A review by emphour
Technological Slavery by Theodore John Kaczynski

dark hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

“If enough people could be made to believe that revolution were possible, then it would be possible.” 

 

—Theodore Kaczynski, Technological Slavery, Vol. 1 (2022), p. 205.

 

Technological Slavery is not a book about smartphones, social media or screen addiction. Unconcerned with these petty issues, the author instead deals with the biggest danger the world is facing right now: The technological system itself. 

 

Reading Technological Slavery will inadvertently radicalize the reader. Kaczynski really hammers his most important points down: Reform is not possible—Revolution is the only way out. Either the technological system exists, and continues to wreak havoc on the natural world and place limitations on human autonomy, or it does not, there is no in between. The continuing of the technological system will leave no freedom for anyone and will probably destroy the Earth.

 

Since the dawn of man, he has been a hunter-gatherer for 99% of the time. This is the way of life he is adapted to. Daily life in modern society is radically different, which causes a lot of problems for the modern individual. Not only physical, but most importantly psychological. Many of these psychological issues are not entirely unique to humans, but are also exhibited in caged animals. Some people claim that diagnosis of mental illness is simply getting more accurate as the field of clinical psychology progresses, or that “Big Pharma” just wants to sell more drugs, but the rising suicide rate disproves this. 

 

Technology is the framework that defines how people live. Modern technology primarily decides what humans are allowed to do and what they are not allowed to do. Societies are shaped above all by the available technology. The political system is less meaningful for the daily life of the average citizen. Governments can make many laws, but what is relevant is how they can be enforced. Past societies are often seen as very restrictive, but these laws were not as effective as one would think, because the available technology was not appropriate to thoroughly and completely enforce them. There is a much bigger difference between a technologically advanced country and a much less technologically advanced country than there is between a society under one system of government than another. 

 

The book contains the famous manifesto “Industrial Society and Its Future” (ISAIF) with expanded notes, and extracts from letters to various individuals, with the largest bulk being written to Dr. David Skrbina. Also included is the essay “The System’s Neatest Trick” which is well worth reading, and eight appendices for supporting arguments made in the texts. The latter are more than little accessories, they make strong points in themselves. Especially worth noting is the appendix dealing with the success of democracy around the world, which offers a completely new perspective on the dominant political system of today. A significant portion of the book contains practical advice for revolutionaries. Topics range from spreading of the revolutionary message to motivation of the rank-and-file of the revolutionary organization itself. 

 

A common counter-argument to Kaczynski is the claim that the main problem was started by, and is rooted in, agriculture. However, the author sees no way to stop people from farming. He only deals with things that can be implemented in practice. This is an essential point in the book. A revolution against the technological system can actually be carried out. Those who want to wait for a spiritual enlightenment of humanity or a "return to God" have no possibilities for action. He does not set up an ideal picture of society, because there is no way to execute the plan of an ideal society. 

 

Nuclear weapons only bring death and destruction. Virtually everyone agrees that the world would be better off without them. Yet the problem does not seem to ever get solved. Quite the contrary: More and more nations around the world get access to them. If such an easy target for reform cannot be reached, how are complex problems, like the climate crisis, ever to be solved? Reform is clearly not working. Kaczynski argues that it is not even, nor ever was, possible.

 

Even if the system could succeed in solving every psychological problem, all the environmental issues, and every other problem, the individual human would be reduced to the status of a pet. 

 

This book starts from the ground up and carries the reader to the only possible solution. I highly recommend it to everyone, who is not afraid of having his worldview changed.