Plot Summary

Walden Two

B. F. Skinner
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Walden Two

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1948

Book Brief

B. F. Skinner

Walden Two

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1948
Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

1940s

Publication Year

1948

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In B. F. Skinner's utopian science fiction novel, Walden Two, two war veterans, Steve and Rogers, along with Professor Burris, visit a self-sustaining communal society named Walden Two, created by Frazier. The guests observe the community's functioning, including shared resources, labor credits, communal child-rearing, and efforts to minimize societal inequalities, while debating its ethical implications and the extent of control exercised by Frazier. The novel contains discussions about adult themes including early sexual experimentation.

Informative

Contemplative

Challenging

Inspirational

Reviews & Readership

4.0

8,043 ratings

54%

Loved it

31%

Mixed feelings

15%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

B. F. Skinner's Walden Two is celebrated for its thought-provoking exploration of behavioral psychology in a utopian context. Positive feedback highlights its innovative ideas and compelling vision of scientific societal design. However, some criticize its lack of character depth and overly idealistic premises. Overall, it remains a significant, if contentious, work in dystopian literature.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Walden Two?

A reader who would enjoy Walden Two by B. F. Skinner likely has a keen interest in psychology, behavioral science, and utopian societies. This reader might also appreciate similar works like Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and George Orwell's 1984, as they explore themes of societal structure and human behavior.

4.0

8,043 ratings

54%

Loved it

31%

Mixed feelings

15%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

1940s

Publication Year

1948

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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