complich8’s journal

List of books I think everyone should have read, or at least be somewhat familiar with, and why. No particular order right now.

1984 (George Orwell). Everyone points at it as the classic “Orwellian” tale. It’s easy to find evidence of government going the direction that government’s gone in the book, and at least serves as an interesting cautionary tale.
Animal Farm (George Orwell). Interesting as a social commentary on economic systems, and what happens when different people run the place.
Brave New World (Aldous Huxley). For an interesting scope on the idea of eugenics and large-scale engineered societies.
The Communist Manifesto (Karl Marx). Necessary for understanding the whole latter half of the 20th century — understanding the roots of communism and the communist/capatalist standoffs of the cold war.
Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand). An alternate perspective from Marx’s on the idea of fundamentals of creation and production. A different take on human nature, too. Not to mention an interesting story with excellent storytelling.
Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury). Commentary on deintellectualizing society, and the results. Similar themes to 1984 and Brave New World, interestingly enough, though another perspective and a different outlook.
The Giver (Lois Lowry). More echoes of Brave New World, the idea of sacrificing the things that make us humans to make society a “better” place.
The Machine Stops (E.M. Forster). Not a book, but almost long enough to be. A story about losing perspective and ultimately the things that make us human in an increasingly mechanized world. Also an interesting perspective on the ultimate consequences of global-scale complacence. Caution: laced with religious themes from a secular humanist’s standpoint.
The Time Machine (H.G. Wells). Again, what amounts to echoes of Marxist class-consciousness, distilled into scifi.
The Illuminatus Trilogy (Robert Shea, Robert Anton Watson). Because it’s funny, it’s twisted, it’s disjoint but somehow manages to make some sort of sense anyway. All in all, solid humor, and some interesting explanation of various things that pop up in society. Wackiness.
The Underground History of American Education (John Taylor Gatto). A necessary understanding of the roots of modern education.
Good Omens (Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett). This is just a beautifully well-made story, comical and deep, and pokes a lot of fun at a lot of people, while turning a lot of good phrases. One of the few Pratchett works not to reside in Discworld. An excellent take on the apocalypse. Generally good stuff.

I’m sure I’ll come up with others, I’ll update as I think of them.