Nov. 5, 2025

Brave New World | Ch. 11.2 - When Pleasure Feels Wrong | Banned Books Comedy

Brave New World | Ch. 11.2 - When Pleasure Feels Wrong | Banned Books Comedy

Death gets candy, love gets awkward, and everyone gets soma. In Chapter 11, Lenina tries to connect with John after a night of “feelies,” while Bernard basks in borrowed fame and Robot fact-checks everything from chocolate-cream conditioning to Clarence Thomas’s butter-dish rumors. Banned Camp is the comedy podcast where we read banned books chapter by chapter... we don’t read ahead, so you’re discovering the story with us. Things to Listen For “Death conditioning” for toddlers and what it sa...

Death gets candy, love gets awkward, and everyone gets soma.
In Chapter 11, Lenina tries to connect with John after a night of “feelies,” while Bernard basks in borrowed fame and Robot fact-checks everything from chocolate-cream conditioning to Clarence Thomas’s butter-dish rumors.

Banned Camp is the comedy podcast where we read banned books chapter by chapter... we don’t read ahead, so you’re discovering the story with us.

Things to Listen For

  • “Death conditioning” for toddlers and what it says about control and comfort
  • Bernard’s ego trip and Lenina’s soma-softened heart
  • Robot correcting Dan’s “butter dish” memory of the Clarence Thomas hearings
  • How Huxley turns a “feelie” into a warning about pleasure as propaganda

Why Was Brave New World Banned?
Because it dares to show a society where happiness is manufactured and desire is regulated... and asks if we’d really want to live there. Sex, drugs, and a government that calls it stability make this chapter as uncomfortable now as it was in 1931.

Banworthy to Bingeworthy

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Disclaimer
Banned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for the purpose of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, under fair use guidelines. Material from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is shared to spark conversation about literature and censorship. The original work remains owned by its copyright holders—buy your copy here to experience it in full.

Topics Covered:
Brave New World, Aldous Huxley, Chapter 11, John the Savage, Lenina, Bernard Marx, death conditioning, soma, censorship, banned books, banned books podcast, book banning, comedy podcast