Ben L

Anti-Tech Revolution: Why and How is a guide written to show people how to begin thinking strategically about the actions necessary to get our society off its current road to destruction. It’s an excellent and groundbreaking work. There are many takeaways in this book, as it is reasonably dense (though never tedious) and, as stated in the preface, it’s meant to be read with the same level of care that one would use in studying a textbook. The author, Theodore John Kaczynski, describes the destructive process we see today as made inevitable by a combination of two factors: the colossal power of modern technology and the fundamental nature of “self-propagating systems” which comprise the biosphere and its components (including human societies and their artifices). Kaczynski provides a precise analysis of the principles that determine the success or failure of social revolutions, incorporating highly relevant historical context as well as unique analogies to elucidate his ideas. Kaczynski asserts the pointlessness of advocating for energy conservation by explaining the theory of self-propagating systems. He calls attention to the fact that any amount of energy that’s freed up by conservation is quickly used up by the everexpanding technological world-system, which then only demands more with no regard for the consequences as it tries to push beyond the limits imposed by the insufficiency of resources. He makes the point that we can’t assume that the extent of the coming damage to our environment is limited to current known causes of environmental harm, arguing that we need to consider the future impact on the environment by future—even as yet inconceivable—technologies.Upon concluding that a catastrophic breakdown in the world-system (defined to be all things that exist on Earth, together with the functional relations among them) brought on by advancing technology is to be expected sooner or later, Kaczynski argues that the only solution is to eliminate the technological system altogether so as to preserve as much of humanity and the biosphere as possible. He utilizes years of diligent research to explain how this can be achieved through an exacting revolution, and why such a revolution is the only sensible approach to the problem of the ever-expanding global technological system. According to Kaczynski, the critical challenge for anyone in the modern world wishing to transform society is to effectively organize for practical action. It’s established that staying on target and having one single, concrete goal is essential for the success of an anti-tech movement. Moreover, he gives comprehensive explanations as to why attacks on centralization, capitalism, globalization, etc., are not effective ways of resisting technological progress but rather distract from the need to eliminate the entire technological system. Another chief determinant of success for a revolutionary movement is having faith in its ability to achieve its objective. Kaczynski explores the significance of confidence within a movement, noting that no one will exert themselves if they lack hope in being rewarded with any impressive result. Revolutionaries must believe that the elimination of the technological system is worth any potential risks or disasters and must not allow themselves to be deterred with threats made by defenders of the system.

“Industrial Society and Its Future,” or “ISAIF” for short, is a compelling read for anyone interested in examining the impact of social constructs and ongoing technological progress. The author does a remarkable job of shedding light on the insidious ways technology has become entrenched in our lives. Kaczynski’s writing style is conversational and easy to follow, and his points are backed up with extensive research and evidence. He argues that the technological system has an ability to subtly, and falsely, convince people that they are totally defenseless and that resistance to its power is hopeless. This internalized belief is what allows the system to continue unchecked. The author also explores technological society's impact on our relationship with natural resources and the environment. He points out the ways in which this lifestyle has led to devastating environmental consequences, including the depletion of natural resources, global climate change, and pollution. Kaczynski successfully demonstrates how industrialization has led to the loss of traditional values and weakened respect (or sometimes even a complete lack of regard) for the environment. He also shows how elites have used technology to their advantage. He offers various warnings on the many dangers of a technologically-advanced future where technology and industry become increasingly powerful and impossible to control. Kaczynski also critiques the social and economic processes of industrialization, showing how it creates alienation, depression, and other mental health issues. By doing this, he encourages readers to take a critical look at the political and social structures that have enabled industrialization so they can better understand its consequences and, hopefully, work to fundamentally end the system. One of the most thought-provoking aspects of this manifesto is its exploration of the revolutionary potential of the industrial-technological system. Kaczynski advances the idea that the system can be turned into an effective tool for facilitating revolution against it, rather than perpetuating the repressive status quo. Kaczynski believes that revolution, while chaotic and damaging in the immediate and near-term, is a more effective way of restoring balance to a society that represses human freedom, and a biosphere that is suffering, in the long-term. He asserts that a reform is too limited, complacent, and incremental to make any lasting differences, especially when reforms can be undone with a simple pen stroke. These conclusions are explored further in his book, Anti-Tech Revolution: Why and How. Although his calls for a more ecologically-focused society have been rejected by many, it is impossible to argue that he is wrong on these facts.