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A review by sydneyarthur
Walden Two by B.F. Skinner
2.0
1.5 ⭐️ I really wish that I had enjoyed this more… I read it very quickly, not because Skinner is an especially entertaining fiction author, but because the formulaic/repetitive nature of the book allowed me to. I kept waiting for there to be a plot, or character development, or a more likable dialogue among the characters. None of those things ever came.
This is not the say that Skinner was not a genius psychologist and behaviorist, just that this particular book does not have much literary merit. He presented many creative ideas for a utopian society, but most of them were not even based on behavioral principles, which is a disappointing discovery for the behavior analyst who reads this. Frazier’s character, who was basically a voice for Skinner himself, (although the narrator’s name was Burris) came off as unlikable, creepy, arrogant, and attention-seeking, qualities that were also present in the narrator and the contentious philosopher, Castle. I personally just don’t enjoy reading books with characters that I find unlikable or annoying.
In conclusion, the two stars reflect my opinion of Skinner’s writing style (specifically the clumsy dialogue, lack of a plot and character development, and minor plot holes) and *not* my opinion of his contributions to the field of psychology and behaviorism, to which Skinner would objectively deserve five stars.
This is not the say that Skinner was not a genius psychologist and behaviorist, just that this particular book does not have much literary merit. He presented many creative ideas for a utopian society, but most of them were not even based on behavioral principles, which is a disappointing discovery for the behavior analyst who reads this. Frazier’s character, who was basically a voice for Skinner himself, (although the narrator’s name was Burris) came off as unlikable, creepy, arrogant, and attention-seeking, qualities that were also present in the narrator and the contentious philosopher, Castle. I personally just don’t enjoy reading books with characters that I find unlikable or annoying.
In conclusion, the two stars reflect my opinion of Skinner’s writing style (specifically the clumsy dialogue, lack of a plot and character development, and minor plot holes) and *not* my opinion of his contributions to the field of psychology and behaviorism, to which Skinner would objectively deserve five stars.