Today’s clerisy are the people who dominate the global web of cultural creators, academia, the media, and even much of what remains of traditional religious institutions. They share many beliefs with the oligarchs—on globalism and the
...more
“It is unlike the industrial era, when corporations depended on people with a wide range of skills: managers and marketers, engineers and technicians, warehouse workers and salespeople. These jobs were often unionized, at least in the manufacturing and energy sectors, so that upper management was compelled at least to consider diverse views on how the business should operate. In contrast, tech firms are rarely unionized, and none of the largest internet-based firms are.7 Crucially, the tech giants employ relatively few people in proportion to their revenues.”
― The Coming of Neo-Feudalism: A Warning to the Global Middle Class
― The Coming of Neo-Feudalism: A Warning to the Global Middle Class
“In Wired magazine, Antonio García Martínez describes the contemporary Silicon Valley as “feudalism with better marketing.” He sees a clear elite of venture capitalists and company founders. Below them are the skilled professionals, well paid but living ordinary middle-class lives, given the high prices and heavy taxes. Below them lies the vast population of gig workers, whom García Martínez compares to sharecroppers in the South. At the bottom, there is an untouchable class of homeless, drug addicts, and criminals.36”
― The Coming of Neo-Feudalism: A Warning to the Global Middle Class
― The Coming of Neo-Feudalism: A Warning to the Global Middle Class
“For the greatest fear of death is always that it will pass us by. And leave us there alone.”
― A Man Called Ove
― A Man Called Ove
“Even if you consider yourself a terrible writer, writing can be viewed as a tool. There are huge benefits to writing, even if no one—yourself included—ever reads what you write. In other words, the process matters more than the product.”
― Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers
― Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers
“It’s ironic that while we enjoy easier access to information than ever before, we are falling behind in real knowledge. We are replacing books with blogs, and essays with tweets.”
― The Coming of Neo-Feudalism: A Warning to the Global Middle Class
― The Coming of Neo-Feudalism: A Warning to the Global Middle Class
Michael’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Michael’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
More friends…
Favorite Genres
Polls voted on by Michael
Lists liked by Michael
































