Fahrenheit 451
by: Ray Bradbury
Price: $6.99
Prices subject to change.Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Amazon.com Review:
In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury's classic, frighteningvision of the future, firemen don't put out fires--they start them inorder to burn books. Bradbury's vividly painted society holds up theappearance of happiness as the highest goal--a place where trivialinformation is good, and knowledge and ideas are bad. Fire CaptainBeatty explains it this way, "Give the people contests they winby remembering the words to more popular songs.... Don't give themslippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things upwith. That way lies melancholy."
Guy Montag is a book-burning fireman undergoing a crisis of faith. Hiswife spends all day with her television "family," imploringMontag to work harder so that they can afford a fourth TV wall. Theirdull, empty life sharply contrasts with that of his next-door neighborClarisse, a young girl thrilled by the ideas in books, and moreinterested in what she can see in the world around her than in themindless chatter of the tube. When Clarisse disappears mysteriously,Montag is moved to make some changes, and starts hiding books in hishome. Eventually, his wife turns him in, and he must answer the callto burn his secret cache of books. After fleeing to avoid arrest,Montag winds up joining an outlaw band of scholars who keep thecontents of books in their heads, waiting for the time society willonce again need the wisdom of literature.
Bradbury--the author of more than 500 short stories, novels, plays,and poems, including The MartianChronicles and The IllustratedMan--is the winner of many awards, including the Grand MasterAward from the Science Fiction Writers of America. Readers ages 13 to93 will be swept up in the harrowing suspense of Fahrenheit451, and no doubt will join the hordes of Bradbury fans worldwide.--Neil Roseman
Product Description:
Nowadays firemen start fires. Fireman Guy Montag loves to rush to a fire and watch books burn up. Then he met a seventeen-year old girl who told him of a past when people were not afraid, and a professor who told him of a future where people could think. And Guy Montag knew what he had to do....
In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury's classic, frighteningvision of the future, firemen don't put out fires--they start them inorder to burn books. Bradbury's vividly painted society holds up theappearance of happiness as the highest goal--a place where trivialinformation is good, and knowledge and ideas are bad. Fire CaptainBeatty explains it this way, "Give the people contests they winby remembering the words to more popular songs.... Don't give themslippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things upwith. That way lies melancholy."
Guy Montag is a book-burning fireman undergoing a crisis of faith. Hiswife spends all day with her television "family," imploringMontag to work harder so that they can afford a fourth TV wall. Theirdull, empty life sharply contrasts with that of his next-door neighborClarisse, a young girl thrilled by the ideas in books, and moreinterested in what she can see in the world around her than in themindless chatter of the tube. When Clarisse disappears mysteriously,Montag is moved to make some changes, and starts hiding books in hishome. Eventually, his wife turns him in, and he must answer the callto burn his secret cache of books. After fleeing to avoid arrest,Montag winds up joining an outlaw band of scholars who keep thecontents of books in their heads, waiting for the time society willonce again need the wisdom of literature.
Bradbury--the author of more than 500 short stories, novels, plays,and poems, including The MartianChronicles and The IllustratedMan--is the winner of many awards, including the Grand MasterAward from the Science Fiction Writers of America. Readers ages 13 to93 will be swept up in the harrowing suspense of Fahrenheit451, and no doubt will join the hordes of Bradbury fans worldwide.--Neil Roseman
Product Description:
Nowadays firemen start fires. Fireman Guy Montag loves to rush to a fire and watch books burn up. Then he met a seventeen-year old girl who told him of a past when people were not afraid, and a professor who told him of a future where people could think. And Guy Montag knew what he had to do....
Alternate Versions:
Related Items:
Browse for similar items by category:
- Books » Specialty Stores » Custom Stores » 4-for-3 Books Store » Literature & Fiction » General » Classics
- Books » Specialty Stores » Custom Stores » 4-for-3 Books Store » Literature & Fiction » World Literature » United States » Classics » General
- Books » Specialty Stores » Custom Stores » 4-for-3 Books Store » Science Fiction & Fantasy » Science Fiction » General
- Books » Specialty Stores » Custom Stores » 4-for-3 Books Store » All 4-for-3 Deals
- Books » Subjects » Literature & Fiction » Classics » General AAS
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- A dash of cold water, please
Our book club recently decided to make every other book choice a "classic" book which, for one reason or another, none of us has read.Fahrenheit 451 was this month's choice.After plowing through Bradbury's self-aggrandizing Foreward AND Introduction, I was ready to be enthralled.No such luck.This had to be one of the most abysmal books of all time.I suspect there's a bit of The Emperor's New Clothes (a much better read, by the way) going on here.In other words, if you dare to criticize ... Read More
Rating: 
- Dated screed
I am frustrated by the sloppiness of this book. From what I understand, Bradbury sat in a library and wrote it in a few weeks, and it shows. Montag is introduced as a man happy in his job. The meeting with Clarisse blows his mind! But then Bradbury throws in numerous details indicating that his dissatisfaction has been mounting for some time. Although Montag is purportedly of a divided mind, the development of his character is very abrupt and unconvincing. But why develop what is essentially a mouthpiece ... Read More
Rating: 
- Prophetic, but Immature
This was one of my favorite books in high school, and reading it again had a certain charm, but my issue with it can be summed up in a small quote from an interview included in the final pages.
"DEL RAY: In the introduction to the recently published Bradbury: An Illustrated Life", a wonderful book which I have spent hours immersed in--
RAY BRADBURY: Isn't that an incredible book?"
I had the same issue with Brave New World. Even though these science fiction romps are ... Read More
Rating: 
- A thrilling combination of 50's pulp sci-fi and reflective commentary
By my count, this'll be the 1,218th review for this book on amazon, so what could I possibly say that the other 1,217 haven't?
But for those few who dare dig this deep to read: I loved the book.I've read numerous novels and thrillers for fun, and also dabbled in more serious, non-fiction as well (check my profile if you want), but this one book managed to bridge the two meta-genres.In Ray Bradbury's comments he mentions that he wrote the book on typewriters that charged a dime per hour in ... Read More
Rating: - Fahrenheit 451: A Novel
Excellent Service!Book came promptly, even faster than I ever expected!I never thought this one would be available in hardcover.
Many thanks.
- A dash of cold water, pleaseOur book club recently decided to make every other book choice a "classic" book which, for one reason or another, none of us has read.Fahrenheit 451 was this month's choice.After plowing through Bradbury's self-aggrandizing Foreward AND Introduction, I was ready to be enthralled.No such luck.This had to be one of the most abysmal books of all time.I suspect there's a bit of The Emperor's New Clothes (a much better read, by the way) going on here.In other words, if you dare to criticize ... Read More
- Dated screedI am frustrated by the sloppiness of this book. From what I understand, Bradbury sat in a library and wrote it in a few weeks, and it shows. Montag is introduced as a man happy in his job. The meeting with Clarisse blows his mind! But then Bradbury throws in numerous details indicating that his dissatisfaction has been mounting for some time. Although Montag is purportedly of a divided mind, the development of his character is very abrupt and unconvincing. But why develop what is essentially a mouthpiece ... Read More
- Prophetic, but ImmatureThis was one of my favorite books in high school, and reading it again had a certain charm, but my issue with it can be summed up in a small quote from an interview included in the final pages.
"DEL RAY: In the introduction to the recently published Bradbury: An Illustrated Life", a wonderful book which I have spent hours immersed in--
RAY BRADBURY: Isn't that an incredible book?"
I had the same issue with Brave New World. Even though these science fiction romps are ... Read More
- A thrilling combination of 50's pulp sci-fi and reflective commentaryBy my count, this'll be the 1,218th review for this book on amazon, so what could I possibly say that the other 1,217 haven't?
But for those few who dare dig this deep to read: I loved the book.I've read numerous novels and thrillers for fun, and also dabbled in more serious, non-fiction as well (check my profile if you want), but this one book managed to bridge the two meta-genres.In Ray Bradbury's comments he mentions that he wrote the book on typewriters that charged a dime per hour in ... Read More
- Fahrenheit 451: A NovelExcellent Service!Book came promptly, even faster than I ever expected!I never thought this one would be available in hardcover.
Many thanks.
