Society of the Spectacle Audiobook By Guy Debord cover art

Society of the Spectacle

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Society of the Spectacle

By: Guy Debord
Narrated by: Bruce T Harvey
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About this listen

This is the "Das Kapital" of the 20th century - an essential text, and the main theoretical work of the Situationists. Few works of political and cultural theory have been as enduringly provocative. From its publication amid the social upheavals of the 1960s up to the present, the volatile theses of this book have decisively transformed debates on the shape of modernity, capitalism, and everyday life in the 21st century. This is the original translation by Fredy Perlman, kept in print continuously for the last 50 years, keeping the flame of personal and collective autonomy alive.

©1983 Guy DeBord (P)2015 New Saucerian Press
Social Sciences
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Society of the Spectacle

This book was very deep. It requires a good amount of prior knowledge of communism and thinkers such as Marx. Overall, it was a fantastic book, even though some of it was over my head. Very interesting and insightful.

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8 people found this helpful

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Classic

This is a perfect short read for lovers of socialism, postmodernism, and critical theory. However if you are new to these topic I would suggest starting with a different book. Guy Debord is great for those seeking to understand the role of spectacle in the political economy of modern post war capitalism

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2 people found this helpful

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Brilliant

Great book, and even more relevant today. We've gone from being to having to appearing. For instance, we are not content to be in a loving relationship, we need to physically pocess the engagement ring for it to matter. And now, within a spectacular society, we need to appear to others to be in a loving relationship (like in social media posts). This isn't a great example, but I hope it gets this broader message across a little.

It's not a thrilling book, but it's a very thought provoking book and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in societal dynamics.

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10 people found this helpful

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Bad choice for listening

Is this a bad book for the audio format? Is the narrator just flat and too fast? both? Good book in any case of course, but this was not the right way to consume it.

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Take it easy

As of 2022 this is a great book for those already awakened or in the process of it.
Know your enemy!


It's loaded with philosophical content, so take it easy and review it as many times as you need.

You have to have a very objective and pragmatic mindset and put aside all preconceptions in order to follow.

This book won't make you happy, but it will help you understand the ideology and strategies of those that have been controlling humanity.

Don't read this book with a left/right mentality, those are just preconceived lenses they want us to see reality through.

I hope this will help understand that those in power just fabricate and use those concepts for control but they are neither both or none. They are they, just they didn't gave us lenses to see them or words to be spoken about them.

#wakeup

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Revolutionary Poetry

Well read. His use of Foyerbach is probably better from Foyerbach. Debord's thought is extremely contradictory, intentionally. But, because he leans into contradiction of the capitalist order in order to overcome it, his work as a kind of argument is not strong. This is not a work of proof. That's why I'd suggest this as more of a work of revolutionary poetry. Its exciting and inspirational but it doesn't bolster a strong argument against his boogie man which he posits is antagonistic.

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difficult to listen to

you shouldn't let people narrate things they don't understand. this is a hastily-read performance full of cadence errors, omissions, and other errors. unworthy of the text and shameful.

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7 people found this helpful

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Worth the read for all modern socialists

Very good and short read. Hits all major communist points for organizing. This theory can be done well with praxis

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optional?

Interesting subject matter poorly narrated. A real struggle to finish but intrigue pushed me forward.

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Not the best version

The more recent Knabb translation is easier to read and follow; this one can be difficult, in an already difficult book, especially in an audio format.

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