Industrial Society and Its Future
by Theodore Kaczynski · first published 1995
35% recommend60% neutral5% critical
Why HN recommends it
A short, well-written critique of technology and modern society, arguing from the power process, scientists' motives, and loss of social cohesion. Suited to readers wanting a thought-provoking view on progress.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
In 1971 Dr. Theodore Kaczynski rejected modern society and moved to a primitive cabin in the woods of Montana. There, he began building bombs, which he sent to professors and executives to express his disdain for modern society, and to work on his magnum opus, Industrial Society and Its Future, forever known to the world as the Unabomber Manifesto. Responsible for three deaths and more than twenty casualties over two decades, he was finally identifed and apprehended when his brother recognized his writing style while reading the 'Unabomber Manifesto.' The piece, written under the pseudonym FC
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…youth, and always has been. Ever since the early 1900s traditional family values and social community/cohesion has been seriously on decline. Say what you will about Ted Kaczynski, but his essay/book Industrial Society and its Future is a wealth of knowledge on this subject (strange I know coming from a Christian woman). But look at it this way: people resort to drugs because reality sucks. Why does reality suck? Well, we live in…
on “America’s First Amphetamine Epidemic 1929–1971 (2008)” ↗I was intrigued by "Industrial Society and its Future" by Ted Kaczynski after watching the "Manhunt" series on Netflix. As a techno-optimist it helped me put my feet on the ground. If you're like me, I can recommend the book. Not a fan of books? Read my…
on ““Industrial Society and its Future”: the writings of the Unabomber” ↗This article reminded me a lot of stuff written by Mumford, Jacques Ellul, and even Ted Kaczynski (the Unabomber). Their stuff is worth reading. Industrial Society and Its Future http://wildism.org/rca/items/show/13 Also Ellul's The Technological Society
on “The Doomed Mouse Utopia That Inspired the 'Rats of NIMH'” ↗Or at least a clearer rant. I was surprised at how well written Kaczynski's "Industrial Society and its Future" was. I don't like that he got it published by mailing people bombs until the New York Times promised to publish it, but it's still worth reading.
on “Anti-IRS Rant of Software Engineer who Today Flew Plane into IRS Building” ↗The article mentioned the group praises Ted Kaczynski, so most likely good to read this essay if you want to see their POV. Industrial Society and Its Future (1995) by Theodore Kaczynski http://web.cecs.pdx.edu/~harry/ethics/Unabomber.pdf
on “Home-made bombs are being sent to physicists in Mexico” ↗Interesting, while I have known about it, I haven't really read Ted Kaczynski (aka Unabomber) essay "Industrial Society and Its Future" [1] (aka The Unabomber Manifesto) before until your comment. I absolutely abhor his actions and what he had done, but the essay is a brilliant read. Especially interesting is paragraph 171, as it pertains…
on “'Our minds can be hijacked': tech insiders who fear a smartphone dystopia” ↗I second this. What Kaczynski did was terrible, but he was obviously very intelligent and highly observant. Upon reading Industrial Society and its Future, it was hard for me to deny the validity(note the difference between validity and soundness) of many of his arguments. I would say it's worth reading if the reader can mentally-divorce ideas from their…
on “Japan's 'Naked Hermit' Pried from Island Utopia After 29 Years” ↗…high calling, to give one example. As an aside, I see you have a very deep view into the past and are unmoved by mere thousands of years of culture and tradition. You might find Dr. Theodore Kaczynski's Industrial Society and Its Future interesting and enjoyable.
on “Studies: Premarital Sex, Cohabitation, and Divorce” ↗…underlying motivations for not wanting homeless people to die in the streets. You'll be happy to learn far smarter people than you have taken a crack at this problem! Go read the first few sections of Industrial Society and its Future and you'll have all the ammo you need to attack leftist motivations. Its analysis is quite a bit more robust than your (frankly, extremely basic) idea that everyone must have a financial stake in policy…
on “New Yorkers consider relocating post coronavirus” ↗I’m currently reading Jacques Ellul’s The Technological Society (really a must-read these days, like Mumford’s Pentagon of Power and Kaczynski’s Industrial Society and its Future) and I underlined this summary of Homans: “‘Formerly, when a New England family convoked a ‘bee’ (that is, a meeting for working in common), it was for all concerned one of the most pleasurable times…
on “Most book clubs are doing it wrong (2017)” ↗There's a monograph called "Industrial Society and Its Future" which you may find interesting. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/225468.Industrial_Societ...
on “The antidote to civilisational collapse – An interview with Adam Curtis (2018)” ↗For a fascinating take on the subject, I recommend "Industrial Society and its Future" by Ted Kaczynski.
on “Ask HN: What does HN think of economic collapse?” ↗…since the Industrial Revolution) though arguably goes back to the dawn of the practice of agriculture some 10,000 years ago. You ought to read, I hesitate to suggest, the Unabomber Manifesto a.k.a. "Industrial Society and its Future" by Ted Kaczynski. No shortage there of ideas on how modern man has lost his authenticity. (He also calls for violent revolution, which is just ADORABLE.) We evolved to be hunter-gatherers in small…
on “I Used to Be a Human Being” ↗1. Industrial Society and Its Future. Ted Kaczynski, 1995 (https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/fc-industrial-societ...).
on “Ask HN: What was the best book you read in 2016?” ↗Industrial Society and its Future is a great piece of analysis and writing marred by its psychopathic author. Although, I agree with the author that his terrorism helped get the essay read more widely, and that sickens me, because of…
on “U.S. insurrectionists received $500k in bitcoins from French donor” ↗