In a sad, scary dystopian future, thoughts are discouraged and ideas are illegal. The food of ideas, of course, are books, so the government has outlawed all but the most innocuous of them. When a secret stash of "dangerous" texts is discovered and reported, the firemen are called out - not to put out fires, but to set them.
In the midst of this stifling world is Montag, a fireman who enjoys the cheap thrills of modern life while never quite being able to shake the feeling that something is wrong - that something is missing. When a young woman moves in next door - a young woman with emotions, wonder, and curiosity - Montag knows his suspicions are correct. Suddenly questioning the status quo, Montag sets a course for spiritual rebirth, which may cost him his life.
Bradbury's dark fantasy has been the stuff of legend nearly since its first publication in the 1950's. What surprises today is just how relevant and timeless it remains. The depictions of a society numbed into submission by a nonstop barrage of televised entertainment strikes painfully true. Bradbury is able to paint broad strokes in a relatively brief span; the book feels epic but retains a breathless pace.
Like the best dystopian works, Bradbury is able to raise questions and anger about modern society, while simultaneously inspiring change and providing a glimpse of hope for the future. If you have a bucket list of books to read, "Fahrenheit 451" should be on it!
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