58 pages • 1 hour read
Utopia
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. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Book Brief
163
Novel • Fiction
Utopia • Early Modern Era
1516
Adult
18+ years
1390L
Super Short Summary
Utopia by Thomas More presents a satirical exploration of an ideal society on a fictional island. Through a dialogue between More and the sailor Raphael Nonsenso, the book critically examines European social and political issues, proposing that abolishing private property could create a just society. More remains skeptical but acknowledges some Utopian practices could benefit Europe.
Contemplative
Informative
Mysterious
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Thomas More's Utopia garners praise for its insightful social critique and imaginative vision of an ideal society, raising thought-provoking questions about justice and governance. However, some critics find its idealism impractical and its narrative dry. Overall, it remains a seminal work in political philosophy.
Who Should Read Utopia?
An ideal reader of Thomas More's Utopia is someone fascinated by political theory, social reform, and philosophical discourse. Comparable to readers of Plato's Republic and Machiavelli's The Prince, they enjoy exploring ideal societies and ethical governance. These readers seek thought-provoking critiques of societal norms and systemic structures.
Thomas More
Thomas More
An English attorney and character in his own work, depicted as practical and politically moderate, who engages in thoughtful discourse about social issues alongside Raphael.
Peter Gilles
Peter Gilles
A fictionalized version of a historical figure, serving as a mutual acquaintance of More and the framing device for the narrative, contributing to its context within a classical literary tradition.
163
Novel • Fiction
Utopia • Early Modern Era
1516
Adult
18+ years
1390L
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.