Anti-Tech Revolution : Why and How by Theodore John Kaczynski (2016, Trade Paperback)

Weird Books (5463)
99.7% positive feedback
Price:
US $23.97
ApproximatelyAU $36.95
+ $24.90 postage
Estimated delivery Mon, 11 Aug - Thu, 21 Aug
Returns:
30-day returns. Buyer pays for return postage. If you use an eBay postage label, it will be deducted from your refund amount.
Condition:
Good
Author: Kaczynski, Theodore. Anti-Tech Revolution: Why and How. Sku: 2501200008. Condition: Used: Good. Qty Available: 1.

About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherFitch & Madison Publishers
ISBN-101944228004
ISBN-139781944228002
eBay Product ID (ePID)224479397

Product Key Features

Book TitleAnti-Tech Revolution : Why and How
Number of Pages236 Pages
LanguageEnglish
TopicCivilization, General, Political, World, Sociology / Social Theory
Publication Year2016
GenrePhilosophy, Social Science, History
AuthorTheodore John Kaczynski
FormatTrade Paperback

Dimensions

Item Height0.8 in
Item Weight13.1 Oz
Item Length9 in
Item Width6 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade
LCCN2016-937645
ReviewsThere are more than a few people who feel that society's rush toward a technological future will lead to disaster. This book presents some pointers for thinking in broad, strategic terms about getting society off that particular road. The overall goal for any organization, whether it is social, political or environmental, should be clear and simple. It can't be something vague, like "promoting democracy" or "protecting the environment." The goal also needs to be irreversible; once achieved, it can never be taken away. An example is when women got the right to vote in the early 20th century. After it happened, any politician was going to have a very hard time taking it away from them. No matter how democratic an organization claims to be, there will be times when not every issue can be placed before the entire membership for a vote. There needs to be an inner core of committed members with the authority to make such decisions. Throughout history, many people have suggested that human society needs to be "planned" or "controlled," for various reasons. A huge, chaotic thing like human society can not be controlled to any great extent. At most, it can be "nudged" in one direction or another. Who decides in what direction human society should go? What is a "good" outcome? Assume, just for a moment, that it is possible to control human society. Assume that there is a computer system big enough to handle the trillions of equations that need to be solved. Who is in charge, a person or a small group? Who gets to decide who that person, or people, should be? Can a lack of ego be guaranteed? A number of writers, including Ray Kurzweil, are looking forward to the day when human immortality, or the coming of human cyborgs or the uploading of a person's brain to a computer become reality. The author asserts that these are nonsense. For instance, immortality will only be available to the one percent, not to everyone. This book is heavy history and social science, so it is not for everyone. The reader will get a lot out of it. This is very highly recommended. Reviewer's Bookwatch: June 2018 James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief Midwest Book Review 278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575 http://www.midwestbookreview.com/rbw/jun_18.htm#paul - - Midwest Book Review, There are more than a few people who feel that society's rush toward a technological future will lead to disaster. This book presents some pointers for thinking in broad, strategic terms about getting society off that particular road. The overall goal for any organization, whether it is social, political or environmental, should be clear and simple. It can't be something vague, like "promoting democracy" or "protecting the environment." The goal also needs to be irreversib≤ once achieved, it can never be taken away. An example is when women got the right to vote in the early 20th century. After it happened, any politician was going to have a very hard time taking it away from them. No matter how democratic an organization claims to be, there will be times when not every issue can be placed before the entire membership for a vote. There needs to be an inner core of committed members with the authority to make such decisions. Throughout history, many people have suggested that human society needs to be "planned" or "controlled," for various reasons. A huge, chaotic thing like human society can not be controlled to any great extent. At most, it can be "nudged" in one direction or another. Who decides in what direction human society should go? What is a "good" outcome? Assume, just for a moment, that it is possible to control human society. Assume that there is a computer system big enough to handle the trillions of equations that need to be solved. Who is in charge, a person or a small group? Who gets to decide who that person, or people, should be? Can a lack of ego be guaranteed? A number of writers, including Ray Kurzweil, are looking forward to the day when human immortality, or the coming of human cyborgs or the uploading of a person's brain to a computer become reality. The author asserts that these are nonsense. For instance, immortality will only be available to the one percent, not to everyone. This book is heavy history and social science, so it is not for everyone. The reader will get a lot out of it. This is very highly recommended. Reviewer's Bookwatch: June 2018 James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief Midwest Book Review 278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575 http://www.midwestbookreview.com/rbw/jun_18.htm#paul, "There are more than a few people who feel that society's rush toward a technological future will lead to disaster. This book presents some pointers for thinking in broad, strategic terms about getting society off that particular road. The overall goal for any organization, whether it is social, political or environmental, should be clear and simple. It can't be something vague, like 'promoting democracy' or 'protecting the environment.' The goal also needs to be irreversible; once achieved, it can never be taken away. An example is when women got the right to vote in the early 20th century. After it happened, any politician was going to have a very hard time taking it away from them. No matter how democratic an organization claims to be, there will be times when not every issue can be placed before the entire membership for a vote. There needs to be an inner core of committed members with the authority to make such decisions. Throughout history, many people have suggested that human society needs to be 'planned' or 'controlled,' for various reasons. A huge, chaotic thing like human society can not be controlled to any great extent. At most, it can be "nudged" in one direction or another. Who decides in what direction human society should go? What is a 'good' outcome? Assume, just for a moment, that it is possible to control human society. Assume that there is a computer system big enough to handle the trillions of equations that need to be solved. Who is in charge, a person or a small group? Who gets to decide who that person, or people, should be? Can a lack of ego be guaranteed? A number of writers, including Ray Kurzweil, are looking forward to the day when human immortality, or the coming of human cyborgs or the uploading of a person's brain to a computer become reality. The author asserts that these are nonsense. For instance, immortality will only be available to the one percent, not to everyone. This book is heavy history and social science, so it is not for everyone. The reader will get a lot out of it. This is very highly recommended." -- Midwest Book Review, "In this thoughtful book, Dr Kaczynski provides a blueprint for the radical anti-technology movement. If you want to stop AI before it's too late, this may be your best bet." -- Dylan Evans, Ph.D. , author of The Utopia Experiment, "Kaczynski's second book, Anti-Tech Revolution , is a true milestone in thinking about technology. It is a well-researched, well-written, and thoroughly-documented work dedicated to undermining the technological system before its worst consequences become reality. Nothing else like it exists. All those concerned with the future of humanity and the planet would do well to study it carefully." -- Prof. David Skrbina , University of Michigan, Dearborn, USA, "Kaczynski understands what those of us more fully participating in the technological system are unable to fully appreciate: that technological society is beyond rational human control and will result in cataclysmic harm. What he presents is a sound moral argument with what should be eye-opening historical social illustrations that are, together, too numerous to refute." -- Jai Galliott, Ph.D. , School of Engineering and Information Technology, UNSW Canbarra
Dewey Edition23
Dewey Decimal303.483
SynopsisIn Anti-Tech Revolution: Why and How , Kaczynski compellingly argues for why rational control over the development of society is forever impossible. Rather than being guided by "reason," Kaczynski shows that a universal process analogous to biological natural selection operates autonomously on all dynamic systems and that this process primarily determines all significant historical developments. Furthermore, Kaczynski argues for why the direct consequences of uncontrollable technological growth necessarily leads to a disastrous disruption of the natural equilibrium of global biological and human social systems. Based on this new understanding of social and biological change, and by way of an extensive historical and theoretical examination of prior social movements and revolutions, Kaczynski argues that there is only one route available to effect substantial influence on the course of human development to avoid the disaster that technological growth entails: a revolution against technology and industrial society. To this end, Kaczynski offers a practical, "grand-strategic" prescription for the only realistic way to significantly alter the course of society to prevent the fast-approaching technological disaster., "There are many people today who see that modern society is heading toward disaster in one form or another, and who moreover recognize technology as the common thread linking the principal dangers that hang over us... The purpose of this book is to show people how to begin thinking in practical, grand-strategic terms about what must be done in order to get our society off the road to destruction that it is now on." --from the Preface. Publisher's Description: A comprehensive historical analysis explaining the futility of social control and the catastrophic influence of technological growth on human social and planetary ecological systems. Distilled from the critical socio-historical analysis is the author's own theoretical framework for effecting meaningful and lasting change.
LC Classification NumberT14.5

All listings for this product

Buy It Now
Pre-owned

Ratings and reviews

5.0
1 product rating
  • 1 users rated this 5 out of 5 stars
  • 0 users rated this 4 out of 5 stars
  • 0 users rated this 3 out of 5 stars
  • 0 users rated this 2 out of 5 stars
  • 0 users rated this 1 out of 5 stars

Would recommend

Good value

Compelling content

We have ratings for this, but no written reviews yet. Be the first to write a review.