Animal Farm

George Orwell

Genre

Recommended By

Book Reviews

One of Sahil Lavingia's most recommended books.

Book Synopsis

"Animal Farm" by George Orwell is a timeless allegorical novella that explores the corruption of power through the lens of a seemingly harmless farmyard rebellion. Set on Manor Farm, the animals are tired of their mistreatment and exploitation by the human farmer, Mr. Jones. Led by the intelligent pigs, specifically Old Major and his successors Napoleon and Snowball, they overthrow their human oppressors and establish their own self-governing society.

Initially, the animals embrace the principles of Animalism, a set of commandments that promote equality and a fair distribution of resources. However, as time passes, the pigs gradually consolidate their power, eroding the egalitarian principles upon which the rebellion was founded. They rewrite the commandments to justify their increasing privileges and manipulate the other animals with propaganda and fear tactics.

The once unified and harmonious animal society is soon divided, with the pigs forming an elite ruling class. Napoleon, the devious and power-hungry pig, emerges as the self-proclaimed leader, eliminating any opposition to his rule. The hardworking and loyal horse Boxer becomes indoctrinated into blindly supporting the pigs, and his eventual tragic fate serves as a harrowing reminder of the harsh realities of totalitarianism.

As the pigs align themselves with humans, betraying their fellow animals, the original commandments are revised to a single maxim that exemplifies the pigs' hypocrisy: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." The once-revolutionary animal rebellion, now mirroring the tyranny it sought to escape, becomes indistinguishable from the human-dominated society it replaced.

"Animal Farm" serves as a cautionary tale, providing a stark and insightful critique of political corruption, abuse of power, and the dangers of blind obedience. With its timeless themes and memorable characters, Orwell's masterpiece continues to resonate with readers, highlighting the potential consequences of unchecked authority and the illusory nature of utopian ideals.

Explore More Books

See All
Pride and Prejudice
The Origin of Wealth
101 Things I Learned in Engineering School
Syntax & Sage
Building the Intentional University
From Bacteria to Bach and Back
Hit Men
The Splendid and the Vile
Prof. Arnold Ehret's Mucusless Diet Healing System
Deep Work
The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
The Black Swan
Getting Everything You Can Out of All You've Got
The Anatomy of the State
Andrew Carnegie
Good Economics For Hard Times
The Overview Effect
Faraday, Maxwell, and the Electromagnetic Field
Built from Scratch
Daemon
Should We Eat Meat?
The Price of Peace
The Big Score
The Black Jacobins
It's About Damn Time
The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe
Seeing Serena
Be the Person You Want to Find
Every Shot Counts
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Our Mathematical Universe
Troublemakers
The Culture of Narcissism
The Better Angels of our Nature
The Global Macro Edge
Boyd
Layered Money
Swimming Across
The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo
Death Rattle
Painting and Experience in Fifteenth-Century Italy
Vagabonding
Dune
The Upright Thinkers
The Writing Life
The God Proof
Return to the Little Kingdom
Stealing Fire
More Than You Know
Thirst
James Turrell
Who Moved My Cheese?
The Power of Full Engagement
The Sheltering Sky
The 10,000 Year Explosion
Tales of the Unexpected
How Buildings Learn
The Wisdom of Crowds
Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter
The Value Investors
The Only Game In Town
Continental Reckoning
The Autobiography of Charles Darwin
Norwegian Wood
Six Not-So-Easy Pieces
Nudge
Energy
Greenlights
Money Changes Everything
Stuff Matters
In The Plex
Ficciones
Autobiography of a Yogi
Race and Culture
The Great Illusion
Interventions
The Checklist Manifesto
Orwell's Revenge
Uncaring
Decoded
One Up on Wall Street
The Art of Computer Programming
The Cult of LEGO
Breath From Salt
The Jack Vance Treasury
In-N-Out Burger
Leaving Microsoft to Change the World
Slugfest
Lonesome Dove
Take On The Street
What If?
Zoning Rules!
The Heart of Yoga
Dreamland
The Trump Century
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Plan B 3.0
The Opium of the Intellectuals
Tent Life in Siberia
UFO Hunters