A Modern Utopia

H. G. Wells's proposal for social reform was the formation of a world state, a concept that would increasingly preoccupy him throughout the remainder of his life. One of his most ambitious early attempts at portraying a world state was A Modern Utopia (1905). A Modern Utopia was intended as a hybrid between fiction and 'philosophical discussion'. Like most utopists, he has indicated a series of modifications which in his opinion would increase the aggregate of human happiness. Basically, Wells' idea of a perfect world would be if everyone were able to live a happy life. This book is written with an intimate knowledge of former ideal commonwealths and is a conscious attempt to describe a utopia that is not utopian. (Summary by Wikipedia) (10 hr 11 min)

Chapters

Introduction: The Owner of the Voice	12:08	Read by Alisson Veldhuis
Chapter 1: Topographical	41:41	Read by Alisson Veldhuis
Chapter 2: Concerning Freedoms, Sections 1-3	31:15	Read by humanode
Chapter 2: Concerning Freedoms, Sections 4-7	24:02	Read by humanode
Chapter 3: Utopian Economics, Sections 1-4	42:40	Read by Daniel George
Chapter 3: Utopian Economics, Sections 5-8	32:58	Read by Bill Boerst
Chapter 4: The Voice of Nature	28:54	Read by Elena
Chapter 5: A Failure in a Modern Utopia, Sections 1-3	25:28	Read by humanode
Chapter 5: A Failure in a Modern Utopia, Sections 4-8	25:55	Read by humanode
Chapter 6: Women in a Modern Utopia, Sections 1-4	37:26	Read by Felicity C
Chapter 6: Women in a Modern Utopia, Sections 5-6	30:37	Read by Felicity C
Chapter 7: A Few Utopian Impressions, Sections 1-3	24:41	Read by humanode
Chapter 7: A Few Utopian Impressions, Sections 4-7	24:18	Read by humanode
Chapter 8: My Utopian Self	13:42	Read by Caeliveres
Chapter 9: The Samurai, Sections 1-3	28:43	Read by Caeliveres
Chapter 9: The Samurai, Sections 4-5	25:40	Read by Caeliveres
Chapter 9: The Samurai, Sections 6-8	30:16	Read by hearmeout7
Chapter 10: Race in Utopia, Sections 1-2	35:14	Read by Felicity C
Chapter 10: Race in Utopia, Sections 3-5	26:34	Read by Felicity C
Chapter 11: The Bubble Bursts	32:21	Read by humanode
Appendix, Scepticism of the Instrument	36:28	Read by CalmDragon

Reviews

Distorted reading

(2 stars)

A LibriVox Listener

I'm finding it hard to even get past chapter 1. The reading sounds so distorted in places that it's difficult to understand and listen to. I thought the book coordinators are supposed to just reject readings that are unclear. Hopefully the rest of the book is better.

sounds good so far

(5 stars)

Joe

I like the reader. I don't agree with Wells' Anointed vision but it is insightful.