Book Notes

Animal Farm

I read Animal Farm in my tent during a rain storm in Logan Canyon, Utah. Some of my immediate takeaways:

• Orwell was dead on at identifying this pattern of “if something is said enough times, it will become true” that has come to dominate western politics and culture.
• Poor Boxer.
• I have been wondering who I identify with in this book. In 1984, Orwell obviously intends for the reader to put themselves into Winston’s shoes. But this book has no comparable protagonist. Maybe Benjamin or Boxer.
• This would be more valuable for students to read than 1984 imo. Orwell saw the writing on the wall about where totalitarianism would eventually go. Some of the Stalin and Trotsky references went over my head but I think this is a book everyone can take something from.