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
Capital Ideas
Scotland
The Age of Entitlement
Mohammed and Charlemagne
Feeding the Dragon
Who We Are and How We Got Here
Frisco Kid
The Plant Paradox
The New Economics
The Warren Buffett Way
Live Your Truth
What We Owe the Future
With the Old Breed
The Greatness Mindset
Werner Herzog - A Guide for the Perplexed
Amusing Ourselves to Death
The Razor's Edge
The Little Prince
Lifespan
Foundation
The First Conspiracy
Proof of Corruption
Karl Marx's Theory of History
Masters of the Word
Black Flags
Thermoinfocomplexity
Fewer
Mathematics: Its Content, Methods and Meaning
The American Challenge
The Network State
Bel Canto
Mao
The Victorian Internet
Spain in Our Hearts
Asset Management
The Sovereign Individual
The French Revolution and What Went Wrong
Confessions of a Philosopher
The Innovators
Misbehaving
All Marketers are Liars
Off The Record
The Pleasure of Finding Things Out
Programming Bitcoin
A Random Walk Down Wall Street
The Great CEO Within
Founders' Son
Think Like a Monk
The Last Lion
Why We Believe in God(s)
The Poems of Dylan Thomas
Home Game
Platform Revolution
The Ethics of Money Production
Loonshots
In the Heart of the Sea
A Magic Web
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
The Little Bitcoin Book
The Sketchbooks of Chris Wilkinson
A Time for New Dreams
The Making of the Atomic Bomb
Thing Explainer
Monetizing Innovation
The Right Stuff
The Great War of Our Time
Our Mathematical Universe
Direct Truth
What You Want
Connectography
Why America Is Not a New Rome
The World According to Garp
Water in Plain Sight
An American Marriage
P53
Levels of the Game
The End of Power
Invariances
Think Like a Rocket Scientist
How to Be Topp
Intellectuals and Race
Hopping Over The Rabbit Hole
The Story of Civilization: Caesar and Christ
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
House On Fire
Personal Knowledge
From Third World to First
Little, Big
The Sports Gene
First a Dream
Innovating Out of Crisis
Team of Rivals
Disruptor
The Score Takes Care of Itself
As One Is
Where Mountains Roar
Justice on Trial
Return to the Little Kingdom
Mastery
Lords of Finance