Fahrenheit 451 — the ultimate banned book
Published on Sep 27, 2006 at 6:19 pm.
39 Comments.
Filed under books, science fiction.
This is banned books week. The idea is to read a book that has been banned somewhere. Many localities and school districts have banned books for various reasons, mostly because something in the book offends someone or makes someone uncomfortable. So, these books are taken out of classrooms and libraries so that children don’t read them and get offended. Well, I just found out that some places have banned Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451“, a science fiction book that I read as a child and fondly remember. I’ve set both the picture of the book and the name as links to Amazon where you can buy it. It is well worth the read. Now, for those of you who know the book, putting in on a proscribed list is the ultimate of ironies!!!!
Now, for those of you who don’t know the book, let me explain. The setting of the book is several decades into the future (from when it was written). In this world, buildings are created from fireproof materials, so there is no need of a fire department to put out fires. Yet, there are still firemen. But, in this world, firemen set fires. They set fires to burn books. Not all books, mind you, just certain ones — books that contain things that people might be offended by or made to feel uncomfortable. Such books are banned, and even possesing them is reason for the government to come burn your home. The title, “Fahrenheit 451″, comes from the temperature at which paper burns.
The whole premise of the book is of censureship run amok. Even television has evolved to be mindless dribble carefully orchestrated so as not to offend anyone — just dull their minds. In fact, people become so preoccupied with their own worlds that they don’t even notice that the nation is at war and that the rest of the world hates them. Hmm. You know, this sounds a lot like the world today. So, it is very ironic if a book that warns against banning books because they make people uncomfortable is itself banned because it makes people uncomfortable!
In the novel, one fireman, Guy Montag, begins to question what he is doing. He sneaks some books home from places where he was supposed to be burning them. He reads them, and finds that they enrich his life. He then runs to find an enclave of people who wish to preserve the classic books of humanity. Along the way, there is deep thought on the whole censureship issue.
But wait! There’s more! The book was actually made into a movie! The movie is a bit different from the book in places, but the basic story is still the same. The movie seems to sort of tone down the whole “Censureship is evil.” morality lesson of the book, but the idea still comes across. There is a cool scene in the end when Montag reaches the enclave of living books (everyone memorizes a book, and then “becomes” that book for anyone else who wants to “read” it). In the book, people who read the banned books die, including a young girl that lives nearby. But, in the movie, Montag finds the girl alive and well at the enclave.
So, for my banned book for the week, I pick “Fahrenheit 451″.
-Astroprof
Mary Jo on September 27, 2006 at 7:07 pm: 1
I had completely forgotten about Fahrenheit 451. The ultimate in irony, huh?!
I’m reading the same banned book that I read every year at this time — To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s a book that had a profound impact on, and that I think has lessons for all of us.
Astroprof on September 28, 2006 at 5:19 pm: 2
To Kill a Mockingbird is good. A lot of the banned books are good. A lot of them really puzzle me when I hear that they are now proscribed. And the reasons for banning them are the same reasons that Bradbury says books were banned in his novel! So, it really is a bit of an irony that Fahrenheit 451 is on some of the banned lists! That blew me away when I saw it.
Kilian Hanel on February 14, 2007 at 8:00 am: 3
Wow!! Can you tell me where in the world and at which school they bann a novel like Fahrenheit 451??
Kilian Hanel on February 14, 2007 at 8:05 am: 4
perhaps in religious schools?
Astroprof on February 14, 2007 at 10:35 am: 5
It was first banned from a Mississippi public high school because it used the word “damn” in it: http://www.banned-books.com/bbarticle-miss.html
But, I have heard of a few other efforts by some parents to ban the book in other schools for the same reason. I also heard that some groups have tried to ban the book because they find the story about book burning offensive. The problem is that if one school bans the book, then anyone who hears about that, particularly if they have not read it, decide that banning it must be a good idea. And, administrators go along with that, because they fear that they’ll be sued if they don’t ban a book that some other school has banned.
Lucienda on July 15, 2007 at 11:09 pm: 6
well, this book was banned for using the word “God Damn!” which in many cases offend people
Lucienda on July 15, 2007 at 11:09 pm: 7
well, this book was banned for using the word “God Damn!” which in many cases offend people
tu madre on April 3, 2008 at 6:41 am: 8
well i think this book should be banned because i dint like it one bit!
tu padre on May 18, 2008 at 9:59 pm: 9
i thought it was interesting, and a very good book.
Obi-Mom Kenobi on September 30, 2008 at 11:57 am: 10
Excellent choice. I’m reading it with my 13 year old son right now, as well. It’s proving to be a real conversation starter.
the merc on October 17, 2008 at 12:16 pm: 11
I think guy and beatty have the hots for each other and want to experiment
A on November 16, 2008 at 12:27 pm: 12
I really didn’t enjoy Fahrenheit 451, it had a good impact within readers, I just didn’t like it.
AJAX on November 16, 2008 at 11:19 pm: 13
It is a good “DAMN” book. I truely enjoyed it and completely agree with the ideas this book brings to the table.
Bryan on December 7, 2008 at 8:17 pm: 14
people are so stupid its obvious that the ones who banned this book havent read it and just spend too much time watching tv all day, because it doesnt actually promote book burning
Gunner Tinkle on January 19, 2009 at 11:33 am: 15
i think that book is so stupid and annoying i am reading that book for school it is the most retarded book i have ever herd of!!!!!!!!! i don’t know how you people can read this retarded book!!!!!!!!!!
Gunner Tinkle on January 19, 2009 at 11:35 am: 16
I THINK ALL BOOKS SHOULD BE BANNED EVERY WHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Astroprof on January 19, 2009 at 12:56 pm: 17
If all books were banned, everyone would be ignorant. That is what the book is about: the dumbing down of society when people are not challenged by things that they don’t agree with.
JDM on February 10, 2009 at 10:40 am: 18
Farenheit 451 is one of the best books I have read. The story, this future world, i slowly watch our own world turning into this. You who say it was retarded and should be banned or that every book should be banned are just showing off your lack of intelegence, and funny enough proving the story to in fact be a prediction of the future instead of fiction. For those of you who dont like it I completely understand, it is difficult for some people to follow, no problem with that. I apreciate that some people can still come out and say, “hey I didnt like the book but I can see its point.” The greatest thing about books is that not everyone has to like one particular story, T.V. goes for ratings so you get this generic show that everyone watches because they are trying to get the most people at a time. But with books, especially ones like this, not everyone is going to like them, some people will despise one book, but everyone can find a book they love. Anyway I am writing a paper on Farenheit 451, and this site may prove beneficial to my search for information.
Peace,
JDM
mellojello1156 on February 14, 2009 at 1:21 am: 19
I can’t seem to find out exactly where or when Farenheit 451 was banned. I’ve read that thing about the school, too, but I heard that it was banned by an actual forein government. If anyone can tell me, I would appreciate it. I love what JDM is saying. It’s totally true. Except for he/she spelled Intelligence wrong…but that’s OK.:D
ohyouknow on April 1, 2009 at 7:47 am: 20
i think the merc is right
sup on April 21, 2009 at 1:54 pm: 21
it was banned somewhere in texas because it had the words damn, hell etc. however if you read through the bottom of page 53 to the end of the “lecture” it describes the path that this country is going toward. which the before listed version is most likely a cover-up for the fact that it threatens the public lack of knowledge that obama and his liberals are trying to control every aspect of our lives to make it “fair” for every one and to make them “happy”
Aunna on June 6, 2009 at 3:33 pm: 22
To “Tu Madre”:
Im sorry you didnt like the book, but get over it seriously! Just because you didn’t like it doesn’t mean that other people dont. I dont get it, it should be banned just because YOU didnt like the story? Well if you didnt like the story, you dont have to read it! You dont have to be so narcistic and self centered…. jeeze…
Ingmar Northcott on June 26, 2009 at 5:13 am: 23
If a person bans a book because it has the word ‘damn’ in it, then that person is ‘damning’ the book, and isn’t that ironic, if not hypocritical? The problem that these moralists apparently have with the ’so-called’ swear word ‘Damn’ one would imagine, is that using it attempts to usurp upon the power of God, the only one who can damn anybody, but if the ban and damn the book then, again, they’ve ironically usurped the power of God themselves, or at least tried to.
Banning a book demonstrates the impulse to actually burn the book, and what is damning but consigning something or someone to the flames of Hell or Perdition as Hell used to be called until we got tired of using so many syllables
Emily on August 12, 2009 at 8:52 pm: 24
This is totally crazy! My school is reading this book. We also read To Kill A Mockingbird… The idea of banning a book seems unimaginable to me.
Mila on September 27, 2009 at 5:43 pm: 25
Okay… so i read Fahrenheit 451 in eighth grade and let me tell you, it was very difficult. however, this book has a good message that can be applied to today’s society. it is a hard read but its really interesting once you get it. ^-^
Scooter Johnson on November 24, 2009 at 9:08 am: 26
Ok so….. Gunner Tinkle is the most retarted kid I have ever had the chance of listening to. Gunner says I herd of. Who the f*** says I herd of. Learn how to spell, before you post a blog you dipsh**. This book should not be banned
Twinkle Toes 69 on November 24, 2009 at 9:15 am: 27
Gunner Tinkle i have one thing to say to you… your an idiot. You fuc*. You should just go burry your self in a field to just die. you would be doing the world a favor.
joshuawp2p on December 21, 2009 at 6:59 pm: 28
i 2nd that
Sheree on January 22, 2010 at 12:13 am: 29
This book challenges society- the majority. Anything that does that will be frowned upon, no matter the views of society. It has an obviously negative message about t.v. and materialism, which are two things modern society is sadly based upon. People become afraid when they read it because it reminds us of how pathetic our society can be(and is)and how things could possibly end up because of it. Many don’t let themselves even realize this consciously before getting angry or afraid. Fear can stop thought in it’s tracks. This is why books should never be banned.
lovefahrenheit451 on February 18, 2010 at 5:53 pm: 30
JDM-completly right. society is an important lesson in the book. I am in eighth grade and I love the book!!! There are many lessons to be learned. This book,why oh why, should NOT be banned, for any reason. My class is doing a debate on Fahrenheit 451, and I’m supposed to give reasons to ban the book. Uugh.
There acutualy are quite a few reasons to ban the book. Lots of violence and bad language, drugs, war..so on. Not to intice anybody, though. I love the book and i really don’t see any reason to ban it. lots of people would be missing out on really good lessons, like the one on society. i love the book!!!
lovefahrenheit451 on February 18, 2010 at 5:57 pm: 31
I forgot about the irony!!! the irony in the book is completly, well, IRONY. I also have to check out the movie. is it good, and does it relate closely to the book? I didn’t know there was a movie!
Striking Shadow Zombie on April 27, 2010 at 5:16 pm: 32
@the merc:dont start
@A:ok you are entitled to your opinion and i am fine with that
@Gunner:just shut your bullsh**, you have no reason to spray us with you asssh**, i think that your brains are mostly composed of human fecies, and the other parts, are made out of marshmallows…and tar, stop using caps.
as for me, i liked the book, it really brought to mind what we are dealing with today.(sry my spelling sucks)
catluvr700 on September 6, 2010 at 3:22 pm: 33
I am thinking about reading this book for a banned book project. Do you think it would be a good choice?
gk on September 30, 2010 at 8:02 am: 34
You all know it is not the schools that ban books. it is parents…. anyone can put a ban on a book and get it taken off the self at your kid’s school. just summit a form at the Library of Congress. and you can get it taken out of your kids school. its not the schools. it is the public… stupid people did you know someone put a ban on a DR. Seuss book….. really??? pretty stupid if you ask me…
MR on October 4, 2010 at 7:52 am: 35
i love the irony that, the book describes the evile of book banning, and the book itself is banned!!
u.ask.i.commet:) on November 14, 2010 at 11:19 pm: 36
ok…?
smiley on November 14, 2010 at 11:22 pm: 37
i agree with u.ask.i.commet:) i mean not everyone’s going to like the book so it pretty much understandable if someone says they don’t like this book !
Lauren Perry on February 28, 2011 at 9:49 am: 38
I <3 ryan perry
Drake Foster on March 30, 2011 at 8:28 am: 39
OMG!!! Ryan Perry is sooooo HAWT!!!!!!!! <3