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Against the Machine

£12.99

Novelist, poet, and essayist Paul Kingsnorth presents a wholly original – and terrifying – account of the technological-cultural matrix enveloping all of us. With insight into the spiritual and economic roots of techno-capitalism, Kingsnorth reveals how the Machine, in the name of progress, has choked Western civilization, is destroying the Earth itself, and is reshaping us in its image. From the First Industrial Revolution to the rise of artificial intelligence, he shows how the hollowing out of humanity has been a long game – and how your very soul is at stake. It takes effort to remain truly human in the age of the Machine. Here Kingsnorth reminds us what humanity requires: a healthy suspicion of entrenched power; connection to land, nature and heritage; and a deep attention to matters of the spirit.

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ISBN: 9781837310975 Category: Philosophy Tags: Ethical & social aspects of IT, Ethical issues: scientific, technological & medical developments, Impact of science & technology on society, Social & political philosophy
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Description

*New York Times bestseller*

How a force that’s hard to name, but which we all feel, is reshaping what it means to be human

In Against the Machine, “furiously gifted” (The Washington Post) novelist, poet, and essayist Paul Kingsnorth presents a wholly original-and terrifying-account of the technological-cultural matrix enveloping all of us. With insight into the spiritual and economic roots of techno-capitalism, Kingsnorth reveals how the Machine, in the name of progress, has choked Western civilization, is destroying the Earth itself, and is reshaping us in its image. From the First Industrial Revolution to the rise of artificial intelligence, he shows how the hollowing out of humanity has been a long game-and how your very soul is at stake.

It takes effort to remain truly human in the age of the Machine. Here Kingsnorth reminds us what humanity requires: a healthy suspicion of entrenched power; connection to land, nature and heritage; and a deep attention to matters of the spirit. Prophetic and poetic, Against the Machine is a spiritual manual for dissidents in the technological age.

Read a sample here

Additional information

Weight 0.274 kg
Dimensions 19.7 × 13 × 2.2 cm
Author

Kingsnorth, Paul

Publisher

Penguin Books

Imprint

Penguin Books

Cover

Paperback

Pages

368

Language

English

Edition
Dewey

338.064 (edition:23)

Readership

General – Trade / Code: K

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House of Books & Friends would like to invite you to Chapters by Candlelight, our first charity 'read-in', sponsored by gunnercooke. We will be fundraising for the charity Once Upon a Smile, based in Greater Manchester.

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Join us in a candle-lit bookshop for an evening of reading, relaxing, and supporting those in need. Get in the festive spirit with our offerings of mulled wine and minced pies. Enjoy performances from local poets, learn about the incredible work of Once Upon a Smile, and settle down for an hour of reading together; no screens, no chatter, no pressure from the outside world. Closing the night, enjoy some festive songs from a local musician, and letting the warm glow of the night carry you home.

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Though completely different to ‘Lessons in Chemistry’, this novel is a worthy successor and is as brilliantly life-affirming and enjoyable!
Batter Grey is a fantastically flawed and witty protagonist with a passion for all things poetry, which leads him to apply for a role at the prestigious and illusive Peck and Peck poetry journal in New York City.


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