This is one of the best political satire books I’ve read, though I’m not sure if the fact that it still stands up today is a mark of Orwell’s prescience or that politicians haven’t changed that much. It’s far less depressing than 1984, and the use of animals allows Orwell to make his points without explicitly saying who he is thinking of, and the reader can insert their own guesses for each one as desired. This, together with Yes Minister, should be required reading/watching before you vote for the first time, to instil the appropriate level of cynicism.