Animal Farm: 75th Anniversary Edition

very interesting and similar connections to the real world

It's a short but interesting revolution style tale that matters most today.

A required reading classic that I simply had to re-read and own again. I gave my copy away over 10 years ago when I encouraged my 9 year old granddaughter to read it. She enjoyed the story as much as she enjoyed her English teacher's response to her reading it. This was the 75th anniversary paperback edition which was of a poor quality binding. The introduction by Tea Obreht was excellent but here is a spoiler alert if you have not read the book beforehand. I suggest going back after you finish and then read her insights which were pretty good. The cynical and accurate story is how corruption and hunger for power is not limited but like a cancer it will devour many that start out well intentioned. It also points how the ignorant and uneducated can be easily misguided by charismatic, intelligent evil people.

Classic!!

With so many thinking Socialism is a good thing, this book is definitely needed to teach our kids the truth. Every family should have one and talk with each other about what it teaches them. The propaganda makes it sound like a good thing but in reality, it's as evil as Communist China and always develops into Communism. Being a Navy SeaBee, my brother saw first hand what happened to Cuba! How many people risked, or lost their lives trying to escape!

Everyone should read this book

In the 21st century, when we believe that everything is evolving around us and that all countries are moving forward, we realize that there is still a parasite which it is difficult to get rid of. Countries that had the opportunity to evolve, have had to pass a difficult test of not falling into totalitarianism and ambition. Such was the case of some countries of the Soviet Union that achieved liberation, but still others continue to fall into the same abyss from which they can't rise, or don't want to, since that parasite has crawled in the mind of their crowd, as did happen in North Korea, China, etc. Animal Farm shows the perfect example of how the unhealthy idea of ​​a cheap Socialism began to take root to become a dictatorial Communism, as it happens in Venezuela today. Its strange end leaves a bitter taste that perhaps the writer did on purpose to open the consciousness of future generations. An open ending that forces the reader to ask himself: what is the solution? And how will it end? Through human experiences of the animals of this farm, we can identify this truth that still lingers in some shady societies of the present. The solution is in our hands. It will depend on the degree of preparation, culture, moral values, determination, and courage people have to free their homeland and achieve a better future. Remember governments must fear the people and not the opposite. After that, I summarize my point of view about the strongest references dealt with through the characters in this book (that can be easily identify and distinguished when you start to read the story) in the following sections: 1) Leaders full of charisma who manage to enter the hearts of the crowd by their power of conviction. They choose the most insecure sectors and people to whom they inject large doses of false trust and dependence, and then use them in the propagation of their miserable revolution. 2) From the beginning, they call a supposed self-identification and self-recognition through rhythmic and flattering slogans. They remember again and again their few and poor achievements that remain in the distant past. Then, they impose a barrier of differences between them and the supposed enemy. In this way, the people is infused with a nationalism that is based on ignorance, fear, and blind reverence, forcing them to repeat proverbs and apply reforms without understanding the true meaning or purpose, thus beginning to resemble a herd of sheep, marching pleased towards the slaughterhouse. 3) They make the crowd believe that they have the final decision and, for the common good, unconsciously follow the rules and imposed parameters. In addition, some extra benefits are allowed to those who follow and protect the regime indulgently. This is how they teach the majority that it is better to be corrupt, dishonest, and negligent, in order to achieve higher ranks. 4) The regime feel entitled to legalize and abolish what suits it, ordering the people what to eat, how to dress, greet and live, and what to learn, while they live freely at the expense of the efforts of others and of the injustices committed, trampling the honor of an entire country and their own Machiavellian socialist laws. 5) What seemed a worthy plan for community, social, intellectual, and economic development, now shows the true intention that tries to kill the spirit of solidarity to impose the dictatorial and even genocidal plan, if the regressive revolution warrants it. 6) Everyone, even the majority of the crowd, realize that revolutionary projects are a total failure when they find themselves amidst of aberrant poverty. 7) When they want to discredit an opponent or other progressive ideas, they use their famous method of defamation with lies, intimidation, and any other means. For them, the aim (maintain / save the revolution) justifies the means (spreading false rumors, prosecutions, torture, hunger, espionage), importing in the least the opinion of others, since their own people live in ignorance, cowardice and/or conformism. 8) To finally protect their interests and ideals, communists surround themselves with and associate with allies of their own class: corrupt, traffickers, murderers and terrorists, and expand their power further through the destruction of every vital block of a society , from its financial structure to public sectors, such as health, without caring about the misery that people live. To rule the ignorant and negligent is much easier. 9) There comes a time when the revolutionary-communist doctrine is so deeply rooted in the consciences, that the people forget how well they lived before. The most outrageous thing is that there are still people who support such regimes and whose can mental programming is so easily influenced on behalf the sadistic needs and convenience of these cunning and malevolent rulers. Times before the Rebellion are being left in the past, where the memories struggle to keep them safe to share them with others

Good read

Great story! Nothing I say in this review can say anything that has not already been said better by so many people before me. Therefore I will just say that this specific clothbound classic edition is of the quality and beauty worthy of this classic story!

Story line is really fascinating in terms of how Orwell built the whole imaginary world but yet logical and convincing.

A must read. It will make reader to ponder and reflect.

Even though this story was originally inspired by the 1917 Russian Revolution, the characters in the story are timeless. So much of the corrupt behavior in the story can be found in today's headlines with ease. It is especially important to follow the character of Boxer. Boxer just believes, believes and believes, and his exit from the story is some really powerful writing. In fact, an observation of George Orwell's writing is important in many places. My second reading of this book gave me clearer understanding of the story, and my third reading brought me a real appreciation for George Orwell's writing abilities. This is not a story made for kids, as many believe.

Meaningful introduction by C. Hitchens and very interesting appendix are supplementary information which leads you to more profound understanding of the novel.