When I read “Fahrenheit 451” a couple of years ago, it seemed prescient in some ways, but also very out of touch with our times too. We live in an abundance of information; more books are available than ever before (at least if you trust Google Books to provide accurate images). The physical destruction of books envisioned by Bradbury has not come to pass, but a more subtle parochialism and tribalism has been enabled by the very abundance of information: we can now surround ourselves with people who already think the way we do. I do like Bradbury’s idea of turning oneself into a living book, even if I found his implementation of the idea kind of hokey.
What I found surprising was the argument given by Beatty, the fire chief. He said burning books had become mere spectacle. The fact was that people simply didn’t want books anymore, preferring superficial entertainment. In that sense, the novel relates more to our world.
In terms of the suppression of information, I think we just have to consider how certain regimes have sought to censor the Internet. That stuff gives me the willies.
The Untimely Typewriter:Daily Writings Against the Tides of Distraction 
Yes!
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When I read “Fahrenheit 451” a couple of years ago, it seemed prescient in some ways, but also very out of touch with our times too. We live in an abundance of information; more books are available than ever before (at least if you trust Google Books to provide accurate images). The physical destruction of books envisioned by Bradbury has not come to pass, but a more subtle parochialism and tribalism has been enabled by the very abundance of information: we can now surround ourselves with people who already think the way we do. I do like Bradbury’s idea of turning oneself into a living book, even if I found his implementation of the idea kind of hokey.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What I found surprising was the argument given by Beatty, the fire chief. He said burning books had become mere spectacle. The fact was that people simply didn’t want books anymore, preferring superficial entertainment. In that sense, the novel relates more to our world.
In terms of the suppression of information, I think we just have to consider how certain regimes have sought to censor the Internet. That stuff gives me the willies.
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