About the book
Set in the United States in the late 1940s, B. F. Skinner's utopian novel is narrated by Professor Burris, a psychology instructor. Two young World War II veterans ask him about an old acquaintance, T. E. Frazier, who founded an intentional community in the 1930s, and Frazier invites them to stay. With their girlfriends and Professor Castle, a philosophy teacher, they visit Walden Two. Frazier explains how it works: about four hours of work a day, a points system in place of money, communal child rearing and behavioral engineering from birth. Skinner, a behavioral psychologist, uses the debates among Frazier, the skeptical Castle and Burris to set out his ideas, and its characters' rejection of free will made it controversial.
Joan Boixados, founder of everydayCheck, grew up near Walden 7, a building inspired by the novel's vision of community, read it young, and credits it with helping him develop an open, questioning mind.
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This book has 1 recommendation
Joan Boixados (Founder/everydayCheck)
I grew up in a town where we have a big building called “Walden 7” by a quite renowned architect. It’s not the most beautiful building but it’s inspired in the utopian sense of community depicted in Walden Two, by B.F. Skinner. Of course, I had to read it! I was quite young when I did and it certainly helped me develop open-mindedness and critical spirit. Questioning everything and considering alternative options to every single problem is critical.
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