Why I Write (Penguin Great Ideas)
Reviews (52)
Man could Orwell write. Some of it's a bit dated, obviously, and largely of historical interest, but there's still enough in here with contemporary resonance to make it worth reading still. And funny? And angry at all the right things? You betcha.
Everything you want to know about the great author is right here. We need more like him today to dispel the many myths about socialism.
Interesting series of essays about how Britain should embrace socialism during WWII to counter the machine like efficiency of the fascist regimes. Also an essay on how writing with colloquial phrases dilutes meaning and is frequently a sign of someone with nothing to say.
Pretty good! It's Orwell's thoughts about words, language, and politics summed up into one little book. His views about England during WWII are very interesting and it is very interesting to note that pretty much none of the changes that he suggested that need to happen, have happened, namely socialism.
The opening, "Why I Write" and the final, "Politics and the English Language" gave the most insight into the reality of writing and what is worth writing about. It also describes how politicians deliberately run around in circles and pretty much say nothing when addressing important issues. This is extremely relevant to today's politicians and anyone who writes at all politically.
I would recommend Orwell’s Why I Write to anyone who wants to get a brief impression of the man and ideology behind the legendary Animal Farm and 1984. There is much to praise about the real Orwell: his commitment to reason, clarity and ability to see through nonsense. There is also much to oppose: his Socialist Democratic dogmatism and occasional reductionism. It is important to understand these aspects of his character to appreciate the context and purpose of his instrumental fiction and journalism.
This book contains little actual literary aesthetics. Indeed, two small chapters at the beginning and end, one on the genesis of Orwell’s writing and another attacking pretentious language covers the topic entirely. Most of these aesthetic ideas are reasonable if a little stale, but his view that all art is inherently political requires more than the bare assertions he provides. In any case Why I Write has little to do with why Orwell writes.
Most of the book is concerned with examining British character, World War II and the possibility for a British Socialist revolution. Generally Orwell’s predictions and Socialist views seem naïve in hindsight. As someone who has been home-educated I found his views on state schooling particularly ill-thought and his understanding of capitalism meagre. However, his knowledge of Britain’s culture remains helpful and accurate to the present day.
Overall I have mixed feelings about Orwell. He was a genius and his anti-communist and anti-totalitarian fictions deserve their celebrity, but he was also limited by his commitment to Socialism.
Orwell is a visionary whose idea(l)s are way ahead of his time. I am especially taken by the sections "Why I Write" and "Politics and the English Language" -- the former for capturing clearly the pervasive, all-encompassing nature of politics, and the latter for showing us how political language "is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind".
His observations of England and its politics are insightful -- critical of her Empire and yet he highlighting the "hypocrisy" of its leaders who were ironically critical of another conqueror, Hitler. While critical of the establishment, he has spoken against the leftists (who in most societies act to check on the establishment) for toying with the idea of wanting to form an allegiance with the Nazi founder.
Meanwhile, his list of 6 policy pro-Socialist recommendations are telling of his years as a poor Englishman. I like that even as he expresses allegiance for Socialism, he is pragmatic and does not claim them to be the end-all.
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