I found this to be an excellent story. Orwell doesn't just tell a dystopic story but provides a framework in which the world as he sees it can exist. It is easy to write a sci-fi story about thought control, it is far more impressive to develop scenarios where thought can be efficiently directed by language manipulation and legitimate fear (for example).
While I don't agree with much of Orwell's philosophical outlook, he does understand a great deal about human nature and its limits. Seeing Winston's (the main character) progression through the final chapters demonstrates Orwell's brilliance in that department.
I don't think this book should be read with the intent of "seeing where the world is heading." It is more valuable than that. The story is a platform for Orwell to have individual characters that show us what the world is.
