1984

What can I say about 1984 that hasn't already been said? Orwell was ahead of his time. Part of doing a good job at something like this is making everything as plausible and real as possible, within the confines of the structure of the novel. Orwell does this easily, amazingly, and genuinely. If we actually lived in Orwell's 1984 world, the control exhibited here is perfect.

This was way before The Matrix. Imagine being able to evoke similar feelings with no fantasy or science fiction components. The beauty of 1984 is it constructs a prison for your mind without any magic or technology, but uses what's already inherent in the fabric of society. Orwell's future could easily be our world tomorrow, if we let it. That's part of the beauty of it, even if you step away from the prose of his writing, the feasibility and realism that's embedded in 1984 is what contributes to its strength.

It's a lesson in humanity and a warning of where we might find ourselves (easily at that) if we don't fight for our individuality and what it means to live as a human being.

If you haven't read this yet, you're doing yourself a disservice. This is educational and profound. If you're familiar, you can think of it as a more adult version of Animal Farm, which was also authored by Orwell. There's also a movie floating around, if you'd be so inclined as well. 1984 is a must read for everyone.