Fahrenheit 451
by Ray Bradbury1953 / 165 pgs Classic Sci Fi

Censorship is the last vestige of a society afraid of the written word and what challenges it could bring against them.  Even in our community today, some novels/stories are banned for various reasons.  Many people or organizations are afraid of undue influence and possible independence that the written words might create.  This is what Ray Bradbury cautioned would happen eventually.  He foretold that censorship, even to please a minority offended by a word or segment of any novel, is wrong.  Yet, we see this today with Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) that many people disapprove of because of the language and choice of words, normal in its time, and how people are characterized because not everyone is written in the positive light.  Because of the portrayal and language of none whites, John Steinbeck’s Tortilla Flat was criticized in his time even though it’s today considered one of his classics. 

Everything that is happening today to make everyone happy was what Fahrenheit 451 warns against.  Millions of books are banned because they don’t portray the happiness that everyone wants.  Anyone that’s offended, the book was banned.  Firefighters don’t put out fires. They burn books as many political and religious groups have done in the past, like the Nazis in 1933 and the burning of the Library of Alexandria by various groups. 

Bradbury’s classic is a warning of where we could go as a society when we allow censorship for various reasons.  Just because a book doesn’t agree with philosophy doesn’t mean that it should be banned or censored to appease.  As mentioned in the novel, books have 3 points that many don’t want to be utilized, “1. The Quality of Information in the story. 2.  The Leisure to digest it. 3.  The right to carry out the actions based on what is learned.” – Ray Bradbury

Bradbury also warned of getting lost in the simplicity of life.  In the novel, society is lost in simple stories/music that is streamed into their ears.  They don’t see what is going on around them as they want to remain happy and not do any critical thinking.  Wonder what Bradbury would think if he saw everyone lost in tablets and phones.  Simple entertainment like Youtube and instead of diving into a story and see what the author tells desire to wait for a movie to come out.     

This book should be required reading, especially today!  It is a haunting read and simple story that makes one reflect on what is happening and where we could be going.

I absolutely recommend this, along with 1984! 

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and get lost in an excellent book,

Lopaka