The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde

Recommended By

Book Reviews

This book was on Sam Altman's bookshelf.

Book Synopsis

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde is a classic novel that delves into the themes of morality, art, and the corrupting influence of society.

The story revolves around the handsome and wealthy Dorian Gray, who becomes enthralled by his own portrait painted by the talented artist, Basil Hallward. Faced with the fear of aging and losing his beauty, Dorian makes a pact that allows his portrait to age and reflect the consequences of his actions instead.

As Dorian indulges in a hedonistic and immoral lifestyle, his portrait begins to transform, revealing the hideous effects of his debauchery. Meanwhile, his youthful appearance remains untouched, causing him to lead a double life.

Throughout the novel, Wilde explores the conflicting desires for eternal youth and the pursuit of pleasure. Dorian's transformation from innocent youth to immoral hedonist highlights the destructive nature of vanity and selfishness.

As the tale progresses, Dorian's actions lead to the suffering and downfall of those around him, including Basil and his love interest, the actress Sibyl Vane. The portrait becomes a disturbing reflection of Dorian's soul, representing the consequences of his immoral choices.

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" is a thought-provoking and elegant literary work that presents a captivating exploration of the human condition, shedding light on the delicate balance between moral responsibility and the pursuit of personal desires.

Explore More Books

See All
On Bullshit
Timelines of World History
The Internet of Money Volume 2
String Theory
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
The Principia
Paradigms Of A.I. Programming
The Bully Pulpit
The Beak of the Finch
Draft No. 4
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
The House of Getty
Rage Becomes Her
Barbarians At The Gate
The Three Body Problem
Storm of Steel
Play Anything
The Starfish and the Spider
When Genius Failed
Nonviolent Communication
Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track
Restoring Our Republic
Conflicted
Scientific Advertising
Hit Refresh
Trauma
Systems Medicine
Good Calories, Bad Calories
The Best We Could Do
Visual Explanations
Complexity and the Economy
The Paper Menagerie And Other Stories
Rick and Morty Book Two
When Prophecy Fails
The Salmon of Doubt
Statistical Models
Indistractable
The Death and Life of Great American Cities
Bobby Kennedy
Originals
Exit Interview
On Wings of Eagles
Technopoly
Social Cognition
National Economic Planning
Trade Is Not A Four Letter Word
Pattern Recognition
The DevOps Handbook
Different
The Devil in the White City
The Second Machine Age
The Autobiography of Gucci Mane
Born Standing Up
No Two Alike
Trade-Off
The Wizard of Menlo Park
The Man Without a Face
The Boys in the Boat
The 5 Resets
The Wayfinders
Fast-Track Triathlete
The Story of Civilization: The Age of Reason Begins
All Out War
The Blank Swan
All The Light We Cannot See
A Sound of Thunder and Other Stories
Simple & Direct
Six Easy Pieces
Stories of Your Life and Others
Trailblazer
The Book of Life
True Enough
A Writer's Time
The Fear Book
Permanent Record
The Fry Chronicles
The Minefield Girl
Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman
What Do People Do All Day?
Negotiating The Impossible
Blueprint
Leading
Small Is the New Big
The Great Influenza
Plagues and Peoples
Limping on Water
Mandela's Way
Ready Player One
Sunset at Blandings
Cultural Strategy
The Theory of Investment Value
Revolution from Within
State of Fear
Steve Jobs & The NeXT Big Thing
Fortune's Formula
Bad Therapy
Memories, Dreams, Reflections
The Slow Midnight on Cypress Avenue
The Decadent Society
Parfit