In The Grip of Necrocapitalism

by George Tsakraklides

In The Grip of Necrocapitalism looks into the human condition through a wide frame of reference which covers not only our accomplishments, but also the tragic failures which have led to the global collapse of industrial civilisation currently taking place. While traditional history and anthropology tend to focus on how we got from point A to point Z, this book will be focusing on how we got from A to Zero, via Z. Because it is precisely our accomplishments which have been our downfall, therefore raising the need for a fresh post-mortem account of events that can attempt to integrate accomplishments and downfalls as part of one, cohesive story which resonates whichever way one may choose to read it: front to back, or back to front. This is the story of how we became victims of, and slaves to, our own ambitions.

Undoubtedly there is a lot of volume to unpack, and the mere exposure of our human failures is only the tip of the iceberg in this rapidly unfolding situation. A book about humans written by a human couldn't possibly remove all human-centric bias, nor can an author living in our current dystopia be fully aware of just how dystopian our civilisation has become. But in order to minimize any subconscious bias, the author doesn't hesitate to question and scrutinize everything we know, or we thought we knew, about our history and role on this planet: from our humble beginnings as a single cell floating in a pool of sludge, to today's tech fascism-dominated digital dystopia.

Beware that after you have read this book, your view of the world may drastically change. Once you've had a good look behind the parapet of the pretty, fake, colorful, consumer entertainment metaverse our current custodians have meticulously curated for us, there is no going back. You have now seen the truth. If you prefer to wait behind the door and enjoy the metaverse, that’s fine. But for those of us seeking closure, answers, maybe even fragments of redemption from our spectacular evolutionary dead end, the ideas in this book may as well provide the vital reckoning with our past which needs to happen first and foremost, before any discussion or action, even if it may already be too late.

Delving deeper while at the same time zooming further out from some of the concepts explored in my previous book, The Unhappiness Machine, In The Grip of Necrocapitalism explores a rapidly evolving situation of capitalism having merged with intelligent technology, and the far-reaching implications of this chimeric monstrosity. Ironically, just as we approach the apex of our technological culmination, things are beginning to take a sharp, karmic turn for the worst: this new and emerging entity, one which has never existed before on this planet, is now doing to us what we did to the planet and its beings a long time ago. It is an increasingly sentient, mutationally adaptable, self-learning form of capitalism which is slowly but steadily becoming our owner by cleverly using consumerism, automation, surveillance and an ever more inventive, not to mention addictive, range of technological narcotics which turn us into nothing but hedonistic consumatrons.

In The Grip of Necrocapitalism makes the macabre observation that we are not heading for a collapse. We are experiencing the symptoms of a collapse which started long ago, and whose effects have been filtering through our complex system for a while. This process consists of the collapse of the fabric which kept the ecology of this planet together, as well as an almost complete collapse of human spiritual consciousness, something which is doubtful whether we ever possessed in the first place.

If you do decide to open this door, please do it with compassion towards yourself. By merely recognizing the existence of the door, you have already come a long way in terms of enlightenment, consciousness, and infinite, expansive, unconditional, true love.

Genres: Nonfiction

203 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2023

About the author

George trained in molecular biology, chemistry, food science and Earth sciences before leaving the science world for a career in data analytics and marketing sciences. He has worked for some of the world’s biggest corporations, where he became an expert in consumer marketing and gained a deep understanding of the inner workings of some of the most profit-driven and exploitative forces in human society.

After two decades in this business, he ultimately realized that his interest had always been in ecology and humanity's broken relationship with nature. He has written fiction, non-fiction and poetry, always around the theme of civilisational collapse and humanity’s inevitable self-destruction. Because of his background and experience, George approaches the topic of human self-destruction using multiple lenses that often draw parallels between fields as diverse as biology, ecology, anthropology, philosophy, cognitive psychology and economics.

Over the years George has appeared on Radio Ecoshock, Regeneration Journal, Naked Capitalism, Activism Is Medicine and many other outlets exploring the environmental and civilisational polycrisis.

George splits his time between the UK, US and Greece and is active on Twitter @99blackbaloons.

Reviews

[Jan Bloxham]

If you have the feeling that consumerism and capitalism is making us deeply unhappy — and leading us to an even worse place — but can’t quite put it into words, George’s eloquent, salient decriptions of the modern world sans any pretenses of politeness might make you go OMG yes!

Reading this book is like having the curtain pulled away to see that the monsters are real. It may offer you the (scant) comfort that no, you are not delusional: the emperor has no clothes and is fucking cannibilising us.

George takes no prisoners as he delivers the grim truth about modern life in the grip of capitalism so completely out-of-control and hellbent on consuming the entire world that it feels like it’s taken on a life of its own: Necrocapitalism. This is the complete opposite of dry, reserved writing: Style and substance combine to make each paragraphs so juicy and dripping with salience it’s almost too much to handle.

Combining life experience and multiple sciences into a coherent, profound understanding of bic-picture reality, George employs his considerable prosaic flair and talent for metaphorical imagery to weave a rich tapestry of our capitalistic civilization and its trajectory toward doom — one that feels horrifyingly prescient.

If you’re a happy consumer who generally believes society will be okay - maybe we have a few problems, but we will overcome them - then this book is not for you. There’s no overlap between your’s and George’s worldview, and you won’t be able to relate at all. Its provocative message will not compute and will just upset you.

But if you do enjoy provocative writing, and if consumerism and your bullshit job makes you sick to your stomach, George’s brutal verdict will be right up your alley.

Ultimately, the book is a call to action to cease the insanity and alter our course towards a sane world. It’s a revolt against the vile, inhumane, destructive structures of modern societies, and a desperate plea for a meaningful existence in harmonious balance with each other and life on earth.

Coz what we got sure as shit ain’t it.

[Yates Buckley]

Not an easy book to criticize from a content point of view because many elements start from real crisis. However the text is designed to sensationalise through arguments that are subject of classic fallacies without a balanced thoughtful approach.

It would be much more interesting to hear historians, futurists and philosophers discuss how serious some of the issues raised here are.

Generally unfortunately not a usedul read.