33 MYTHS OF THE SYSTEM
A powerful book. A great title. A brilliant communicator… Breaks down many of the institutions that we believe in and see as somehow irreproachable and unassailable… fantastic stuff.
Russell Brand
A RADICAL GUIDE TO THE WORLD
As civilisation reaches endgame and begins to disintegrate, as the illusions of left and right coalesce into a single, spectacular omnimyth, as every rootless mind begins to directly experience the stupefying dystopias of Orwell, Huxley, Kafka and Dick, the time has come to understand the whole system, from root to fruit.
Drawing on the entire history of radical thought, while seeking to plumb their common depths, 33 Myths of the System, presents a synthesis of independent criticism, a straightforward exposure of the justifications of the world-system, along with a new way to perceive and understand the unhappy supermind that directs, penetrates and even lives our lives.
33 Myths of the System confronts the fabrications of both capitalism and socialism, both left and right, both theism and atheism. As such it may be, for some, a challenging read. But if you are willing to face not just the world out there, but the anxieties and desires in here which sustain it, 33 Myths of the System — together with its companion Self & Unself — will be a liberating read.
READ SOME SAMPLES
Here are a few chapters from the book; The Myth of Culture, The Myth of Truth, The Myth of Meaning, The Myth of Education and an introduction to Anarchism at the end of the World; but these are really for disseminating through the world brain. You might as well read…
The second edition of 33 Myths of the System is available on most online bookshops (try to avoid Amazon though — Blackwells in the UK, and Barnes and Noble in the US are slightly more ethical). If you want me to get a wider slice, you can order directly FROM MY BOOKSHOP.
The second edition, available as a paperback, hardback and epub is updated to harmonise it with the rest of my work and to bring it up to date. The old 2018 version of 33 Myths of the System — minus the various expanded chapters — is still free as a PDF on Dropbox here, or you prefer not to use Dropbox, it is also on the Internet Archive. Buy the new version if you can, but if you can’t afford it, the old one is there.
SELF & UNSELF
There are several references in the book to a ‘sister volume’ (which was to be called ‘33 Myths of the Ego’, but I changed the title). This is a foundational philosophy of ‘all and everything’ upon which this and all my other work is built. It’s much heavier going than ‘33 Myths’ (and, needless to say, The Apocalypedia and Drowning is Fine), but more rewarding.
So provocative… I love[d it]… hit with originality and force. - John Zerzan, author of Future Primitive, Running on Emptiness and A People’s History of Civilisation
Pure genius… Full of insights and mind-blowing thought-puzzles. - David Edwards (Media Lens)
A great deal of logic and truth. - Daniel Pinchbeck; read his overview here https://bit.ly/3G7Wlte
It’s all so very clear and with just enough sugar to make the medicine go down so it can truly reach. It makes me laugh and it makes me hungry for revolution. - Chantelle Oliver
A revelation. This book is a whirlwind: confronting, critical, and upsetting. Pick it up at your peril; it will offend… visceral and compelling… controversial and provocative. - Jussi Pasanen; read his review here: bit.ly/2S2Sedu
This is a fantastic book. - Damien Gayle (The Guardian)
A radical and insightful book (Ali Hendrick)… Fascinating analysis of the world we live in (Alastair Creelman)… This may be the most painful and depressing book I've ever read, but the points it makes are some of the most serious and prescient I have ever come across (Sean Tilley)… one of my favourite books of this year, if not the decade… in terms of books that challenge your thinking and point out the water you're swimming in, it's fantastic (Doug Belshaw)… Reading this books is like sawing off a gangrenous arm, agonising but utterly necessary (Dom Turner)… Brilliant!! (Gillian O'Donoghue)… It’s a cracker! (Shirl ‘n‘ Dave Hughes)... One of the most important, striking and frightening books I have read in some time. (‘Nelson’)… …incisive and provocative; truly anarchic, paradoxical and honest (Liz Darcy Jones) …shifted my thinking in a wonderful direction (Adam Byrne) …well researched, well written, and fearless (David Bethune) …Genuinely original, very uncommon! (Ewen Nicholson) …I cried all the time while I was reading it. It also made me sick. As in actual diarrhea and nausea (Areli Figueroa)
- From emails and social media
Edgy, fabulist ranting (Robert Nolan)… The sheer volume of what’s plain wrong and absurd here makes it hard to know where the ignorance ends and the dishonesty begins. (Stephen Morrell)… I don’t think I have ever read a book that alienates so many classes of people. (Chris Keating)… Offensive, nihilist twaddle from someone who clearly holds humanity in contempt (‘labrebigalloise’)… Speculative fantasy nonsense (‘alryr’)… Condescending and peevish throughout (‘ARealRedWagon’)… I doubt the author even believes this tripe (‘Powera’)
- From emails and social media