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A review by catherin9
Island by Aldous Huxley
4.0
Reading this is a philosophical thought exercise, a long winding conversation exploring idealistic what if's. What would society look like if our goal was to raise good humans, not power or money? Huxley's commentary and critiques on Western culture in 1962 ring true today, if not more so. He theorizes that social reform and public health are necessary for general enlightenment, and thus focuses on self awareness, moderation, and mental health, drawing heavily from Eastern philosophies as a foil to Western vices. "We cannot reason ourselves out of our basic irrationality. All we can do is learn the art of being irrational in a reasonable way".
His deep understanding and intellectualization of society make this a thought provoking and fascinating read. I enjoyed the mental stretches this book asks of readers, following his logic to imaginative concepts like the mynah birds, communal family groups, positive Pavlov conditioning, psychological first aid -- the list goes on and on. While most are idealistic, many are fantastical, and some questionable, Huxley provided me a much needed alternative to the trends of today, and some interesting ideas to ponder.
His deep understanding and intellectualization of society make this a thought provoking and fascinating read. I enjoyed the mental stretches this book asks of readers, following his logic to imaginative concepts like the mynah birds, communal family groups, positive Pavlov conditioning, psychological first aid -- the list goes on and on. While most are idealistic, many are fantastical, and some questionable, Huxley provided me a much needed alternative to the trends of today, and some interesting ideas to ponder.