The book begins with a lengthy introduction, detailing the author???s views of how he thinks the entire world will function in the far future, in a global society that he terms The World State. The individual story only begins in the 7th chapter, where the reader is properly introduced to the story of Bernard and Lenina, two inhabitants of the World State. Bernard has a single friend in life, whose name is Helmholtz Watson. Bernard and Lenina go on a holiday to New Mexico where they meet John the Savage and Linda, both of whom have lived hard lives due to being ostracised by all the people they lived with.