Book: Yevgeny Zamyatin's "We"

The ninth book of the year was a precursor to, and inspiration for, George Orwell's "1984".  Yevgeny Zamyatin's "We" was written in 1920-1921 in Russia.  It was purportedly a result of the author's disappointment with the direction the Bolshevik revolution was headed.  "We" is considered to be one of the early books that formed the dystopia genre of science fiction.

"We" describes a far future when the One State, a totalitarian state that conquered the world after the 200 years war, rules over everything.  Everyone lives in literal glass houses so nothing is hidden.  Everyone lives according to a detailed schedule dictated by the One State to guarantee the happiness of the people.  Sex requires authorization from the One State, anyone can request to have sex with anyone they want (if the One State agrees), and the authorized dropping of shades during sex is the only privacy allowed.

D-503, the main character, learns of descenters that throw his whole worldview into turmoil.  Can a revolution be the final one or will there always be another?

Despite being written in 1920 the world the author created feels plausible and terrifying.  The people - referred to in the books as 'numbers' - are generally happy with their lives.  Seeing happy people who do not realize what they are missing is a bit unsettling considering how ill informed many Americans are today.  Are they really happy or do they not know better?  Is the lack of discord the same as happiness?  Is the lack of personal decision-making and responsibility freedom?  "We" could have easily been written in 2020 with only a few tweeks to scientific terminology.  

I gave this book four out of five stars on Goodreads.  I'm not sure I should have read it when the world we live in currently is in a turmoil of its own.  It is not a hopeful book but seeing a totalitarian society from a happy member of said society is thought provoking.