Books 1984

1984 by George Orwell. Absolute classic, still unsettlingly relevant.

Here’s a quick, clean rundown, and then I can go deeper wherever you want:

What it is
A dystopian novel (published in 1949) set in a totalitarian state called Oceania, ruled by the Party and its symbolic leader Big Brother.

Core story
The main character, Winston Smith, works at the Ministry of Truth, where his job is to rewrite history so it always matches the Party’s current narrative. The government watches everyone constantly (telescreens, spies, even children), controls language (Newspeak), and punishes independent thought (“thoughtcrime”).

Winston secretly hates the Party and begins:

Questioning reality

Having an illicit love affair

Hoping rebellion is possible

That hope… does not end well.