It's a hit!

Huxley's last book and counterpoint to Brave New World. A damaged and deeply jaded British journalist, and undercover man for an oild baron. is shi... (show more)

Huxley's last book and counterpoint to Brave New World. A damaged and deeply jaded British journalist, and undercover man for an oild baron. is shipwrecked on a semi-isolated island where for 120 years an ideal society has evolved. But now the modern world is beating down the door and the marooned journalist is helping orchstrate its demise, until he becomes reborn and discovers a new sense of hope. If this is Huxley's last word on humanity I don't know if you can call it at all positive. Huxley seems to have little but contempt for the modern world and there is a deep foreboding amid the paradise of Pala. The outside world of oil companies, militarism, and violent dictators is coming; however there is a small glimmer of hope. One thing, the people of Pala really don't seem that different than those in Brave New World. Lots of drugs, sex, conditioning, and moralizing (they really look down on outsiders). The book tends to ramble at times and some parts can be ponderous but overall it is an incredibly well written and thoughtful. A definite for anyone who has read Huxley's other work. (show less)

 

 

by Travis Kendall

No, it's a flop!

It was interesting but a little long winded. Very intriguing commentary on the concept of a "utopian"-ish society existing within modern society..... (show more)

It was interesting but a little long winded. Very intriguing commentary on the concept of a "utopian"-ish society existing within modern society... if that makes any sense... (show less)

 

 

by Facebook User

More Reviews

• 
  

  If you appreciated Huxley's drug-addled, hypersexual, superficially happy, consumerist, class stratified modern dystopia 'Brave New World' you might want to check this book out.

  'Island' is his utopian alternative to 'Brave New World,' but it is not a simple mirror image. For example, both worlds feature a more free, less puritanical approach to sexuality. However, in 'Brave New World,' sex is meaningless and superficial, while in 'Island,' sexuality is spiritually and interpersonally me... (show more)

  If you appreciated Huxley's drug-addled, hypersexual, superficially happy, consumerist, class stratified modern dystopia 'Brave New World' you might want to check this book out.

  'Island' is his utopian alternative to 'Brave New World,' but it is not a simple mirror image. For example, both worlds feature a more free, less puritanical approach to sexuality. However, in 'Brave New World,' sex is meaningless and superficial, while in 'Island,' sexuality is spiritually and interpersonally meaningful. Drugs are used in 'Island,' but rather than to dull the existential pain of modern meaninglessness into a warm and fuzzy euphoria, they are used instead to cultivate mystic insight.

  Island depicts a society trying to be as fully human as it can be, rather than the most efficient or powerful. As the protagonist reads in a primer on the Island's philosophy called 'Notes on What's What,' "Patriotism is not enough. But neither is anything else. Science is not enough, religion is not enough, art is not enough, politics and economics are not enough, nor is love, nor is duty, nor is action however disinterested, nor, however sublime, is contemplation. Nothing short of everything will really do."

  One of the island's typical inhabitants advocates "concrete materialism" and "concrete spirituality" as against the protagonist's (and his modern world's) "abstract materialism" and "abstract idealism."

  Faced with a society which he finds wonderfully ideal, the protagonist from modern western culture (who is there to help subvert and exploit the Island's oil) is conflicted about his role - similar to the conversion experience recounted by John Perkins in his book, 'Confessions of an Economic Hit Man.'

  The society portrayed in 'Island' practices a form of Buddhist awareness spirituality, combined with other influences. As he explores the culture, the protagonist wrestles with this, referring to himself as the man who won't take yes for an answer. He asks, "How can anyone take yes for an answer? Yes is just pretending, just positive thinking. The facts, the basic and ultimate facts, are always no. Spirit? No! Love? No! Sense, meaning, achievement? No! [...] I don't want to be more aware, I want to be less aware[...] Less aware of my fat income and other people's subhuman poverty. Less aware of my own excellent health in an ocean of malaria, of my own safely sterilized sex fun in the ocean of starving babies. 'Forgive them, for they know not what they do.' What a blessed state of affairs! But unfortunately I do know what I'm doing. Only too well."

  As you can see by these quotes, if you don't enjoy reading philosophical discussion of spirituality, psychology, economics, religion, social organization, the meaning of life, and so on, you will probably not enjoy this book. It is not an action adventure yarn - it is closer to the tradition of the Platonic dialogues, in the form of a modern novel. Though if he had been writing for a high school English teacher, perhaps Huxley might have "shown" us more about his utopia than his characters "tell" us in this book, it is still a very well conceived, well written, funny, and compelling story about a modern man finding the paradise he is looking for, only to be forced to face his own complicity in the effort to destroy it. (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook User on Sep 20, 2008 at 05:41AM

  Already read

  Is this review helpful? yes no
   
• 
  

  This is such a hard book to review. On purely literary merits, I might give this book two stars or less. The characters and dialogue are as flat as can be. The plot plods along to its inevitable ending; you know where it is going and don't even care if it gets there or not. However, I have read this book twice and probably will read it a third time someday. This is Huxley’s last novel, and philosophically sums up where he was at the end of his life. The thoughts are beautiful, inspiring... (show more)

  This is such a hard book to review. On purely literary merits, I might give this book two stars or less. The characters and dialogue are as flat as can be. The plot plods along to its inevitable ending; you know where it is going and don't even care if it gets there or not. However, I have read this book twice and probably will read it a third time someday. This is Huxley’s last novel, and philosophically sums up where he was at the end of his life. The thoughts are beautiful, inspiring, and maybe even life-changing, but they are put into such a poorly written novel.

  A Buddhist parable tells the tale of a traveler who fords a stream by paddling across using a raft. The Buddha asks whether it would be appropriate or not for the man to carry the raft with him once he had crossed. Get the ideas from Island that you need and then toss the raft. (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook User on Nov 30, 2009 at 04:58AM

  Already read

  Is this review helpful? yes no
   
• See all reviews
  Write a review