Lately, it’s definitely felt like we’ve been living in a dystopian world; Trump’s lack of experience in the field of politics has created a wave of chaos in the first month of him being president. In fact, many of the news stories that pop up nowadays almost don’t feel or seem like they’re real–as long as it’s not one of the many fake news stories that have been circulating the internet. From Trump silencing the EPA and other scientists to the blatant lies that his press is circulating, it’s more important now than ever to stay well-read and informed.
This is where dystopian novels come in. Yes, they are fictionalized accounts of the future, however many of them have an eerie similarity to what the world has become. Reading these fictionalized accounts of dangerously oppressive governments can help us to try to stay one step ahead of the chaos that is unfolding around us. Literature can provide us with the knowledge and hope necessary to make it through the dystopic conditions we have found ourselves in.
Here are five books that you should put on your to-read list to stay ahead of the Trump administration:
1. 1984 by George Orwell
I actually wrote a post about the similarities between 1984 and Trump’s presidency for the Radical Notion. The similarities are…terrifying. But they can make use more aware of the way Trump is using language to make the population more compliant.
2. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Published before 1984, Brave New World depicts a different kind of society where people desire conformity and stability more than emotion or individual freedom. Brave New World depicts a society that has crumbled because of ignorance, dominant technology, and an abundance of entertainment and material goods. Sound familiar?
3. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Though Trump hasn’t quite gotten to burning books (yet) he has engaged in censoring acts; he’s silenced the National Parks, made multiple webpages disappear from the White House website (like the LGBTQ page, climate change, civil rights, etc.), and silenced anyone who speaks out against him. Perhaps he isn’t burning books–but he’s getting rid of knowledge just the same.
4. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood’s book depicts a society where women are mere vessels for reproduction, only wanted or needed for their bodies. Though Trump’s presidency is not quite as severe as the one depicted in Gilead, many of Trump’s comments show his inherent misogyny and reflect the misogyny shown in The Handmaid’s Tale.
5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Okay, this one might be a little bit of a stretch; after all, Trump hasn’t made a spectacle of children killing each other like President Snow does in Panem. In fact, Trump’s administration announced a victory tour after his election win, because he loves nothing more than his thousands of adoring fans. Much like citizens of the Capitol in Panem.
While these books might depict a bleak future under Trump, reading them also show a core of resistance in humanity. By staying up to date and making our voices heard, we can be the resistance to Trump’s dystopian tendencies.