# 1984 or Animal farm ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 18, 2009, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829 "2009-08-18T09:06:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/1 "2009-08-18T09:06:23Z")
why ? ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/2 "2009-08-18T09:41:45Z")
To read? Why not both? Animal Farm is really short. I was able to read it in a couple of hours on the way home one day. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/3 "2009-08-18T09:49:24Z")
I prefer _Animal Farm_. Assuming you know the gist of what both stories are about, I don’t feel _Nineteen Eighty-Four_ has enough to offer to really be an enjoyable read. ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/4 "2009-08-18T10:00:50Z")
🙂 I was looking for rating of these books from dopers who have read both . I read “1984” long ago , and intends to read animal farm soon ! ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/5 "2009-08-18T14:04:49Z")
I loved 1984, and it remains one of my favorite books. I still quote it on a regular basis. But Animal Farm has a special place in my heart. I love that book, it is also very quotable. I guess I love them equally. Maybe Animal farm a little more equally than 1984. ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/6 "2009-08-18T14:07:09Z")
Have read both, at least 3x I think. It’s a cop-out, but the answer is of course “it depends.” Animal Farm is a bit of an easier read. It flows more smoothly, you can bang through it in no time. 1984 is heavier, though not prohibitively so, there are certainly books even in the genre that are tougher sledding, just by comparison. However, 1984 is probably more RELEVANT today. Animal Farm’s an extended allegory about the rise of the Soviet Union — well yeah, but reading about the rise of a nation that fell is only of interest to a certain category of wonk. If you’re the kind of person who will watch a documentary on Nicholas & Alexandra every time it comes on (and I am), then you might enjoy Animal Farm. But the warnings, technological red flags, sociopolitical tendencies exposed in 1984 are very much still a reality. If the question is “if there could only be one of these two books, which one would you have survive”, it’d be 1984. If it’s “What book should you start with?”, it’s probably Animal Farm. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/7 "2009-08-18T14:07:10Z")
Animal farm hit me harder. But both are good reads, obviously. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/8 "2009-08-18T15:00:21Z")
Both, and neither. There are elements in each that are plainly obvious in today’s society, although _Animal Farm_ is a critique of the soviet system, and so perhaps less applicable. I think Orwell paid too much attention to the power of monolithic government, which made perfect sense in post-WWII Europe. His writings don’t quite fit with the current reality, because he didn’t place enough emphasis on the role of business (perhaps because Britain was just about broke), and he didn’t foresee the influence of 24-hour saturation by corporate media. But I think Newspeak is all around us, and some animals are more equal than others. ---
**Author:** ![filling\_pages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@filling\_pages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filling_pages)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/9 "2009-08-18T16:39:22Z")
1984 had more to say, but Animal Farm sticks with me in ways I don’t expect. Random example: my mom raises a few chickens, and every time I go out to see them with her I feel compelled to say, “Four legs good, two legs bad!” ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/10 "2009-08-18T16:41:47Z")
Both for me also. They are both really about the Soviet Union, but Animal Farm is simpler and a more direct attack, while 1984 speaks far more to today, since it can still happen even 25 years after 1984. You need to know something about the history of the Soviet Union to get Animal Farm, but 1984 stands better by itself. So Animal Farm is the appetizer and 1984 is the entree. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/11 "2009-08-18T20:17:51Z")
> [@johnspartan](#): > > But the warnings, technological red flags, sociopolitical tendencies exposed in 1984 are very much still a reality. What an excellent post/username combo! I vote 1984 as well, because as the decades pass, it not only remains relevant, but it becomes relevant in new ways. For example, monolithic government is less of a concern now than it was. But there are so many more ways that our privacy can be invaded. There may not be telescreens on every wall, but if Big Brother wanted to keep an eye on you, he’d have many ways of doing so. p.s. Did you ever find out what you were supposed to do with the three seashells? ---
**Author:** ![Jettboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jettboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jettboy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/12 "2009-08-18T21:19:05Z")
Both are brilliant, and I have a copy of each in my permanant library. I’d have to give the edge to _Animal Farm_, but only because I have an edition with illustrations by Ralph Steadman [http://www.ralphsteadman.com/](http://www.ralphsteadman.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Yossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/9de0a6/32.png) [@Yossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yossarian)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/13 "2009-08-18T21:26:20Z")
Neither: _Homage to Catalonia_! ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/14 "2009-08-18T21:29:07Z")
I have to say Animal Farm because it’s a “simple” fable. It hits you on a more elementary level. I think it’s a much better book to introduce a young 'un to sophisticated ideas and political commentary. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/15 "2009-08-18T21:30:55Z")
1984 or Animal farm _what_? Which should you read? Both. Which should you read first? Probably Animal Farm. Which should you read if you are only going to read one? Probably 1984. Which will resonate with you more? No way to tell, it depends on you. I love them both. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/16 "2009-08-18T21:35:55Z")
Neither. They’re both so heavy handed that they feel less like novels and more like tracts. Brave New World was more readable but still, bashes you over the head with the ideas. I’d take books that are actually well plotted like This Perfect Day or The Giver over 1984 any day because I never felt like that world was real to me. ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/17 "2009-08-18T21:37:46Z")
I like 1984. In addition to being a good warning and wakeup call, I think it’s beautifully and intricately written. Animal Farm seemed a little silly to me – I know it’s written in a certain style on purpose, but it annoyed me a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/18 "2009-08-18T22:09:45Z")
If it’s of any significance, there hasn’t been a good film adaptation for either as yet. Arguably the John Hurt _1984_ came closest, but versions of _Animal Farm_ always (heh) chicken out when it comes to the ending. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/19 "2009-08-19T00:36:05Z")
I like 1984. I have always liked 1984. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829/20 "2009-08-19T01:24:31Z")
1984, 1985. Whatever it takes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1984-or-animal-farm/506829.md?page=2)