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If you thought George Orwell’s main beef in 1984 was with totalitarianism, you’d be right. Sort of. Actually, we think it’s the mindset behind totalitarianism that Orwell was even more obsessed with. Find out what it is—and what it has to do with you—in this Recap.

Video Transcription:

Orwell was wrong. Communism didn’t end up taking over the globe. But there’s still a reason to pay attention to this book. Do you hear those alarm bells?

They’re meant for you.

Believe it or not, I think there was one thing that Orwell hated even more than he hated totalitarianism.

I’ll give you a hint: It’s something we’re all occasionally guilty of.

I’ll give you another hint: It’s incredibly dangerous.

What is it? Mental laziness.

Mental laziness has a lot of different faces. It can come in the form of apathy—of just not caring. It can come in the form of actual laziness—of not wanting to think something through because it just requires too much effort. Or it can come in the form of fear—not thinking something through because you’re too afraid of what might happen if you do.

In Orwell’s dystopian society, even Winston’s decision to really think instead of to succumb to illogic or, worse, to a mindless existence, wasn’t enough to save him.

But don’t take that to mean that there’s no hope. Winston’s shocking state of mind at the end of 1984 doesn’t have to be your fate.

Like I said: Those alarms are going off now. So choose to wake up and engage. Choose to care—and forget the consequences.

And above all, don’t be afraid. You’re not alone, and it’s not too late … yet.