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Zombies of Marx: The Return of Practical Reason
“This is a polemical book. It was not written to please.
But who ever said that thinking, speaking, or writing should be about pleasing anyone?”
Where do the obsessions of our time come from?
What is this strange version of “social justice” imported from the United States?
Will pronouns really save the world?
And why do those who invoke “common sense” so often appear neither common nor sensible? From Ulysses to Hiroo Onoda, this book explores the roots of modern culture and its most irrational turns.
In Zombies of Marx, Davide Smith Borrelli traces the evolution of Marxist thought, exposing the theoretical drift that has turned many of its heirs into “zombies”: intellectuals who have replaced the ambition to emancipate through knowledge with empty moralistic fanaticism.
Inspired by Specters of Marx by Derrida, Borrelli reconstructs the genealogy of contemporary intellectual activism—from the collapse of Soviet communism to the rise of moralized discourse in the West—showing how academic obsessions with power and authority have polarized public debate and undermined the value of individual freedom.
Both a radical critique and a call to reason, Zombies of Marx invites readers to rethink the role of the intellectual in society and to rediscover the true purpose of not to manipulate, but to illuminate.
This book is for those who are not afraid to question dogma and confront the conflicts shaping the modern world.
But who ever said that thinking, speaking, or writing should be about pleasing anyone?”
Where do the obsessions of our time come from?
What is this strange version of “social justice” imported from the United States?
Will pronouns really save the world?
And why do those who invoke “common sense” so often appear neither common nor sensible? From Ulysses to Hiroo Onoda, this book explores the roots of modern culture and its most irrational turns.
In Zombies of Marx, Davide Smith Borrelli traces the evolution of Marxist thought, exposing the theoretical drift that has turned many of its heirs into “zombies”: intellectuals who have replaced the ambition to emancipate through knowledge with empty moralistic fanaticism.
Inspired by Specters of Marx by Derrida, Borrelli reconstructs the genealogy of contemporary intellectual activism—from the collapse of Soviet communism to the rise of moralized discourse in the West—showing how academic obsessions with power and authority have polarized public debate and undermined the value of individual freedom.
Both a radical critique and a call to reason, Zombies of Marx invites readers to rethink the role of the intellectual in society and to rediscover the true purpose of not to manipulate, but to illuminate.
This book is for those who are not afraid to question dogma and confront the conflicts shaping the modern world.
- GenresPhilosophy
272 pages, Paperback
Published March 12, 2025
About the author
Davide Smith Borrelli
2 books66 followersDavide Borrelli is a writer specializing in the critical analysis of ideologies and social structures. With extensive experience and a deep passion for philosophical thought, Davide offers reflections that challenge conventions and stimulate debate.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 10, 2026
Zombies of Marx is a challenging and insightful read that examines how ideas survive and transform over time. The author presents well-researched arguments that encourage readers to think critically about politics, philosophy, and modern culture. Whether you agree with every conclusion or not, it's an engaging book that gives you plenty to reflect on. Highly recommended.
July 29, 2026
The book is very successful in raising an important question: When research begins with a political objective, can it still recognize evidence that challenges its assumptions? at the same time, that is where the central irony lies: Borrelli accuses others of selectively using evidence and turning knowledge into ideology, yet he selects evidence that supports his own predetermined narrative about the “zombies of Marx.” The book is therefore best read as a work to think with (and argue against!) rather than as an impartial guide to Marxism, feminism, or gender studies.
Borrelli identifies a real problem; the replacement of reality with moralistic language... but overestimates how widespread it is and sometimes equates language, feminism, and gender studies themselves with their worst applications.
Borrelli identifies a real problem; the replacement of reality with moralistic language... but overestimates how widespread it is and sometimes equates language, feminism, and gender studies themselves with their worst applications.
April 21, 2026
The Book We Needed — And the One Davide Smith Borrelli Had the Courage to Write
Every so often, a book arrives that cuts through the fog. Zombies of Marx is one of those rare works: intellectually rigorous, historically grounded, and genuinely courageous in its pursuit of clarity. It is not simply a critique of contemporary ideas but a full genealogy of how we arrived at our present confusions, and why the defense of truth and freedom remains an urgent task. Borrelli writes with a calm, analytical voice that refuses hysteria and resists the easy comforts of tribalism.
The author begins by tracing the evolution of concepts like justice, power, truth, and freedom from their ancient roots to their modern reinterpretations. Each chapter builds with careful precision, showing how ideas that once served as tools for understanding the world have been reshaped into instruments of moral certainty. The discussion of deconstruction, performativity, and linguistic activism is especially sharp. Rather than caricature these movements, Borrelli situates them within a long intellectual arc that stretches from Marx to Derrida to the present day.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its ability to illuminate how language itself becomes a battleground. The chapter on “Abracadabra” is a standout. It shows how the ancient belief in magical words has reappeared in modern theories that treat language as a mechanism for reshaping reality. This is not presented as a polemic but as a sober analysis of how certain ideas drift when detached from empirical constraints.
The chapters on democracy are equally compelling. Borrelli argues that democracy is not simply a method of choosing leaders but a culture of self correction, humility, and dissent. The distinction between power and rule, grounded in the etymology of Greek political terms, is handled with admirable clarity. The book insists that democracies survive precisely because they acknowledge their imperfections, while authoritarian systems collapse under the weight of their own certainty.
The historical sections on the Soviet Union, especially the exploration of pravda and istina, are among the most moving in the book. The portrait of Joseph Brodsky as a man who lived in a monastery of his own spirit is unforgettable. These passages show how truth retreats into the private sphere when the public sphere becomes dominated by ritual and propaganda. It is a powerful reminder that truth is not destroyed by ideology but driven underground.
The final chapters bring the argument home with a calm but firm defense of liberal principles. The “liberal decalogue” is a beautiful synthesis of the book’s themes. It offers a code of intellectual conduct grounded in humility, courage, and respect for dissent. It is not a political manifesto but a guide for anyone who wishes to think clearly in an age of noise.
In a cultural moment where discourse often collapses into slogans and certainty masquerades as insight, this book feels like a return to intellectual adulthood. Readers who value clarity over dogma and inquiry over ideology will find it indispensable.
In the end, Zombies of Marx succeeds because it refuses to flatter the reader. It asks for seriousness, honesty, and a willingness to examine one’s own convictions. It is a work of philosophy in the best sense: it clarifies, it challenges, and it restores a sense of proportion. Anyone concerned with truth, freedom, and the health of democratic culture will find it essential.
Every so often, a book arrives that cuts through the fog. Zombies of Marx is one of those rare works: intellectually rigorous, historically grounded, and genuinely courageous in its pursuit of clarity. It is not simply a critique of contemporary ideas but a full genealogy of how we arrived at our present confusions, and why the defense of truth and freedom remains an urgent task. Borrelli writes with a calm, analytical voice that refuses hysteria and resists the easy comforts of tribalism.
The author begins by tracing the evolution of concepts like justice, power, truth, and freedom from their ancient roots to their modern reinterpretations. Each chapter builds with careful precision, showing how ideas that once served as tools for understanding the world have been reshaped into instruments of moral certainty. The discussion of deconstruction, performativity, and linguistic activism is especially sharp. Rather than caricature these movements, Borrelli situates them within a long intellectual arc that stretches from Marx to Derrida to the present day.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its ability to illuminate how language itself becomes a battleground. The chapter on “Abracadabra” is a standout. It shows how the ancient belief in magical words has reappeared in modern theories that treat language as a mechanism for reshaping reality. This is not presented as a polemic but as a sober analysis of how certain ideas drift when detached from empirical constraints.
The chapters on democracy are equally compelling. Borrelli argues that democracy is not simply a method of choosing leaders but a culture of self correction, humility, and dissent. The distinction between power and rule, grounded in the etymology of Greek political terms, is handled with admirable clarity. The book insists that democracies survive precisely because they acknowledge their imperfections, while authoritarian systems collapse under the weight of their own certainty.
The historical sections on the Soviet Union, especially the exploration of pravda and istina, are among the most moving in the book. The portrait of Joseph Brodsky as a man who lived in a monastery of his own spirit is unforgettable. These passages show how truth retreats into the private sphere when the public sphere becomes dominated by ritual and propaganda. It is a powerful reminder that truth is not destroyed by ideology but driven underground.
The final chapters bring the argument home with a calm but firm defense of liberal principles. The “liberal decalogue” is a beautiful synthesis of the book’s themes. It offers a code of intellectual conduct grounded in humility, courage, and respect for dissent. It is not a political manifesto but a guide for anyone who wishes to think clearly in an age of noise.
In a cultural moment where discourse often collapses into slogans and certainty masquerades as insight, this book feels like a return to intellectual adulthood. Readers who value clarity over dogma and inquiry over ideology will find it indispensable.
In the end, Zombies of Marx succeeds because it refuses to flatter the reader. It asks for seriousness, honesty, and a willingness to examine one’s own convictions. It is a work of philosophy in the best sense: it clarifies, it challenges, and it restores a sense of proportion. Anyone concerned with truth, freedom, and the health of democratic culture will find it essential.
March 27, 2025
This book is monumental in its scope, and fearless in its ambition. The author offers us critical appraisal of societal ways across the millennia. He is extremely well read and erudite which is obvious from the ease with which he juggles every philosopher, politician/societal structure of note, incisively showing to the readers both their strengths and weaknesses.
The relativity of “ truth”, and “academic knowledge”; the danger of “ good intentions” and the destructive power of modern society’s principle “everything goes” are some of many profound concepts that are explored.
Davide boldly states that he disagrees with most of the opinions of the politicians and philosophers he discusses, and, instead, offers us his version of truth that is refreshingly simple.
The best societal order? Democracy! Whilst imperfect, it offers freedom of expression, encourages reflection and allows for feedback between the masses and the ruling powers.
The sole objective toward which humanity must strive? Justice! Whilst non-existent in reality, it must be humanity’s sole aim, says Davide.
The means for achieving the former and the latter?
Adopting liberal perspective in intellectual life- “unbiased discussion is a useful thing and men should be free to question anything if they can support their questioning with solid arguments”.
Is it even feasible, to achieve all the above, with human nature being what it is?
The author believes it is, offering us an example- pioneering Linus technology, that underpins most of internet based businesses:
“The spirit behind the Linux experience is the spirit of trust and collaboration among humans, which is at the heart of liberal thought”.
Lastly, I would like to add that I feel underqualified to read and review this wonderful book; I fear I might have missed out on some of its many layers- simply because my level of political/philosophical erudition is not a match for author’s. Even so, I’ve enjoyed it very much- thanks to the author!
The relativity of “ truth”, and “academic knowledge”; the danger of “ good intentions” and the destructive power of modern society’s principle “everything goes” are some of many profound concepts that are explored.
Davide boldly states that he disagrees with most of the opinions of the politicians and philosophers he discusses, and, instead, offers us his version of truth that is refreshingly simple.
The best societal order? Democracy! Whilst imperfect, it offers freedom of expression, encourages reflection and allows for feedback between the masses and the ruling powers.
The sole objective toward which humanity must strive? Justice! Whilst non-existent in reality, it must be humanity’s sole aim, says Davide.
The means for achieving the former and the latter?
Adopting liberal perspective in intellectual life- “unbiased discussion is a useful thing and men should be free to question anything if they can support their questioning with solid arguments”.
Is it even feasible, to achieve all the above, with human nature being what it is?
The author believes it is, offering us an example- pioneering Linus technology, that underpins most of internet based businesses:
“The spirit behind the Linux experience is the spirit of trust and collaboration among humans, which is at the heart of liberal thought”.
Lastly, I would like to add that I feel underqualified to read and review this wonderful book; I fear I might have missed out on some of its many layers- simply because my level of political/philosophical erudition is not a match for author’s. Even so, I’ve enjoyed it very much- thanks to the author!
July 4, 2026
I picked this up out of curiosity and ended up reading more than I expected. The author offers a thoughtful perspective on philosophy and politics that made me stop and think. I did not agree with every argument, but I appreciated the depth of the discussion. Worth reading if you enjoy books that challenge your thinking.
May 18, 2026
Zombies of Marx is a bold and thought-provoking critique of modern ideology that challenges readers with sharp arguments, intellectual depth, and an unapologetically passionate voice from Davide Smith Borrelli.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews