Brave New World Ch. 18.2: John's Lighthouse Self-Punishment | Banned Books Podcast

John has finally escaped to his lighthouse—complete freedom, everything he wanted. So naturally, he spends his time making weapons, planning a garden, and whipping himself bloody every time he accidentally feels happy. When he catches himself singing while carving a bow, he punishes himself with mustard water and a knotted cord. The World State doesn't need to control him anymore. He's doing it to himself.

Banned Camp is a 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:

• John's prepper shopping list includes real wheat flour because synthetic is for quitters
• Dan admits he'd be dead within three days trying to survive like John
• The moment John catches himself singing and immediately feels guilty for being happy
• Three Delta workers stumble upon John whipping himself and have absolutely no frame of reference for what they're seeing
• Dan's pitch-perfect "Jesus Christ" when the self-flagellation kicks in
• John literally throws himself into a juniper bush to avoid thinking about Lenina

Why was Brave New World banned? This chapter shows someone so thoroughly conditioned by shame that he can't experience joy without punishing himself—a disturbing mirror for how authoritarian thinking teaches people to police their own happiness.

If this is your first episode, you're fine starting here. Our fact-checking Robot catches you up fast, then we read the next chapter (spoilers).

**VOTE NOW: We're finishing Brave New World in 2-3 episodes and YOU get to decide what we read next!** Email your vote to pod@bannedcamppodcast.com within the next few days. Your choices:
- Catcher in the Rye
- Of Mice and Men
- The Great Gatsby
- The Kite Runner
- Handmaid's Tale

Banworthy to Bingeworthy 

Looking for more podcasts that don't treat you like you're fragile? Here are a couple we think you'll love:

• Rachel Maddow Presents: Burn Order: A sharp, unsettling series about state power, targeting, and what happens when "security" turns into removal and coverups.
• Good News for Lefties and America: A steady dose of genuinely positive stories for progressives, because you deserve a break from doomscrolling without pretending everything's fine.

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Featured Clips This episode includes a short clip from "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" from the musical Oklahoma! All rights belong to their respective owners and are used here under fair use for the purpose of cultural commentary and education.

Disclaimer Banned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for the purpose of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, in accordance with fair use guidelines.

The material used from the book Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is shared under these principles, with the intent of provoking thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. The original work remains fully owned by its copyright holders, and we strongly encourage listeners to purchase a copy here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/brave-new-world-aldous-huxley/f7c8af7eeabea853?ean=9780060850524&next=t&

This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Aldous Huxley, his estate, or the publishers of Brave New World. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed.

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