Ray Bradburys Fahrenheit 451 and Modern World Essay -- Compare Contra

Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 and Modern World The futuristic world that Ray Bradbury, author of Fahrenheit 451, so vividly describes is frighteningly close to our own. It might not seem so at first glance, but if you take a closer look, you'll find that Bradbury wasn't far off the mark with his idea of what our lives would be like in 50 years. As he envisioned, technology would be extremely sophisticated, families would start becoming distant, and entertainment would take a more significant role in our lives. The problems at the present might not be as extreme as Bradbury's, however, if left unchecked, they could grow to be just as monstrous as he predicted. Since the 1950's, scientists and engineers have made enormous advances in the world of technology. Back then, computers were still becoming common, and now pretty much every family has at least one. As technology becomes more widespread, people find excuses to buy more of it and become sucked into a world of digital screens, cell phones, and electronic planners, rather than that of notebooks, pencils, and good old-fashioned face-to-face conversations. Although it is tremendously useful in numerous ways, it is unsettling to think of how in-control technology is of our lives. Would you be able to last a whole day without using your telephone, operating your computer, listening to your CD's, or enjoying that nice warm beverage that's been heated by your microwave? The answer is probably no. Even though you might not think that technology has power over your life, if you look carefully, you'll find you're mistaken. Do you know what "family time" is? How often do you spend time with your family? Do you enjoy it? Would you rather be somewhere else?... ...uation would be extremely close to how Bradbury envisioned it. I think Ray Bradbury sums all this up in a quote from the book: "Life is immediate, the job counts, pleasure lies about after work. Why learn anything save pressing buttons, pulling switches, fitting nuts and bolts?" This shows that people are gradually thinking less and less. They want life to be easy. They want their technology; they want their entertainment. They don't want to be intellectually stimulated. We can still prevent our future from becoming like that of the book. How? The answer is extremely simple: Think. Use your brain for knowledge, not watching TV and playing video games. Read as many books as you can. Pay attention in school. Someday you'll be glad you did. As Isaac Asimov so wisely said, "If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.