While a novel about burning books seems counterproductive (after all, if book burning starts then wouldn’t this one be the first to go?), Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury delivers a powerful warning. The threat was more tangible in 1953 with the memory of the Hitler book burning still fresh, but the message still resonates today even with the rise of e-books. A burned book leaves ashes behind as a sad monument, but a deleted e-book disappears as though it had never existed.

Guy Mustang’s conscience in a dystopian future stripped of morality struggles to express itself but can find neither the words nor a sympathetic ear. His whole world is consumed by mass media. The government assaults its citizens into submission by crowding their thoughts out with bombardments of white noise and fireworks. Clarisse, Mustang’s neighbor, is the first to listen to and give words to Mustangs innate struggle. Guy sensed the underlying decay consuming his city, but he was never able to define his emotions as pain much less find the source of the corruption.

The entire purpose of Fahrenheit 451 is to warn against the death of knowledge. Bradbury predicts the world will continue in a cycle of death until one day enough knowledge is passed on for humanity to learn its lesson. (*Spoiler alert*) Initially, Mustang tries his best to save all the books and people he can, but soon he realizes the people accept their blissful ignorance. The more Mustang struggles against his surrounding apathy, the more he realizes his futility. When Guy witnesses his whole world burn before him, he finally realizes the only way to save the future is to give up and wait. He hopes that a future generation will be born with a dedication towards the revival of the world and that he, Mustang, will remember enough to pass on. (*Keep reading*)

Even though books today don’t necessarily burn at Fahrenheit 451, mass media has grown in scale and volume as Bradbury predicted over 60 years ago. And while houses are yet to be fireproofed, the novel’s pessimistic view looms today as threatening as it did decades ago. At a reading level of 5.2 and 7 points, I highly recommend Fahrenheit 451.