Fahrenheit 451

Despite being first published in 1953, this book is holding up quite well 62 years later and is still has relevance to society today. Bradbury tells of a society where books are banned and 'firemen' are employed to burn down houses where hidden books are found. The populace has become insular, unfeeling and numbed by the constant TV screens in their homes showing never ending bland entertainment and the earpieces that whisper soothing sounds or music into their ears (sound a little familiar?). No one engages any more with the rest of society, except to watch the screens together. The men work at undemanding jobs and no one is aware of the constant wars being waged in far away countries.

Guy Montag is a fireman who begins to wake up when he starts stealing books from houses that he is sent to burn down. He starts to wonder why they are banned from reading about these books. Bradbury goes on to tell us what happens to Guy as colour and feelings return to his life and he wonders about the world men have built for themselves. A simple but powerful story told by a skilled writer and one that still resonates today.