The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde

Recommended By

Book Reviews

This book was on Sam Altman's bookshelf.

Book Synopsis

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde is a classic novel that delves into the themes of morality, art, and the corrupting influence of society.

The story revolves around the handsome and wealthy Dorian Gray, who becomes enthralled by his own portrait painted by the talented artist, Basil Hallward. Faced with the fear of aging and losing his beauty, Dorian makes a pact that allows his portrait to age and reflect the consequences of his actions instead.

As Dorian indulges in a hedonistic and immoral lifestyle, his portrait begins to transform, revealing the hideous effects of his debauchery. Meanwhile, his youthful appearance remains untouched, causing him to lead a double life.

Throughout the novel, Wilde explores the conflicting desires for eternal youth and the pursuit of pleasure. Dorian's transformation from innocent youth to immoral hedonist highlights the destructive nature of vanity and selfishness.

As the tale progresses, Dorian's actions lead to the suffering and downfall of those around him, including Basil and his love interest, the actress Sibyl Vane. The portrait becomes a disturbing reflection of Dorian's soul, representing the consequences of his immoral choices.

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" is a thought-provoking and elegant literary work that presents a captivating exploration of the human condition, shedding light on the delicate balance between moral responsibility and the pursuit of personal desires.

Explore More Books

See All
The Prize
Brave New Words
Cosmos
Maisy Mouse Collection
The Princeton Companion to Mathematics
Bloodlands
The Humanure Handbook
Power Failure
Trade Is Not A Four Letter Word
Remote: Office Not Required
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
The Great Escape
Merchants of Doubt
The Vision of the Annointed
A Bold Return to Giving a Damn
Joe Beef
Statistical Models
Cashing in on the American Dream
Transmetropolitan
Life Is What You Make It
Who Really Matters
Determined
Forward the Foundation
The Complete Calvin and Hobbes
All Marketers are Liars
The Story of Civilization: The Age of Voltaire
Red Notice
The Jack Vance Treasury
Market Wizards
Alexander Hamilton
Civilized to Death
Acts of Love
Reamde
One Up on Wall Street
Find Me Unafraid
Out of the Crisis
Changes in the Land
The Long Tail
Black Box Thinking
The Forgotten Man
The Last Days of Night
1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die
The Wisdom Paradox
Six Thinking Hats
Why Globalization Works
American Prison
The Enchiridion
The Uterus Is a Feature, Not a Bug
How The West Grew Rich
Creativity and the Brain
The Dice Man
An American Marriage
The Spiritual Brain
No Ordinary Time
Believe Me
The World According to Garp
Adaptive Markets
Rich Dad's Cashflow Quadrant
Barbarians At The Gate
The One Thing
A Man for All Markets
The Big Picture
Discourses on Livy
The Quest for El Cid
So Good They Can't Ignore You
This Explains Everything
Buddha's Brain
The Case Against Sugar
Molecular Biology of the Cell
The Price We Pay
The Airbnb Story
Nuclear Terrorism
Dream Yoga
Start With Why
Andy Goldsworthy
The Power of Glamour
Why Does College Cost So Much?
An Autobiography of Anthony Trollope
The Araboolies of Liberty Street
The Alchemy of Finance
The Art of Living and Dying
Lean Thinking
The Tartar Steppe
How To Turn Down A Billion Dollars
The First Crash
It's Not How Good You Are - It's How Good You Want To Be
Who Is Michael Ovitz
Mapping the Mind
Alpha Girls
Chess Fundamentals
The World Without Us
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
Fate Is The Hunter
In Pursuit of Happiness and Good Government
Psychopolitics
The Republic
DeMark Indicators
Homo Deus
The Sheltering Sky
Where are the Customers Yachts