It's a good thing this book is short, because, while it is a excellent indictment of Russian socialism and totalitarian rule, it is also a depressing, pessimistic criticism of humanity's/animal's most idealistic intentions. The use of the satirical fable makes it all the harder to watch as the animals are put back under the yoke of tyranny. I think I need to read something more uplifting now, so I should probably avoid Brave New World and 1984, which are sitting in my queue.