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Against the Machine

On the Unmaking of Humanity

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Brought to you by Penguin.

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.

© Paul Kingsnorth 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

 History & Culture Philosophy Political Science Politics & Government Society Technology & Society Capitalism Socialism
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The book provided a number of thoughts which I am finding useful in looking at and understanding the modern world.

Insightful

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Notwithstanding some dubious theories, an interesting and generally rousing call to arms. He writes well, though seems a little closed off— if we are to fight the battle he is suggesting i think we need to engage more in the world we live in. But agree with the sentiment.

Not for everyone but overall i agree

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A really well laid out and thought provoking read. I don’t agree with everything the author expresses and I found some parts challenging but that is why I’ve given it 5 stars. Also my absolute gratitude to the narrator. I struggle with professional narrators and try to find books read by the author but this man’s narration was fantastic.

Interesting and challenging. Excellent narration

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This is it, the story of our age. The fight back against the machine starts here. This book kills machines. Rain dance on the astroturf.
Great narrator too.

This book kills machines

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Against the Machine is a critique of modern corporate capitalism, progressive politics and what Kingsnorth calls the 'culture of inversion' prevalent in modern society. Machine modernity, led by technological advances, has produced a false reality, a destructive culture and accelerated the ravaging of the natural world. The panacea can be found not in progressive politics but, in his view, the 4 Ps or past, people, place and prayer. How the individual navigates these is a matter f the individual.

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