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Industrial Society and Its Future
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The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race. They have greatly increased the life-expectancy of those of us who live in "advanced" countries, but they have destabilized society, have made life unfulfilling, have subjected human beings to indignities, have led to widespread psychological suffering (in the Third World to physical su
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Marcus
Probably just as ironic to read it on the products of deforestation, hot off the industrial printing press.
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Apr 05, 2009
Laura
added it
I hope that the FBI knows that I was just curious.
I expected this book to be a paranoid rant by a mad dog, but was pleasantly surprised—it is straightforwardly written, under control except for an occasional brief outburst, and carefully (though in some cases wrongly) reasoned. By the end of the manifesto I was convinced that Kaczynski is a fanatic but not crazy (unless you consider all fanatics crazy—a diagnosis worth considering).
Ted K’s argument goes something like this:
*Man is dehumanized and disempowered by the complexity of civilizatio ...more
Ted K’s argument goes something like this:
*Man is dehumanized and disempowered by the complexity of civilizatio ...more
Another gift someone got me, mostly to be funny, but I have this compulsive need to read any book I have so I just wanted to get it over with so I just did today. It wasn't bad per se and I was certainly amused reading it the whole time. The computer nerd comments were pretty hilarious not going to lie and his obsession with people being allowed to spank their kids was pretty strange. I don't think some of the problems he tried to identify were necessarily wrong but then he just took jumps into
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The right wing still spouts most of the anti-left rhetoric within this manifesto. I'd say half of the manifesto is an anti-leftist screed and the other is a call for a back-to-nature screed advocating the elimination of technology and the industrial age so we can retain our freedom for the sake of freedom itself.
The dribble against 'collectivist' anti-freedom loving leftist who are mostly feminist, 'gayist' (he seemed to not like gay rights), and political correctist was no deeper than what one ...more
The dribble against 'collectivist' anti-freedom loving leftist who are mostly feminist, 'gayist' (he seemed to not like gay rights), and political correctist was no deeper than what one ...more
Many reviews have already summarized Ted's main points so I won't repeat them here. Rather I would like to clarify assumptions made by both the author and the reviewers.
A large discrepancy comes from an apparent misunderstanding of what Ted considers "ideal living." Many assume he's suggesting reverting to a lifestyle similar to the Middle Ages. As reiterated in his 2010 novel Technological Slavery, this is not the case. The Middle Ages involved serfs laboring vigorously in agriculture to not on ...more
A large discrepancy comes from an apparent misunderstanding of what Ted considers "ideal living." Many assume he's suggesting reverting to a lifestyle similar to the Middle Ages. As reiterated in his 2010 novel Technological Slavery, this is not the case. The Middle Ages involved serfs laboring vigorously in agriculture to not on ...more
This book speaks the truth, unfortunately. Unfortunately it takes a maniac to explain the truth.
The "Final Note" on paragraph 231 is very important for this reading, and I suggest that it be the prologue, not epilogue. Readers should start there, then goto paragraph one if they feel it is worth their time. Here's a quote that summarizes that paragraph well:
It's refreshing to hear an author point out ...more
"Throughout this article we've made imprecise statements that ought to have had all sorts of qualifications and reservations attached to them; and some of our statements may be flatly false".
It's refreshing to hear an author point out ...more
Just skimmed through the Unabomber Manifesto. Rather amusing, actually. Same problem as Rousseau, but rather than attempting to fix society, he opts to burn it all to the ground and go back to Nature.
Not all that dissimilar from the Occupy people, really.
I do have to give him small props for having an argument at all. Society creates people with too much time, which leads to psychological complexes and unhappiness. He (rightly) rejects the social engineer's claim that they can "fix" society. W ...more
Not all that dissimilar from the Occupy people, really.
I do have to give him small props for having an argument at all. Society creates people with too much time, which leads to psychological complexes and unhappiness. He (rightly) rejects the social engineer's claim that they can "fix" society. W ...more
I have officially been Tedpilled! It’s a Damn pity Ted didn’t put his brain to better use and get his info out there in a more productive manner. He has a lot to say about the left and technology that rings true, very true.
This will probably put me on an FBI watchlist.
It would be unfair and naive to review the Industrial Society and Its Future without also at least mentioning the author.
Ted K. is an American Mathematician, and was while in academia, a genius in his field. However, he became disillusioned with society and instead sought to seek a life living one on one with nature. He lived this way for several years - watching society encroach his small sanctuary. Eventually he realized that his life in the wild was unsustainable - society was expanding too ...more
Ted K. is an American Mathematician, and was while in academia, a genius in his field. However, he became disillusioned with society and instead sought to seek a life living one on one with nature. He lived this way for several years - watching society encroach his small sanctuary. Eventually he realized that his life in the wild was unsustainable - society was expanding too ...more
I was assigned a case study on Ted Kaczynski for my final paper in my abnormal psych class so I figured his manifesto would be a pretty good place to start. The entire time I was reading it I kept waiting for the sh*t to hit the fan and get totally crazy, but it never did. For the most part I was really in to this and found myself genuinely interested in a number of the ideas that he brought about. The bits on then power process/surrogate goals and activities were pretty interesting, as were the
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neo-Luddite... That sums it up.
what impressed me is how he covered every problem of modern society, from the over sensitive leftists, to how the system silently enforces rules over individuals. he met me at the point where we both think there is no way to peacefully reform or 'fix' the system.
while it's interesting to read through this whole manifesto, it seems to have many weak points where he over simplified the problems and the reasons. it's more of that way toward the end.
i wanted to write a long review citing many of my ...more
while it's interesting to read through this whole manifesto, it seems to have many weak points where he over simplified the problems and the reasons. it's more of that way toward the end.
i wanted to write a long review citing many of my ...more
Yea so the guy went a bit to far, the ideas he presented in this work (the full version, unlike the ones published in the newpapers), show a man of compassion(?) fed up with the direction he believed the world was heading and wishing to make things better. It has been said the extreme makes an impression, and while I do believe what he did was wrong, I can not question the idea's for which he did them.
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I know Kaczynski thought it was a necessity, but he should've talked about leftists after having talked about technology and its harmful outcomes. And maybe, he shouldn't have used the word "leftist", but rather "progressive" or "over-socialized". Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how logical and well argued this was. Anarco-primitivism now seems like a sensible ideology and not an insane hermit's illusion.
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Quite possibly the best piece of literature ever written. By my boyfriend. Teddy. Contains a chapter titled: Why Revolution is Easier Than Reform. Indeed.
If you're seeking a sleep aid, this is worth reading; I snored off three evenings in a row. While some of Ted Kaczynski's thoughts resonate with me as true, he accomplished nothing with this work and in its journey toward publication, he murdered and maimed several persons inexcusably. None of his observations were original, further his prose, typed in the first person plural and third person, was tedious, even by the standards of Lenin and Trotsky.
Yes, since entering the Holocene Epoch, our spe ...more
Yes, since entering the Holocene Epoch, our spe ...more
The man speaks some truth on some of the broader aspects of his "ideology", though he doesn't go or seem to be interested in going, into much detail on its finer points. However, to say that his "solution" wasn't well thought out would be a true understatement. I'm not even implying he shouldn't have carried out his "solution" because it was evil but necessary (in his mind), but to think that killing a few people he deemed as representing technological progress would reverse the onward march of
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While I personally disagree with a variety of statements and arguments made by Theodore, I admire his willpower and cold determination in regards to his beliefs.Theodore writes with great urgency, for the ideas and associated fears he bears are dire. Mr Kaczynski theorizes that technological growth will inevitably lead to the diminishing of the rights of the individual. While I do agree with this central idea, idea I disagree with his reaction. Where he sees that the only way to free ourselves i
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An interesting book. I would recommend it to anyone interested on the origins of anti-civ thought.
Pros:
- Kaczynski's analysis of the human costs of modernity
- In many ways this book antecipates the anti-civ discourse
- The general lines of his strategy remain relevant (though the details don't)
Cons:
- Outdated. Is thought is mostly concerned with "disciplinary societies" (western 1920s-60s) so, in fact, it was already way out of date when it was first published in 1995.
- His anti-leftist obsession ...more
Pros:
- Kaczynski's analysis of the human costs of modernity
- In many ways this book antecipates the anti-civ discourse
- The general lines of his strategy remain relevant (though the details don't)
Cons:
- Outdated. Is thought is mostly concerned with "disciplinary societies" (western 1920s-60s) so, in fact, it was already way out of date when it was first published in 1995.
- His anti-leftist obsession ...more
this style of anarcho-primitivism strikes me as consistent with griffin's descriptions in modernism and fascism, or, at the least, irredeemably and pathologically rightwing. If anyone thinks that this text can be associated with the leftwing, the mccarthhyist language that periodically interrupts the bluster about decay and tradition and whatnot should dispel it.
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Essential reading for all who want to destroy civilization as we know it. He explains why!
Kaczynski argues for nature and a return to natural ways but cant it be argued technology and technological progress is natural in of itself? If there is a return to nature do we persecute those with technology advancing ideas EX: Witch hunts. Wouldnt we in large be putting self restraints on our own freedom of thought? If this is true Kaczynskis contradicts the arguemnt of freedom because if one is free they have freedom to think up new technologies to better life. Where is the line drawn on ac
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Unambiguously deep observations.
The author is not just the crazy terrorist killer most people think he is. Even though it's true he committed terroristic acts, he is more than that. He is an intellectual, an important one - thats my opinion after reading this book.
Few points.
Talks about the power process. Don't know if he knew about evo psych (the field was just consolidating back then). Huge part of the social problems, suffering, psychological/mental, when not genetic, can be traced to envir ...more
The author is not just the crazy terrorist killer most people think he is. Even though it's true he committed terroristic acts, he is more than that. He is an intellectual, an important one - thats my opinion after reading this book.
Few points.
Talks about the power process. Don't know if he knew about evo psych (the field was just consolidating back then). Huge part of the social problems, suffering, psychological/mental, when not genetic, can be traced to envir ...more
Kaczynski's idea of publicizing his work is to mail bombs around the country, then threaten the police that he will do more, unless his manifesto is published on the front page of America's newspapers.
Subtle.
The manifesto itself is a cross between a Luddite conservative and Marx's theory of alienation.
He argues that technological progress has increased our dependence on the prevalent economic structure, and this curtails our freedom- buying a car is a necessity now, and not a luxury. Our jobs ...more
Subtle.
The manifesto itself is a cross between a Luddite conservative and Marx's theory of alienation.
He argues that technological progress has increased our dependence on the prevalent economic structure, and this curtails our freedom- buying a car is a necessity now, and not a luxury. Our jobs ...more
Amazingly insightful and surprisingly well written. Definitely don't think that the ends justify the means and can't help wishing he had taken a few short more years to write this manifesto. Had he used his own uncanny foresight on on our rapidly advancing technological society and waited a little longer, his ends could have come to fruition via much less violent means (self-publishing, etc) than it did. One wonders though, without in any way trivializing the heinousness of the tragedies he infl
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Now I'm going to be on some sort of FBI list...
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The single greatest self help book i’ve ever read
Dec 24, 2017
Lori
rated it
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Digital copy of the manifesto available here.
You could cherry-pick some quotes, and they would make sense. But then again there is so much wrong with modern society that it's almost impossible to not get a few things right if you just blindly throw things out there. Do yourself a favor, and read Murray Bookchin's Towards a Liberatorty Technology, and Deep Ecology & Anarchism. You get infinitely more outrage at current society, while the former essay debunks the vast majority of Kaczynski's claim ...more
You could cherry-pick some quotes, and they would make sense. But then again there is so much wrong with modern society that it's almost impossible to not get a few things right if you just blindly throw things out there. Do yourself a favor, and read Murray Bookchin's Towards a Liberatorty Technology, and Deep Ecology & Anarchism. You get infinitely more outrage at current society, while the former essay debunks the vast majority of Kaczynski's claim ...more
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Theodore John Kaczynski (/kəˈzɪnski/; born May 22, 1942), also known as the Unabomber, is an American mathematician, anarchist and domestic terrorist, who killed people he thought were proponents of modern technology, and is serving life in prison.
Kaczynski was born and raised in Evergreen Park, Illinois. While growing up in Evergreen Park he was a child prodigy, excelling academically from an ear ...more
Kaczynski was born and raised in Evergreen Park, Illinois. While growing up in Evergreen Park he was a child prodigy, excelling academically from an ear ...more
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“Those who are most sensitive about "politically incorrect" terminology are not the average black ghetto-dweller, Asian immigrant, abused woman or disabled person, but a minority of activists, many of whom do not even belong to any "oppressed" group but come from privileged strata of society.”
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“The conservatives are fools: They whine about the decay of traditional values, yet they enthusiastically support technological progress and economic growth. Apparently it never occurs to them that you can't make rapid, drastic changes in the technology and the economy of a society without causing rapid changes in all other aspects of the society as well, and that such rapid changes inevitably break down traditional values.”
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