Sales of Orwell’s ‘1984’ Soar Amid NSA Surveillance Disclosure
In the wake of the National Security Agency snooping revelations, George Orwell's dystopian novel is experiencing a renaissance.
Big Brother is indeed watching us. After the revelation of the National Security Agency’s top-secret snooping programs, sales of George Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984” soared on Amazon. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Centennial edition of Orwell’s classic work had shot up nearly 5,000 percent on Amazon’s Movers & Shakers list, while a 60th anniversary edition was also among the site’s best-sellers.
The Christian Science Monitor:
Based on Orwell’s observations of Stalinist Russia and Nazi Germany, the novel, published in 1949, warns of the dangers of government surveillance. It paints a picture of a state constantly tracking the thoughts and actions of its citizens, crystallized in its slogan “Big Brother is watching you.”
That slogan has been used to describe the government’s recent actions. Recent news has revealed that the NSA has been collecting the phone records of millions of Americans to create a database to determine whether terror suspects have been in contact with US residents, according to the AP. The program has reignited the debate about whether heightened security measures to fight terror infringe on privacy and civil rights.
…Not surprisingly, news coverage and social media chatter about the NSA’s surveillance program has been rife with terms like “Big Brother” and “Orwellian,” phrases borrowed from the dystopian world of “1984.”
— Posted by Tracy Bloom.
Wait, before you go…If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.
Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.
Support Truthdig
Courts & Law
As the United States moves against Google, antitrust law is still under the influence of Robert Bork.
Labor
Keeping drivers safe requires fundamentally changing the company's business model.
The coronavirus is changing the way companies do business — in the U.S. and across the globe.
The list of countries touched by the illness climbs to nearly 60 as more than 83,000 people worldwide fall ill. Over 2,800 have died so far.
The papal dodge disappoints progressives and liberal Catholic women's groups while reassuring conservatives.
You might have missed it amid the impeachment coverage, but the president is reintroducing catastrophic Reagan-era disability cuts.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.