A lot of us are probably home, on the couch binging Netflix and packaged food these days. Some leaping around live on instagram or some making banal faces. Call it pandemic consumerism. Call it polemic social behaviour. But do we stop to think - why we are all spinning around in these predetermined loops? Actually forget it. Instead lets talk about something useful. How about getting back to some good ol' reading and picking up useful knowledge. How about forming new thoughts? When was the last time you picked up (and read) a good book instead of binging on seasons of no-brain fantasy or scrolling like a zombie on your phone. Reading actually reduces stress, increases mental stimulation and amplifies thought and knowledge, something that facebook, twitter, instagram and what-have-you social media clearly does not. We selected 10 books, yet not in any specific order or theme, as a collection of 'relevant reads' in these days, weeks and months of the pandemic. Authors who have inspired us, helped us, to understand the human condition. Pardon, but there's no Harry Potter or such nonsense. A short little intro into these meaningful and essential books, to help you pick one, or all. Some books are public domain (free) and some to buy...
Children Of The Days - Eduardo Galeano
Unfolding like a medieval book of days, Eduardo Galeano (Uruguay) is illuminating real stories from each day of the calendar year. Each entry resurrects the heroines and heroes, who have fallen off the historical map. Unsung greatness. Common people capable of spectacular deeds and decisions. Eduardo Galeano remains one of the strongest voices in Spanish latin-american literature. The book is a bit of humanist treasure! READ HERE.
Manufacturing Consent by Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky
Written in 1988, a pathbreaking work by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky shows that, contrary to the usual image of the news media as cantankerous and honest, what actually happens inside the news-machine is contrary. Interests and forces which essentially manufacture public opinion, consequently shaping global politics and business. The book exposes the 'Propaganda Model' in order to explain the media’s dishonest behaviour and performance. A must read for any libertarian! DOWNLOAD HERE.
Anarchism and other essays by Emma Goldman
Many people consider Emma Goldman to be the first female anarchist. A Russian jewish immigrant who managed to inspire millions of workers, men and women, across America, moving from a low-wage seamstress in a cloth mill to a world renowned speaker, writer and labour unionist. Her critical essays are a stunning imprint of the lives and sentiments of the working class in America. During the early 1900s, America was a booming empire that was also witness to violent and treacherous conditions unleashed by the ruling class upon millions of workers. These essays are a fascinating account of the revolutionary issues at the turn of the last century, a prophetic view of the social and economic futures, for what is totally relevant today. LISTEN TO AUDIOBOOK
Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber
Does your job make a meaningful contribution to the world? Think again. In the spring of 2013, David Graeber asked this question in a playful, provocative essay titled “On the phenomenon of Bullshit Jobs.” It went viral. After millions of online views in many languages, people all over the world are still debating the answer. The idea of doing something in exchange for money, does not hold up anymore as a legit and productive job. Graeber argues that HR consultants, communication coordinators, telemarketing researchers, corporate lawyers, wellness experts, corporate therapists and many such titles —whose jobs are useless, and, tragically, they know it. READ MORE
Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Many of you have already read this timeless allegorical novel by George Orwell. Written in 1945, in the after-shock of WW2, the fable is a satire made of farm animals, inspired from the 1917 Russian revolution. One of the most telling satiric fables, perhaps ever written, Animal Farm is a razor-edged fairy tale for grown-ups and children alike, that records the evolution of a rebellion against tyranny which turns into a morbid totalitarian end. As funny, as simple and downhill! DOWNLOAD HERE
My Secret Book by Fransisco Petrarca
"And men wonder at the heights of the mountains, and the mighty waves of the sea, the depths of oceans and the revolution of the stars and planets, but themselves? they ever consider not..." What Fransisco Petrarca was lamenting upon, placed the seeds of humanism, the questions about our true nature and our fears, prejudices and secrets. Petrarca, was a christian monk and latin scholar who spent a lifetime searching and contemplating the human condition. Written in d'Avignon, circa 1352, the short novel was lost in time, only to resurface in 1934. Fransisco and his imaginary mentor, Saint Augustine, exchange many thoughts and ideas over time, forming the principle narratives throughout the novel. A beautiful little treatise for anyone who believes in the importance of introspection and self-discovery. DOWNLOAD BOOK
The Plague by Albert Camus
Published in 1947, the french existentialist writer tells the story from the point of view of an unknown narrator, of a plague sweeping the colonised Algerian city of Oran. The novel stresses the helplessness of the individual characters to affect their destinies, their collective paranoia, coupled with a gradual downfall of civil society. This timeless existential treatise by Albert Camus is a must read, given the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world right now, severely effecting the human condition. LISTEN TO AUDIOBOOK.
The Great Derangement by Amitav Ghosh
Acclaimed Indian writer argues that politics, much like mass culture and literature, has become a matter of personal moral reckoning rather than an arena of collective action. That there are very few writers committed to climate justice, the ongoing extinction, eminent collapse of industrial civlization and the fate of the living planet. How we are dancing away, drunk on fossil-fuels, upon a big ship of fools. Amitav Ghosh inspires the reader, as to why climate crisis forces us to imagine and try new forms of human existence. READ HERE
Politically Correct 'Bedtime' Stories by James Finn Garner
Remember the 'Once upon a time' tales we read as children? Those tales were not just written for amusement, nor for goodness. There's a not-so-obvious problem with most fairy tales. These stories, many of which found their way into the global social consciousness, reflected the way in which men lived and saw their world: that is, the stories were sexist, discriminatory, culturally biased, racist and in general demeaning - to women, to minorities, to even witches, animals and imaginary characters. James Finn Garner has taken it upon himself to enlighten and liberate these classic bedtime stories. Improvising them in a way that is much more akin to the society in which we live today. This book, and other consequent volumes are an invaluable source of humour, sarcasm coupled with introspection and realisation. DOWNLOAD HERE
Children Of The Days - Eduardo Galeano
Unfolding like a medieval book of days, Eduardo Galeano (Uruguay) is illuminating real stories from each day of the calendar year. Each entry resurrects the heroines and heroes, who have fallen off the historical map. Unsung greatness. Common people capable of spectacular deeds and decisions. Eduardo Galeano remains one of the strongest voices in Spanish latin-american literature. The book is a bit of humanist treasure! READ HERE.
Manufacturing Consent by Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky
Written in 1988, a pathbreaking work by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky shows that, contrary to the usual image of the news media as cantankerous and honest, what actually happens inside the news-machine is contrary. Interests and forces which essentially manufacture public opinion, consequently shaping global politics and business. The book exposes the 'Propaganda Model' in order to explain the media’s dishonest behaviour and performance. A must read for any libertarian! DOWNLOAD HERE.
Anarchism and other essays by Emma Goldman
Many people consider Emma Goldman to be the first female anarchist. A Russian jewish immigrant who managed to inspire millions of workers, men and women, across America, moving from a low-wage seamstress in a cloth mill to a world renowned speaker, writer and labour unionist. Her critical essays are a stunning imprint of the lives and sentiments of the working class in America. During the early 1900s, America was a booming empire that was also witness to violent and treacherous conditions unleashed by the ruling class upon millions of workers. These essays are a fascinating account of the revolutionary issues at the turn of the last century, a prophetic view of the social and economic futures, for what is totally relevant today. LISTEN TO AUDIOBOOK
Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber
Does your job make a meaningful contribution to the world? Think again. In the spring of 2013, David Graeber asked this question in a playful, provocative essay titled “On the phenomenon of Bullshit Jobs.” It went viral. After millions of online views in many languages, people all over the world are still debating the answer. The idea of doing something in exchange for money, does not hold up anymore as a legit and productive job. Graeber argues that HR consultants, communication coordinators, telemarketing researchers, corporate lawyers, wellness experts, corporate therapists and many such titles —whose jobs are useless, and, tragically, they know it. READ MORE
Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein
The Shock Doctrine retells the story of the most dominant ideology of our time, Milton Friedman's free market economic revolution. Naomi Klein explains in great detail and with mountains of evidence as to what globalisation and free market economics actually stands for. The book examines how war, natural disasters, market crashes, industry collapses and all such shocking events are exploited, controlled and many times created for economic benefit. Klein argues, in a compelling way, that the 'disaster capitalism complex' now exists as a booming new economy, with various leaders, banks, transnational corporations, major brands and business tycoons as it's main benefactors. The book is a must read for anyone trying to comprehend the relationship between the current pandemic, collapsing order and capitalism. DOWNLOAD HERE
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Many of you have already read this timeless allegorical novel by George Orwell. Written in 1945, in the after-shock of WW2, the fable is a satire made of farm animals, inspired from the 1917 Russian revolution. One of the most telling satiric fables, perhaps ever written, Animal Farm is a razor-edged fairy tale for grown-ups and children alike, that records the evolution of a rebellion against tyranny which turns into a morbid totalitarian end. As funny, as simple and downhill! DOWNLOAD HERE
My Secret Book by Fransisco Petrarca
"And men wonder at the heights of the mountains, and the mighty waves of the sea, the depths of oceans and the revolution of the stars and planets, but themselves? they ever consider not..." What Fransisco Petrarca was lamenting upon, placed the seeds of humanism, the questions about our true nature and our fears, prejudices and secrets. Petrarca, was a christian monk and latin scholar who spent a lifetime searching and contemplating the human condition. Written in d'Avignon, circa 1352, the short novel was lost in time, only to resurface in 1934. Fransisco and his imaginary mentor, Saint Augustine, exchange many thoughts and ideas over time, forming the principle narratives throughout the novel. A beautiful little treatise for anyone who believes in the importance of introspection and self-discovery. DOWNLOAD BOOK
The Plague by Albert Camus
Published in 1947, the french existentialist writer tells the story from the point of view of an unknown narrator, of a plague sweeping the colonised Algerian city of Oran. The novel stresses the helplessness of the individual characters to affect their destinies, their collective paranoia, coupled with a gradual downfall of civil society. This timeless existential treatise by Albert Camus is a must read, given the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world right now, severely effecting the human condition. LISTEN TO AUDIOBOOK.
The Great Derangement by Amitav Ghosh
Acclaimed Indian writer argues that politics, much like mass culture and literature, has become a matter of personal moral reckoning rather than an arena of collective action. That there are very few writers committed to climate justice, the ongoing extinction, eminent collapse of industrial civlization and the fate of the living planet. How we are dancing away, drunk on fossil-fuels, upon a big ship of fools. Amitav Ghosh inspires the reader, as to why climate crisis forces us to imagine and try new forms of human existence. READ HERE
Politically Correct 'Bedtime' Stories by James Finn Garner
Remember the 'Once upon a time' tales we read as children? Those tales were not just written for amusement, nor for goodness. There's a not-so-obvious problem with most fairy tales. These stories, many of which found their way into the global social consciousness, reflected the way in which men lived and saw their world: that is, the stories were sexist, discriminatory, culturally biased, racist and in general demeaning - to women, to minorities, to even witches, animals and imaginary characters. James Finn Garner has taken it upon himself to enlighten and liberate these classic bedtime stories. Improvising them in a way that is much more akin to the society in which we live today. This book, and other consequent volumes are an invaluable source of humour, sarcasm coupled with introspection and realisation. DOWNLOAD HERE
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