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Raise Your Soul: A Personal History of Resistance from the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author
Brought to you by Penguin.
A captivating portrait of number-one bestselling author Yanis Varoufakis’s political awakening, told through the extraordinary lives of five women, and the West’s tumultuous history from 1924 to the present.
Eleni put an arm around him and ‘Come, come, life is ahead of us. Raise your soul now. We have much to do.’
When Yanis Varoufakis was eight years old, his uncle made him a model airplane out of matchsticks and cigarette papers; all he could find in his cell. Yet, to his dismay, his mother Eleni broke open the fragile gift, revealing a hidden instructions for fellow dissidents ahead of their forthcoming court martial. It was 1969 and Uncle Panayis was a political prisoner, captured and tortured for resisting the military dictatorship.
Dramatic in scope and deep in feeling, Raise Your Soul is an intimate portrait of three generations caught up in the whirlwind of history. It is also a remarkable narrative spanning one hundred years, beginning in post-colonial Egypt in the 1920s, and then tracing Greece’s tumultuous century through Nazi occupation, communist resistance, civil war, Cold War fracture, fascist dictatorship, socialist revival and present-day economic crisis.
At its heart are the women whose resilience, defiance and courage inspired the visionary economist Eleni, Anna, Trisevgeni, Georgia and Danaë. Through their lives, Varoufakis not only lays bare his own political soul, but confronts the dark forces of authoritarianism that still haunt Europe and beyond, reigniting hope in all of us that we can rise once more.
© Yanis Varoufakis 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025
A captivating portrait of number-one bestselling author Yanis Varoufakis’s political awakening, told through the extraordinary lives of five women, and the West’s tumultuous history from 1924 to the present.
Eleni put an arm around him and ‘Come, come, life is ahead of us. Raise your soul now. We have much to do.’
When Yanis Varoufakis was eight years old, his uncle made him a model airplane out of matchsticks and cigarette papers; all he could find in his cell. Yet, to his dismay, his mother Eleni broke open the fragile gift, revealing a hidden instructions for fellow dissidents ahead of their forthcoming court martial. It was 1969 and Uncle Panayis was a political prisoner, captured and tortured for resisting the military dictatorship.
Dramatic in scope and deep in feeling, Raise Your Soul is an intimate portrait of three generations caught up in the whirlwind of history. It is also a remarkable narrative spanning one hundred years, beginning in post-colonial Egypt in the 1920s, and then tracing Greece’s tumultuous century through Nazi occupation, communist resistance, civil war, Cold War fracture, fascist dictatorship, socialist revival and present-day economic crisis.
At its heart are the women whose resilience, defiance and courage inspired the visionary economist Eleni, Anna, Trisevgeni, Georgia and Danaë. Through their lives, Varoufakis not only lays bare his own political soul, but confronts the dark forces of authoritarianism that still haunt Europe and beyond, reigniting hope in all of us that we can rise once more.
© Yanis Varoufakis 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025
Audible Audio
First published October 2, 2025
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About the author
Yanis Varoufakis
61 books2,604 followersIoannis "Yanis" Varoufakis is a Greek-Australian economist and politician. A former academic, he has been Secretary-General of the Democracy in Europe Movement 2025 (DiEM25), a left-wing pan-European political party he co-founded in 2016. A former member of Syriza, he served as Minister of Finance from January to July 2015 under Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 14, 2026
Real-world Storytelling…
Preamble:
--I’m no fiction connoisseur, so what would I know about storytelling?
--Well, let me challenge fiction readers to name an author who can:
i) Bring “Economics” to life by weaving together stories.
…and accomplish this without neglecting:
ii) Critical thinking for critical issues:
--Yes, there has been a wave of talented storytelling popularizing nonfiction, notably Malcolm Gladwell (Outliers: The Story of Success, 2008), Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (2005) and Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind (2011).
…However, as Gladwell said in an interview:salesperson con artist peddling cheap tricks. You’ll certainly avoid the most urgent issues that directly challenge power; you cannot risk censorship (or worse) disrupting your business!
iii) The big picture:
--Science writer Ben Goldacre is my go-to for popularizing systematic research methodologies to rigorously check our heuristics (mental shortcuts), which are riddled with biases and prone to manipulation by charismatic cherry-pickers like Gladwell (and worse):
…The above criteria are why I'm always recommending Varoufakis’ Talking to My Daughter About the Economy: or, How Capitalism Works—and How It Fails (2013).
…Now, in this 2025 book, Varoufakis crafts a “fictionalized history” of his familial influences…
Highlights:
--With Varoufakis’ prior books, the main gap has been his positionality as a male academic/activist politician centered in the Global North (esp. Europe, along with US/Australia). This book provides an innovative re-positioning, to emphasize crucial tools in our age of renewed fascism…
1) Feminist Role Models:
--Combining “the personal is political” andhistory “herstory”, this book brings to life the author’s female role models spanning 3 generations, particularly the interconnections between their personal relationships and wider social issues. How did they navigate around both personal and societal obstacles?
--One key societal context is Greece’s struggles with military dictatorships, including US meddling to crush leftist alternatives globally (Washington Bullets: A History of the CIA, Coups, and Assassinations).
--Through an industrialist male relative, we witness how status quo power rewards men with sufficient class background/ambition/ability, and how such men (as status quo centrists) in turn can condone authoritarianism (from both the status quo, and the vulgar reactionary margins) during economic booms. We see their narrow vision of industrialized civilization vs. poverty/barbarism, their convenient rationalization (assuming the road to hell is paved with good intentions) against redistributive alternatives, etc.
…And during economic busts, when centrist power/illusions collapse, such privileged men are often left with narrowed options:
a) Join in the rising reactionary scapegoating: dispirited/cowardly men find belonging/their mythical status revived.
b) Violent protest lacking deeper organizing; we can contrast this with feminist experiences with soft-power organizing (see below).
--I’m also reminded of: The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love
2) Anti-Colonial Feminist Organizing:
--While Varoufakis is staunch with international solidarity, the main missing component in his prior books is their Global North positionality (although Greece is the “South” of Europe), offering only one-liners like: “As for Africa and Latin America, the weak there suffered losses that only the great novelists can begin to recount.” (And the Weak Suffer What They Must? Europe's Crisis and America's Economic Future).
--So, I was delighted that one of the featured female role models (which the author admits was the most difficult to write) is a feminist in Egypt.
--Societal context:
i) Egypt’s domestic-led industrialization/reforms, including 1832’s world-renowned women’s medical school (School for hakımāt):
iii) Egypt’s regression continued with domestic tax rises/austerity. Social protest erupted, with British colonialism swooping in to occupy Egypt in 1882.
iv) During the greatest global capitalist crash (Great Depression 1929-1939), British colonialism escalated their authoritarianism over Egypt to protect British assets (loans/Suez Canal/investments in cotton).
v) From the Great Depression rose fascism (we’ve already mentioned the prevalence of reactionary scapegoating during economic crises; we should add fascism’s roots in colonial practices: Discourse on Colonialism). Western capitalism, in crisis from the Depression, tried to use fascism to crush leftist alternatives (Blackshirts and Reds: Rational Fascism and the Overthrow of Communism)…until fascist expansionism got out of control.
vi) The Egyptian Feminist Union (organizing underground during British colonialism) led anti-fascist organizing in their community networks: factories, poor neighborhoods, health network, mosques, churches, publishing, etc. This deserves its own case study. (On organizing: Raising Expectations (and Raising Hell); My Decade Fighting for the Labor Movement)
…In one dialogue, the feminist argues against her male partner’s insistence on the constant need for immigrants (being rootless) to act as chameleons:
Preamble:
--I’m no fiction connoisseur, so what would I know about storytelling?
--Well, let me challenge fiction readers to name an author who can:
i) Bring “Economics” to life by weaving together stories.
…and accomplish this without neglecting:
ii) Critical thinking for critical issues:
--Yes, there has been a wave of talented storytelling popularizing nonfiction, notably Malcolm Gladwell (Outliers: The Story of Success, 2008), Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (2005) and Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind (2011).
…However, as Gladwell said in an interview:
I'm in the storytelling business […] And if you come up through a newspaper as I did, your whole goal is to get a story on the front page […]…with this approach, you risk devolving into a
iii) The big picture:
--Science writer Ben Goldacre is my go-to for popularizing systematic research methodologies to rigorously check our heuristics (mental shortcuts), which are riddled with biases and prone to manipulation by charismatic cherry-pickers like Gladwell (and worse):
This [personal] story always makes me cry a little bit. Two million people die of Aids every year. It never has the same effect.--Even renowned novelist Amitav Ghosh describes how difficult it is to write novels (which center individuals) that can also bring systemic structures to life: The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable
[“Empathy’s Failures” in I Think You'll Find It's a Bit More Complicated Than That]
…The above criteria are why I'm always recommending Varoufakis’ Talking to My Daughter About the Economy: or, How Capitalism Works—and How It Fails (2013).
…Now, in this 2025 book, Varoufakis crafts a “fictionalized history” of his familial influences…
Highlights:
--With Varoufakis’ prior books, the main gap has been his positionality as a male academic/activist politician centered in the Global North (esp. Europe, along with US/Australia). This book provides an innovative re-positioning, to emphasize crucial tools in our age of renewed fascism…
1) Feminist Role Models:
--Combining “the personal is political” and
--One key societal context is Greece’s struggles with military dictatorships, including US meddling to crush leftist alternatives globally (Washington Bullets: A History of the CIA, Coups, and Assassinations).
--Through an industrialist male relative, we witness how status quo power rewards men with sufficient class background/ambition/ability, and how such men (as status quo centrists) in turn can condone authoritarianism (from both the status quo, and the vulgar reactionary margins) during economic booms. We see their narrow vision of industrialized civilization vs. poverty/barbarism, their convenient rationalization (assuming the road to hell is paved with good intentions) against redistributive alternatives, etc.
…And during economic busts, when centrist power/illusions collapse, such privileged men are often left with narrowed options:
a) Join in the rising reactionary scapegoating: dispirited/cowardly men find belonging/their mythical status revived.
b) Violent protest lacking deeper organizing; we can contrast this with feminist experiences with soft-power organizing (see below).
--I’m also reminded of: The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love
2) Anti-Colonial Feminist Organizing:
--While Varoufakis is staunch with international solidarity, the main missing component in his prior books is their Global North positionality (although Greece is the “South” of Europe), offering only one-liners like: “As for Africa and Latin America, the weak there suffered losses that only the great novelists can begin to recount.” (And the Weak Suffer What They Must? Europe's Crisis and America's Economic Future).
--So, I was delighted that one of the featured female role models (which the author admits was the most difficult to write) is a feminist in Egypt.
--Societal context:
i) Egypt’s domestic-led industrialization/reforms, including 1832’s world-renowned women’s medical school (School for hakımāt):
Before long, doctoresses, or hakimas, began graduating from a school that would have been unthinkable in Paris or London, let alone post-independence Athens. The school resonated with French and other European proto-feminists, who began descending upon Cairo in the mid-1830s to study medicine and social care. And it was not just a flash in the pan. The progression of women continued, in parallel to further economic development, during the reign of Muhammad Ali’s grandson Ismail Pasha, who ruled from 1863 to 1879.ii) Britain became threatened by the Suez Canal; Egypt’s continued industrialization became tied up in loans from British banking. When the global capitalist economy crashed (1873-79), British banking demanded higher interest/immediate repayment, forcing Egypt to sell their share of the Suez Canal. (Debt imperialism is something Varoufakis directly confronted in Greece: Adults in the Room: My Battle with Europe's Deep Establishment).
iii) Egypt’s regression continued with domestic tax rises/austerity. Social protest erupted, with British colonialism swooping in to occupy Egypt in 1882.
iv) During the greatest global capitalist crash (Great Depression 1929-1939), British colonialism escalated their authoritarianism over Egypt to protect British assets (loans/Suez Canal/investments in cotton).
v) From the Great Depression rose fascism (we’ve already mentioned the prevalence of reactionary scapegoating during economic crises; we should add fascism’s roots in colonial practices: Discourse on Colonialism). Western capitalism, in crisis from the Depression, tried to use fascism to crush leftist alternatives (Blackshirts and Reds: Rational Fascism and the Overthrow of Communism)…until fascist expansionism got out of control.
vi) The Egyptian Feminist Union (organizing underground during British colonialism) led anti-fascist organizing in their community networks: factories, poor neighborhoods, health network, mosques, churches, publishing, etc. This deserves its own case study. (On organizing: Raising Expectations (and Raising Hell); My Decade Fighting for the Labor Movement)
…In one dialogue, the feminist argues against her male partner’s insistence on the constant need for immigrants (being rootless) to act as chameleons:
There is a time and a place to resemble chameleons, Yango. But there is also a time and a place to take a stand. When you actually see the fascists, they will be breaking down our door. At that point, you won’t be able to blend in – unless you join them. But, then, you will be a jackal not a chameleon.
October 16, 2025
Varoufakis is one of the great intellectuals of our time, and even if it may appear strange for a man to tell the stories of 5 women, he succeeds in narrating the Greek diaspora and ethnic cleansing in the Balkans from a personal perspective. Albeit, I don't rate it with 5 stars as somehow an essay with a novel format is intertwined and there is no clarity on when events occur, mixing intellectual thinking with fictionalised history. Reassembling Lea Ypi's books as fellow Balkans, there is no clarity in the sequence of events and genre of book he wants to achieve, whereas Ypi makes a more appealing and easier lecture to the broader public. Nevertheless, it is always necessary to read Varoufakis in these political dark times to inspire hope and learn from our past as Europeans.
February 16, 2026
PAPERBACK EDITION!
2.5 Stars!
This is a strange and confusing book, in that it front loads with the dullest most uninteresting parts and then gets better and better in the closing third, finishing on quite a spirited, optimistic and encouraging note.
I’m a big fan of Varoufakis, but I think it’s safe to say that this isn’t one of his better books and reeks of contractual obligation. I have no doubt this would be of interest to his own family, but beyond that it holds very little interest.
It's only as we enter the last hundred pages or so that this actually starts to get interesting, but overall I found too much of this just too dull and inconsistent and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone other than hardcore Varoufakis fans.
December 24, 2025
I’m being generous giving this a 5, but hey - it’s Christmas, I read the bulk of this book in one sitting on a flight to Hong Kong, and I really enjoyed it.
Sure, the style can be a bit simplistic (and I’m not a huge fan of the personal memoir-type format anyway) - but the stories Yanis Varoufakis tells in ‘Raise Your Soul’ are remarkable. I should preface by saying that I’ve not read other books by Varoufakis (though, like many readers, I’m familiar with his work and I was attracted to this book by the name) - but I gather this one is quite different from his others. In simplistic terms, Varoufakis uses this book to tell the stories of five women in his life - both grandmothers; his mother; his ex-grandmother-in-law (if that’s even a thing?); and his partner. Yet ‘Raise Your Soul’ is so much more than that. From Egypt to Athens, the Greek Civil War to the Financial Crisis, Varoufakis’ family were at the frontline of some tortured periods in Greece’s history - and this book offers a fascinating speed run through that same history using the eyes of the people who lived it. I thought Varoufakis’ idea of trying to re-centre women who had been disenfranchised throughout their lives was a nice one - but this book gets home on the quality of those stories alone.
Part memoir, part history, this book is enjoyable, emotional, and has a readability that belies the force of its content.
Sure, the style can be a bit simplistic (and I’m not a huge fan of the personal memoir-type format anyway) - but the stories Yanis Varoufakis tells in ‘Raise Your Soul’ are remarkable. I should preface by saying that I’ve not read other books by Varoufakis (though, like many readers, I’m familiar with his work and I was attracted to this book by the name) - but I gather this one is quite different from his others. In simplistic terms, Varoufakis uses this book to tell the stories of five women in his life - both grandmothers; his mother; his ex-grandmother-in-law (if that’s even a thing?); and his partner. Yet ‘Raise Your Soul’ is so much more than that. From Egypt to Athens, the Greek Civil War to the Financial Crisis, Varoufakis’ family were at the frontline of some tortured periods in Greece’s history - and this book offers a fascinating speed run through that same history using the eyes of the people who lived it. I thought Varoufakis’ idea of trying to re-centre women who had been disenfranchised throughout their lives was a nice one - but this book gets home on the quality of those stories alone.
Part memoir, part history, this book is enjoyable, emotional, and has a readability that belies the force of its content.
December 5, 2025
At a time where it’s proving difficult to raise my soul and where I’ve been feeling my ignorance on resistance and fascism in the 20th century, this was a perfect read. Varoufakis traces his family’s history w commentary on human psychology of cruelty and susceptibility to authoritarian leaders - while acknowledging straight out the reservations he has about writing about the truly incredible lives of five women in his family as a man. Felt like talking with a friend and was a great read during my Europe trip
December 13, 2025
TLDR:
• Raise your Soul traces Varoufakis's political defiance not through economic theory, but through the multigenerational struggles of five women in his family.
• The necessity of resistance, moral endurance, and political integrity against fascism, authoritarianism, and apathy in 20th-century Greece.
• Varoufakis masterfully combines the precision of a historian with the emotional depth of a storyteller, making complex geopolitical events intimately felt.
• The prose is captivating and cinematic; the author's voice narration for the audiobook adds an urgent, authentic weight to the historical account.
• The book serves as a moving testament to how family legacy and personal fortitude form the human and emotional bedrock of sustained political struggle.
I am a big fan of Varoufakis, he is vocal and consistently present on podcasts, interviews and online media that I follow. I have not been disappointed yet, reading any of his works, and this one is no different. This book stands apart from his previous works, offering not an economist’s dissection of crisis, but a deeply intimate, multigenerational portrait that serves as a moving testament to the personal cost and triumph of political conviction. The title itself, a direct quote from his mother, Eleni, encapsulates the book’s mission: to find the emotional fortitude needed to confront dark times. It is a captivating journey through a turbulent century, beginning in the 1920s, that ultimately reveals the human foundation of Varoufakis’s own defiant political soul.
Resistance, Endurance, and Family Legacy
The book’s main themes are centered on the necessity of resistance and endurance against the forces of tyranny and apathy. Varoufakis explores these ideas by brilliantly structuring the narrative around the lives of five women, his mother, Eleni; his grandmothers, Anna and Trisevgeni; a family friend, Georgia; and his partner, Danaë; whose individual struggles against patriarchy, dictatorship, and economic hardship become a counter-history of postwar Greece. The intellectual exploration here is not economic, but moral: how do ordinary people retain their humanity and political integrity when caught in the whirlwind of civil war, Nazi occupation, and Cold War fracture? This narrative structure ensures that the political and economic ideologies Varoufakis usually discusses are felt through human tragedy and resilience, making the book’s arguments for anti-authoritarianism intensely personal and universal.
Captivating Narrative and Distinctive Voice
What makes this book such a compelling read is the author’s writing style and narrative structure. By utilizing the lives of the women in his family as anchors, Varoufakis crafts a novelistic sweep that feels both cinematic and deeply informative. His prose manages to combine a historian’s meticulous grasp of events with a storyteller’s understanding of the human condition, resulting in a text that is immediately captivating. Even when the subject matter is weighty, his voice, particularly in the audiobook narration, is distinctive and powerful, carrying the weight of his personal commitment while maintaining a lucid, engaging rhythm. The natural gravity and intellectual clarity he brings to his public speaking translate perfectly into the reading experience, elevating the memoir with a sense of urgent, lived history.
Life of Greek Expats in Egypt
As an Egyptian reader, the early sections of Raise your Soul, detailing the life of the expat Greek community in post-colonial Egypt in the 1920s, provided a strong and surprising sense of connection to the story. Varoufakis’s paternal grandmother, Anna, is a particularly vibrant figure, described as a Cairo socialite who became a feminist radical. Her involvement in local underground movements and her connection to the wider Egyptian community, culminating in her 1951 funeral being attended by thousands of Egyptian women, is a powerful acknowledgment of the shared, cosmopolitan history of that era. This commentary on the cross-cultural life of expat Greeks, living and organizing within Egyptian society rather than apart from it, brought the historical backdrop of my own country into the narrative, making the subsequent family history of resistance feel like a part of a larger, collective struggle against colonialism and oppression.
In conclusion, Raise your Soul is not simply a biography of Varoufakis’s family; it is a profound political statement framed as a heartfelt homage to the women who shaped his worldview. By stepping back from the immediacy of his career as Finance Minister and grounding his political philosophy in his family’s sacrifices, he offers a book that is both an enduring personal memoir and a vital manual for resistance, reigniting hope that we can indeed rise above the forces that seek to divide and diminish us.
Synergistic Links and Further Reading
• Technofeudalism: This is a deeply interesting book that showcases Yanis at his most creative, arguing that capitalism has been replaced by a new, more extractive system dominated by cloud-based feudal lords (Amazon, Google, Meta). The book brilliantly coins new terms and frames to explain the transformation of money, markets, and power in the digital age.
• Talking to my Daughter about the Economy: In this highly accessible work, Yanis really simplifies the economic principles behind capitalism, specifically clarifying basic terms like exchange value and profit for a general audience. He also offers a brief yet insightful understanding of anticapitalism from a Marxist perspective, making complex concepts easy to grasp for non-economists.
• WHAT POLITICS TAUGHT ME (Video Link)This podcast series, hosted by Raoul Martinez, features Yanis discussing his perspectives on many issues, with many episodes featuring prominent leftist figures.
• Raise your Soul traces Varoufakis's political defiance not through economic theory, but through the multigenerational struggles of five women in his family.
• The necessity of resistance, moral endurance, and political integrity against fascism, authoritarianism, and apathy in 20th-century Greece.
• Varoufakis masterfully combines the precision of a historian with the emotional depth of a storyteller, making complex geopolitical events intimately felt.
• The prose is captivating and cinematic; the author's voice narration for the audiobook adds an urgent, authentic weight to the historical account.
• The book serves as a moving testament to how family legacy and personal fortitude form the human and emotional bedrock of sustained political struggle.
I am a big fan of Varoufakis, he is vocal and consistently present on podcasts, interviews and online media that I follow. I have not been disappointed yet, reading any of his works, and this one is no different. This book stands apart from his previous works, offering not an economist’s dissection of crisis, but a deeply intimate, multigenerational portrait that serves as a moving testament to the personal cost and triumph of political conviction. The title itself, a direct quote from his mother, Eleni, encapsulates the book’s mission: to find the emotional fortitude needed to confront dark times. It is a captivating journey through a turbulent century, beginning in the 1920s, that ultimately reveals the human foundation of Varoufakis’s own defiant political soul.
Resistance, Endurance, and Family Legacy
The book’s main themes are centered on the necessity of resistance and endurance against the forces of tyranny and apathy. Varoufakis explores these ideas by brilliantly structuring the narrative around the lives of five women, his mother, Eleni; his grandmothers, Anna and Trisevgeni; a family friend, Georgia; and his partner, Danaë; whose individual struggles against patriarchy, dictatorship, and economic hardship become a counter-history of postwar Greece. The intellectual exploration here is not economic, but moral: how do ordinary people retain their humanity and political integrity when caught in the whirlwind of civil war, Nazi occupation, and Cold War fracture? This narrative structure ensures that the political and economic ideologies Varoufakis usually discusses are felt through human tragedy and resilience, making the book’s arguments for anti-authoritarianism intensely personal and universal.
Captivating Narrative and Distinctive Voice
What makes this book such a compelling read is the author’s writing style and narrative structure. By utilizing the lives of the women in his family as anchors, Varoufakis crafts a novelistic sweep that feels both cinematic and deeply informative. His prose manages to combine a historian’s meticulous grasp of events with a storyteller’s understanding of the human condition, resulting in a text that is immediately captivating. Even when the subject matter is weighty, his voice, particularly in the audiobook narration, is distinctive and powerful, carrying the weight of his personal commitment while maintaining a lucid, engaging rhythm. The natural gravity and intellectual clarity he brings to his public speaking translate perfectly into the reading experience, elevating the memoir with a sense of urgent, lived history.
Life of Greek Expats in Egypt
As an Egyptian reader, the early sections of Raise your Soul, detailing the life of the expat Greek community in post-colonial Egypt in the 1920s, provided a strong and surprising sense of connection to the story. Varoufakis’s paternal grandmother, Anna, is a particularly vibrant figure, described as a Cairo socialite who became a feminist radical. Her involvement in local underground movements and her connection to the wider Egyptian community, culminating in her 1951 funeral being attended by thousands of Egyptian women, is a powerful acknowledgment of the shared, cosmopolitan history of that era. This commentary on the cross-cultural life of expat Greeks, living and organizing within Egyptian society rather than apart from it, brought the historical backdrop of my own country into the narrative, making the subsequent family history of resistance feel like a part of a larger, collective struggle against colonialism and oppression.
In conclusion, Raise your Soul is not simply a biography of Varoufakis’s family; it is a profound political statement framed as a heartfelt homage to the women who shaped his worldview. By stepping back from the immediacy of his career as Finance Minister and grounding his political philosophy in his family’s sacrifices, he offers a book that is both an enduring personal memoir and a vital manual for resistance, reigniting hope that we can indeed rise above the forces that seek to divide and diminish us.
Synergistic Links and Further Reading
• Technofeudalism: This is a deeply interesting book that showcases Yanis at his most creative, arguing that capitalism has been replaced by a new, more extractive system dominated by cloud-based feudal lords (Amazon, Google, Meta). The book brilliantly coins new terms and frames to explain the transformation of money, markets, and power in the digital age.
• Talking to my Daughter about the Economy: In this highly accessible work, Yanis really simplifies the economic principles behind capitalism, specifically clarifying basic terms like exchange value and profit for a general audience. He also offers a brief yet insightful understanding of anticapitalism from a Marxist perspective, making complex concepts easy to grasp for non-economists.
• WHAT POLITICS TAUGHT ME (Video Link)This podcast series, hosted by Raoul Martinez, features Yanis discussing his perspectives on many issues, with many episodes featuring prominent leftist figures.
February 12, 2026
Incredible stories of resistance, ones that would be forgotten if this book hadn’t been written! I don’t feel particularly drawn to a book written by a man about female resistance, and while it was simplistic, I can recognise the benefit of this book having been written.
March 15, 2026
A very interesting feminist story that shows a microcosm of Greek history, politics, resistance, and identity through the lives of the women that made the author.
September 29, 2025
Raise Your Soul is an engaging family history. It is clear Varoufakis' political beliefs have been shaped by the inspirational women in his family, and here he pays tribute to their courage, defiance and resilience. Their stories offer a unique insight into the turbulent politics of twentieth-century Greece.
At times I found the structure a little confusing: some dates would have been useful to help navigate all the leaps in time and characters' perspective, and the narrative meanders off course a little too often.
A fascinating, feminist insight into Greek history and into Varoufakis' own political awakening.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
At times I found the structure a little confusing: some dates would have been useful to help navigate all the leaps in time and characters' perspective, and the narrative meanders off course a little too often.
A fascinating, feminist insight into Greek history and into Varoufakis' own political awakening.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
March 12, 2026
Најновата книга Raise Your Soul од Јанис Варуфакис е брилијантно напишана лична и семејна историја прикажана преку животите на петте клучни жени кои го обликувале како личност, политичар и феминист. Низ историски распон од стотина години, Варуфакис ги пренесува приказните на неговата мајка Елени, неговата баба по татко Ана, баба му по мајка Трисевегени, мајката на неговата прва сопруга Џорџа и неговата сегашна сопруга Данај.
Испреплетени во неверојатни историски случувања и пресврти, различна класна и географска припадност, различен образовен и социјален статус, сите овие жени имаат една заедничка нишка која ја носат – стремежот кон својата лична и колективна слобода и отпорот кон неправдата и угнетувањето како животни принципи.
Од петте дивергентно различни животни истории, мене најинтересна ми беше приказната за Ана, Гркинка од Каиро, припадничка на Египетскиот феминистички сојуз, која цел живот работела активно заедно со Египјанките и жените од пониските слоеви за просперитет на жените и против колонијализмот и класата на која и самата и припаѓала. Разбираме дека феминизмот изворно постоел меѓу муслиманските жени уште во почетокот на 20-от век, дури во Каиро постоел и медицински факултет за жени многу пред „цивилизираниот“ Запад воопшто ѝ да им дозволи пристап на универзитетите. Ова Варуфакис го одбележува како дел од огромното незнаење, незаинтересираност и потценување што секој поробувач го има кон поробениот. Како контраст на ова во понатамошните приказни дознаваме дека до 1984 год. жените во Грција немале законско право на наследство. За мене како читателка ова беше само предупредување дека законските права кои жените во Македонија и во социјалистичка Југославија ги избориле уште во 1945 г. не треба да се потценуваат, туку да се вреднуваат како огромна историска придобивка.
Преку приказните на Ана и Елени, посредно е раскажан и животот и страдањата на синот на Ана - Јорго, а сопругот на Елени и татко на Јанис, во времето на граѓанската војна во Грција 1948-1949 и потоа фашистичкиот режим до крајот на 1970-те.
Другата баба на Јанис, пак, Трисевегени била неписмена жена, со потекло од рурален Пелопонез, која во себе носела длабока мудрост, храброст и здрав разум кои ѝ овозможиле да се соочи со сите животни предизвици и да се издигне над патријархатот.
Книгата изобилува со историски факти, личности и настани кои дури и ако од претходно не му се познати на читателот, се маестрално инкорпорирани во личните приказни. На крајот сфаќаш дека си ја проследил целата историја на 20-от век без да земеш здив.
За мене беше фасцинантно и тоа што ми се отвори една сосема нова слика за Грција, земјата за чија понова историја знам релативно малку, иако цел живот ја посетувам. Моите импресии за Грција се од поново време, по нешто знам и за граѓанската војна, но преку призмата на страдањето и егзодусот на Македонците од северна Грција. Секогаш ми стоело како слика некаде во меморијата дека пред крајот на 1970-те никој не одеше во Грција затоа што беше фашистичка земја, дека кога се отвори беше многу сиромашна и во тогашна Југославија важеше како синоним за должник, па во нашиот јазик постоеше изрека „должен како Грчка“. Повеќе од тоа ниту сме учеле, ниту пак јас потоа некако сум се заинтересирала за темата. Книгава ми отвори цел еден нов поглед на грчката историја, политичките и идеолошки превирања, теророт и страдањата преживеани за време на фашизмот кои секако имаат ефект и врз денешниве случувања.
Покрај феминистичкиот аспект, кој е основа и главната порака, книгата има многу нијанси кои се актуелни во денешниов временски контекст. Тука се препознавањето и отпорот против колонијализмот и фашизмот секако, но и, за мене еднакво важна порака, дека луѓето во светот и особено на Балканот, со сите свои обичаи, култура, етнос, вера, род и сѐ она што го носат како личен идентитет се бескрајно измешани, испреплетени, различни, многуслојни, многу-идентитетс��и, што секое делење и ограничување е залудна работа и им служи само на владеачките елити, за кои всушност единствена важна поделба е класната.
Илустративен е моментот кога во мигот пред да умре Трисевгени бара да ја однесат во нејзиното родно село на Пелопонез. И кога Јанис за да потврди ја прашува „Рододафни?“, таа му одговара „Не, селото се вика Србице“. Истражувајќи по нејзината смрт, Варуфакис наоѓа дека селото, како и многу села во тој дел од Пелопонез биле население со словенско население, селото на Трисевгени веројатно со Срби и затоа така и се викало. Во 1900-та тогашната власт им ги сменила имињата на селата, па од Србице станало Рододафни што останало скриено во официјалната историја до ден денес.
Вакви кроки-сцени има многу во приказните, кои се крајно емотивни, човечни и навлегуваат длабоко во суштината и комплексноста на човечкото битие кое битисува во крајно сложена, манипулативна, променлива и неправедна историско-политичка стварност.
Има уште многу да се каже за книгата, имам и две-три критички забелешки – но ќе биде премногу долго, а и не е важно во вкупниот контекст и доживување на раскажаното.
Во секој случај – книга која треба да се преведе на македонски јазик и треба да ја прочитаат и феминист(к)ите и оние што тоа не се. Сигурна сум дека ќе ви отвори многу прашања и теми за размислување.
Испреплетени во неверојатни историски случувања и пресврти, различна класна и географска припадност, различен образовен и социјален статус, сите овие жени имаат една заедничка нишка која ја носат – стремежот кон својата лична и колективна слобода и отпорот кон неправдата и угнетувањето како животни принципи.
Од петте дивергентно различни животни истории, мене најинтересна ми беше приказната за Ана, Гркинка од Каиро, припадничка на Египетскиот феминистички сојуз, која цел живот работела активно заедно со Египјанките и жените од пониските слоеви за просперитет на жените и против колонијализмот и класата на која и самата и припаѓала. Разбираме дека феминизмот изворно постоел меѓу муслиманските жени уште во почетокот на 20-от век, дури во Каиро постоел и медицински факултет за жени многу пред „цивилизираниот“ Запад воопшто ѝ да им дозволи пристап на универзитетите. Ова Варуфакис го одбележува како дел од огромното незнаење, незаинтересираност и потценување што секој поробувач го има кон поробениот. Како контраст на ова во понатамошните приказни дознаваме дека до 1984 год. жените во Грција немале законско право на наследство. За мене како читателка ова беше само предупредување дека законските права кои жените во Македонија и во социјалистичка Југославија ги избориле уште во 1945 г. не треба да се потценуваат, туку да се вреднуваат како огромна историска придобивка.
Преку приказните на Ана и Елени, посредно е раскажан и животот и страдањата на синот на Ана - Јорго, а сопругот на Елени и татко на Јанис, во времето на граѓанската војна во Грција 1948-1949 и потоа фашистичкиот режим до крајот на 1970-те.
Другата баба на Јанис, пак, Трисевегени била неписмена жена, со потекло од рурален Пелопонез, која во себе носела длабока мудрост, храброст и здрав разум кои ѝ овозможиле да се соочи со сите животни предизвици и да се издигне над патријархатот.
Книгата изобилува со историски факти, личности и настани кои дури и ако од претходно не му се познати на читателот, се маестрално инкорпорирани во личните приказни. На крајот сфаќаш дека си ја проследил целата историја на 20-от век без да земеш здив.
За мене беше фасцинантно и тоа што ми се отвори една сосема нова слика за Грција, земјата за чија понова историја знам релативно малку, иако цел живот ја посетувам. Моите импресии за Грција се од поново време, по нешто знам и за граѓанската војна, но преку призмата на страдањето и егзодусот на Македонците од северна Грција. Секогаш ми стоело како слика некаде во меморијата дека пред крајот на 1970-те никој не одеше во Грција затоа што беше фашистичка земја, дека кога се отвори беше многу сиромашна и во тогашна Југославија важеше како синоним за должник, па во нашиот јазик постоеше изрека „должен како Грчка“. Повеќе од тоа ниту сме учеле, ниту пак јас потоа некако сум се заинтересирала за темата. Книгава ми отвори цел еден нов поглед на грчката историја, политичките и идеолошки превирања, теророт и страдањата преживеани за време на фашизмот кои секако имаат ефект и врз денешниве случувања.
Покрај феминистичкиот аспект, кој е основа и главната порака, книгата има многу нијанси кои се актуелни во денешниов временски контекст. Тука се препознавањето и отпорот против колонијализмот и фашизмот секако, но и, за мене еднакво важна порака, дека луѓето во светот и особено на Балканот, со сите свои обичаи, култура, етнос, вера, род и сѐ она што го носат како личен идентитет се бескрајно измешани, испреплетени, различни, многуслојни, многу-идентитетс��и, што секое делење и ограничување е залудна работа и им служи само на владеачките елити, за кои всушност единствена важна поделба е класната.
Илустративен е моментот кога во мигот пред да умре Трисевгени бара да ја однесат во нејзиното родно село на Пелопонез. И кога Јанис за да потврди ја прашува „Рододафни?“, таа му одговара „Не, селото се вика Србице“. Истражувајќи по нејзината смрт, Варуфакис наоѓа дека селото, како и многу села во тој дел од Пелопонез биле население со словенско население, селото на Трисевгени веројатно со Срби и затоа така и се викало. Во 1900-та тогашната власт им ги сменила имињата на селата, па од Србице станало Рододафни што останало скриено во официјалната историја до ден денес.
Вакви кроки-сцени има многу во приказните, кои се крајно емотивни, човечни и навлегуваат длабоко во суштината и комплексноста на човечкото битие кое битисува во крајно сложена, манипулативна, променлива и неправедна историско-политичка стварност.
Има уште многу да се каже за книгата, имам и две-три критички забелешки – но ќе биде премногу долго, а и не е важно во вкупниот контекст и доживување на раскажаното.
Во секој случај – книга која треба да се преведе на македонски јазик и треба да ја прочитаат и феминист(к)ите и оние што тоа не се. Сигурна сум дека ќе ви отвори многу прашања и теми за размислување.
February 2, 2026
This book was a most welcome present from my sister-in-law for my birthday, though I wasn't particularly aware, or I had forgotten, that she knew of my admiration for Yanis Varoufakis,
I have been an admirer of Yanis Varoufakis for years, and his appearance in that remarkable leather coat in London (read his book "Adults in the Room" for the story of his coat) during the Greek (and global) financial crisis merely confirmed my understanding that here is a man of great intelligence and moral confidence who is prepared to stand alone in defence of his own beliefs and suffer the consequences in an otherwise ignorant world, and especially in his full length magnificent leather coat!
I thought I knew that he was brought up in a wealthy Greek family with radical politics but that was to simplify things to a nonsense. This book, a biography of his ancestry based on facts, family story and a bit of informed surmise manages to accomplish several things at the same time.
First, it is a fascinating story, well told, narrated really, by a man not only well versed in the spirit and literature of his own Greek culture, but also totally assimilated into the Anglosphere, in its language, in which, a bit like Conrad, he is a foreigner totally at home, and in its culture.
Yanis is famous for his intellect and political and economic radicalism for many, infamous perhaps for his opponents for his unrestrained socialist beliefs, that is based in good measure with some of the philosophies of Marx. I know little of Marx, so I am unable to comment how closely Yanis follows such precepts.
So second, in detailing the lives of four of his female ancestors (his mother Eleni, his grandmother Anna, his father's mother, his mother's mother, Trisevgeni, and Georgia, who was his first wife Margarita's grandmother and finally, to make up the quintet, his second wife, Danae Stratu, artist and activist), he is telling us basically where his own beliefs arise, where his own willingness to put his feet to the fire to defend them, come from. As an adult man his admiration for these powerful female forces, in a patriarchal society of generations of male dominance, is obviously huge and deeply felt. He gives them the space needed to demonstrate their humanity and their resilience. But it wasn't all radical agreement, politics seriously also divided the family, as it divided Greece in the civil war. For more details of the women protagonists' lives as described, their trials and occasional triumphs, read other reviews or preferably buy or borrow his book.
Thirdly, as hinted, in telling this story of his family, his is telling the story of Greece in the twentieth century, and if you didn't fully understand what the Greek population went through during these generations, as I didn't, this is something of an eye opener, for this comfortable middle class man from a smug and uncomprehending UK and now living in comfortable and maybe equally smug New Zealand. . And I would say to all Yanis's opponents, please read this book, maybe you'll be granted the insight that here is a man of great intelligence, allied to a political, social and moral stature which few of his critics, I would say, could even begin to approach. This book tells you how this worthwhile man was made.
I have been an admirer of Yanis Varoufakis for years, and his appearance in that remarkable leather coat in London (read his book "Adults in the Room" for the story of his coat) during the Greek (and global) financial crisis merely confirmed my understanding that here is a man of great intelligence and moral confidence who is prepared to stand alone in defence of his own beliefs and suffer the consequences in an otherwise ignorant world, and especially in his full length magnificent leather coat!
I thought I knew that he was brought up in a wealthy Greek family with radical politics but that was to simplify things to a nonsense. This book, a biography of his ancestry based on facts, family story and a bit of informed surmise manages to accomplish several things at the same time.
First, it is a fascinating story, well told, narrated really, by a man not only well versed in the spirit and literature of his own Greek culture, but also totally assimilated into the Anglosphere, in its language, in which, a bit like Conrad, he is a foreigner totally at home, and in its culture.
Yanis is famous for his intellect and political and economic radicalism for many, infamous perhaps for his opponents for his unrestrained socialist beliefs, that is based in good measure with some of the philosophies of Marx. I know little of Marx, so I am unable to comment how closely Yanis follows such precepts.
So second, in detailing the lives of four of his female ancestors (his mother Eleni, his grandmother Anna, his father's mother, his mother's mother, Trisevgeni, and Georgia, who was his first wife Margarita's grandmother and finally, to make up the quintet, his second wife, Danae Stratu, artist and activist), he is telling us basically where his own beliefs arise, where his own willingness to put his feet to the fire to defend them, come from. As an adult man his admiration for these powerful female forces, in a patriarchal society of generations of male dominance, is obviously huge and deeply felt. He gives them the space needed to demonstrate their humanity and their resilience. But it wasn't all radical agreement, politics seriously also divided the family, as it divided Greece in the civil war. For more details of the women protagonists' lives as described, their trials and occasional triumphs, read other reviews or preferably buy or borrow his book.
Thirdly, as hinted, in telling this story of his family, his is telling the story of Greece in the twentieth century, and if you didn't fully understand what the Greek population went through during these generations, as I didn't, this is something of an eye opener, for this comfortable middle class man from a smug and uncomprehending UK and now living in comfortable and maybe equally smug New Zealand. . And I would say to all Yanis's opponents, please read this book, maybe you'll be granted the insight that here is a man of great intelligence, allied to a political, social and moral stature which few of his critics, I would say, could even begin to approach. This book tells you how this worthwhile man was made.
May 3, 2026
Talvez uma voz masculina não deve ser a forma para contar histórias de resistência de mulheres. Contudo, empatizo com o raciocínio que o Yanis Varoufakis apresenta. Ele apenas quer exprimir as histórias de luta revolucionária das mulheres da vida dele que os inspiram a ser melhor e a lutar por um mundo melhor. Podemos julgá-lo?
O próprio Varoufakis reconhece problemática de ser a voz de um homem a relatar. Contudo, acho que conhecer a histórias destas mulheres incriveis e as suas lutas próprias contra o fascismo, misoginia e opressão tem muito mérito por si só.
"I would write to them down, I decided, not to escape the darkness but to confront it, to let their strength, their love, lift me as my mother used to."
"There is a time and a place to resemble chameleons, Yango. But there is also a time and a place to take a stand. When you actually see the fascists, they will be breaking down our door. At that point, you won't be able to blend in - unless you join them. "
- Eleni, a mãe do Varoufakis
O próprio Varoufakis reconhece problemática de ser a voz de um homem a relatar. Contudo, acho que conhecer a histórias destas mulheres incriveis e as suas lutas próprias contra o fascismo, misoginia e opressão tem muito mérito por si só.
"I would write to them down, I decided, not to escape the darkness but to confront it, to let their strength, their love, lift me as my mother used to."
"There is a time and a place to resemble chameleons, Yango. But there is also a time and a place to take a stand. When you actually see the fascists, they will be breaking down our door. At that point, you won't be able to blend in - unless you join them. "
- Eleni, a mãe do Varoufakis
April 4, 2026
I was feeling a strong and unexpected 5 starts until about 80% of the way through until it became more related to Yanis directly and some of the things I presupposed became a reality (self aggrandizement, preachiness and bias) but still incredibly enjoyable and for the most part an impressive quasi biography that barely deals with yanis
October 29, 2025
A fascinating book set against the twentieth century history of Greek politics with episodes from Egypt, England, Australia and the USA.
It is shocking to learn of the subjugated role women in Greek society.
It is shocking to learn of the subjugated role women in Greek society.
January 31, 2026
One of the best books I’ve ever read. Varoufakis is not only one of the greatest intellectuals of our time but also a brilliant storyteller.
I hope to lose my memory someday so that I can read this again for the first time.
I hope to lose my memory someday so that I can read this again for the first time.
March 2, 2026
Absolutely fascinating family story - I doubt Yanis' grandmothers were this eloquent but still worth reading to understand how the world of yesterday fell apart and how Greece moved ahead to what it is today.
November 22, 2025
An intense family saga from a good storyteller who respects women and acknowledges the roles they play in his life.
December 13, 2025
I got bored, sorry.
December 29, 2025
I’ve enjoyed Varoufakis' work in the past, but this one just didn’t hook me in the same way. It never quite grabbed my attention, despite covering ground that should have been right up my alley.
January 7, 2026
Memory is the most precious treasure.
January 8, 2026
Must read for our times. Great writing and great stories of resistance.
April 13, 2026
I was really hoping to enjoy this book more than I did, however it lacked an emotional connection. I get the idea, and applaud the author’s effort to give us a historical context of his motivations but it fails to deliver.
March 7, 2026
Absolutely fucking vital. This as well as the Green by-election made me feel invincible.
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