Burning Our Books and Data: Fahrenheit 451 Mirrors Today’s Scientific World

As I write this column in mid-February for the April 2025 issue of SGIM Forum, I reflect on the current uncertainty within our scientific community. Regardless of one’s political leanings, SGIM members must recognize the firestorm surrounding science (i.e., the pursuit of new knowledge through the ethical application of hypothesis generation and testing or collection of observations). Observing this scientific crisis reminds me of a prescient novel from high school English class—Ray Bradbury’s 1953 classic, Fahrenheit 451.¹

For those unfamiliar with the novel, Guy Montag, its protagonist, is a fireman charged with burning “the books.” He dares not read the books as it is illegal. But Montag starts to question the destruction of knowledge and censorship of literature. He builds his own library of books until he is reported anonymously and is forced to burn the books and his house down with a flamethrower. After killing his fire captain with the flamethrower, Montag escapes. The search begins for Montag as the Mechanical Hound built by the government is sent to track and kill him.

A SparkNotes summary describes Guy Montag:

“Guy Montag is a fireman who burns books in a futuristic American city. In Montag’s world, firemen start fires rather than putting them out. The people in this society do not read books, enjoy nature, spend time by themselves, think independently, or have meaningful conversations. Instead, they drive very fast, watch excessive amounts of television on wall-size sets, and listen to the radio on “Seashell Radio” sets attached to their ears.”²

Now let’s compare that SparkNotes summary of 1953 to a summary reflective of 2025:

“XXXX are individuals/groups that manipulate data in American systems. In XXXX’s world, individuals start fires/conflicts rather than putting them out. The people in this society do not read books, enjoy nature, spend time by themselves, think independently, or have meaningful conversations. Instead, they drive very fast, watch excessive amounts of television on Samsung wall-size sets, and watch TikTok or listen to Sirius on their iPhone with AirPods attached to their ears.”

Strikingly similar!

History has shown that, in conflict, victorious armies strip the conquered people of their history, customs, and science. Libraries are burned, leaders are executed, customary celebrations are banned, restrictions on who could be where doing what are set in place. World War II is a recent example where attempts were made to eliminate entire cultures. In a quote often misattributed to Sir Winston Churchill, we get a better understanding why this occurs as “History is written by the victors.”³

As this column goes to publication, SGIM members are expressing significant concerns regarding the restrictions placed on science. Many feel that attempts are being made to rewrite scientific history. Data has been removed from public websites and research funding has been cut in certain areas. Government agencies with a focus on science have faced staff terminations. In our divided country, there are individuals who support these efforts while others oppose them. But data are numbers that need context, and this should be apolitical. We must not allow individuals to manipulate data or scientific findings for political leverage. We should not have restrictions or the elimination of research that drives scientific knowledge and wisdom.

In the dystopian society in which Fahrenheit 451 is set, Bradbury describes attempts to destroy books, oppress people, and control history. But why books?

“It’s not books you need, it’s some of the things that once were in books. …. The same infinite detail and awareness could be projected through the radios, and televisors, but are not. No, no it’s not books at all you’re looking for! Take it where you can find it, in old phonograph records, old motion pictures, and in old friends; look for it in nature and look for it in yourself. Books were only one type or receptacle where we stored a lot of things we were afraid we might forget. There is nothing magical in them at all. The magic is only in what books say, how they stitched the patches of the universe together into one garment for us.”¹

In Bradbury’s novel, the books are burned, whereas science and research are the targets today. Data drives research to improve tomorrow’s health care. SGIM members should continue to challenge the restrictions placed on the scientific community. We cannot sit quietly while forces seek to erase our scientific history and constrain the pursuit of knowledge.

After his lecture to Montag about why books are banned, Fire Captain Beatty (Montag’s boss) states: “We stand against the small tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought. We have our fingers in the dike. Hold steady. Don’t let the torrent of melancholy and drear philosophy drown our world. We depend on you. I don’t think you realize how important you are, we are, to our happy world as it stands now.”¹ This description of the government’s oppression of the book hoarders glorifies the “necessary work” of the firefighters as they burn books. Today, the scientific community and SGIM members need to stand against those who would burn our data. Science and our patients depend on us. The future physicians we will train need us. We need to rise above the tide.

After his house is burned, Montag must escape the Mechanical Hound. The Hound symbolizing the oppressive nature of the government, uses technology to control and punish dissenters: “Montag manages to escape in the river and change clothes to disguise his scent. He drifts downstream into the country and follows a set of abandoned railroad tracks until he finds a group of renegade intellectuals (“the Book People”), led by a man named Granger, who welcome him. They are a part of a nationwide network of book lovers who have memorized many great works of literature and philosophy. They hope that they may be of some help to mankind in the aftermath of the war that has just been declared. Montag’s role is to memorize the Book of Ecclesiastes. Enemy jets appear in the sky and completely obliterate the city with bombs. Montag and his new friends move on to search for survivors and rebuild civilization.”¹

SGIM members are the “Book People.” We are the keepers of data. We are the helpers of humankind. We are the “intellectuals.” We do not know the future of our scientific community, but we must protect the past and future data, the knowledge that will be generated and the resulting wisdom for our trainees, colleagues, and patients. If our science is obliterated, we must rebuild our medical civilization.

SGIM members must stand tall in the face of this emergency. SGIM members must tell those who try to take our data and books that “You can’t ever have my books.”¹

*(Note: The opinions in this column do not purport to reflect the opinions, views, or positions of SGIM or any other entity.)