31 Days of Books: Animal Farm

Title:  Animal Farm

Author:  George Orwell

Published:  1945

Year I read it:  2006

One sentence summary:  This classic allegory is the tale of farm animals who revolt against farm hierarchy to create a communist state.

Interesting fact:  The original title was - Animal Farm: A Fairy Story.

Three reasons to read it:

• This is a brilliant allegory!  It's really an extended fable that does a superb job of proving a fallacy. 
• It is a fun read.  If you're not laughing while reading, you might want to pick up a copy of the Communist Manifesto or at least some thoughts from Lenin/Stalin so as to fully enjoy Orwell's satirical treatment of them.
• If you're like me and 1984 seems... not daunting, but something for later, read Animal Farm.

One reason you maybe shouldn't:

• Orwell was still a socialist - just one staunchly opposed to communism.  Just something some may want to be aware of.

Great quote:

The original Animalist Commandments:

1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
6. No animal shall kill any other animal.
7. All animals are equal.

“Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself.”  

“This work was strictly voluntary, but any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half.” 

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."