logo

59 pages 1 hour read

Dave Eggers

The Circle

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2013

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Published in 2013, Dave Eggers’ The Circle is a dystopian novel set in the near future, told from the perspective of protagonist Mae Holland, who lands a job at the monopolistic tech company the Circle, led by the Three Wise Men. Mae quickly excels but becomes embroiled in the Circle's ambitions to control the world’s information, which poses significant threats to privacy and autonomy. Sensitive topics include suicide.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

The Circle by Dave Eggers receives mixed reviews. Praise centers on its timely critique of technology and its impact on privacy, with readers finding the plot provocative and thought-provoking. However, some criticize the character development as thin and the narrative as heavy-handed. Overall, it’s seen as a compelling, if sometimes flawed, social commentary.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Circle?

Readers who are captivated by the intersection of technology, privacy, and societal control will appreciate The Circle by Dave Eggers. Fans of George Orwell's 1984 and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World will find similar themes of surveillance and dystopian futures compelling. This novel is perfect for those who enjoy thought-provoking and cautionary tales.

Book Details
Pages

497

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

San Francisco Bay Area • Contemporary

Publication Year

2013

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.