Ted Kaczynski's Industrial Society and its Future: The Graphic Novel

by Valentín Ramón Menendez (Adaptor), Theodore John Kaczynski

Graphic novel adaptation by Valentín Ramón (co-creator of D4VE and creator of Zeta: You are either with us or against us) of the 1995 essay "Industrial Society and Its Future" by Theodore John Kaczynski, better known as the Unabomber Manifesto contending that modern technological progress will extinguish individual liberty. It was originally printed in the Washington Post and The New York Times print supplements by a form of blackmail, that Kaczynski would end his 1978–1995 Unabomb mail bomb campaign if the essay went to print.

228 pages, Paperback

Published April 24, 2021

Reviews

[xenia · Rating 1 out of 5]

how the fuck do you rail against the owo conformity of the 'leftists' while being utterly ignorant of your own boomer conformity? ohhhh noooo, the feminists and gays are turning on me unfairly because i keep calling people negroes and orientals and transsexuals, terms which are *completely* value-free!! owo, i am the victim!!!

i find it deeply ironic that ben shapiro, i mean ted kaczynski, believes 'modern leftism' is rife with insecurity when he himself sees a global conspiracy held against people like him who don't want to be held accountable for the shit they say. maybe don't be a little bitch when people get angry at you and actually ask what you've done to hurt them? antisocial ≠ radical. in fact, most radical politics are more-than-social (as the social currently stands). in anarchism, it's building autonomy through collective and horizon practices of joy and response-ability, rather than guilt or resentment.

i'm also amazed that this is a near mirror image of gamergate. jordan peterson's, i mean ted kaczynski's, diagnosis of the left as snowflakes and white knights presumes an incapacity to understand the value of vulnerability nor the joy of compassion. instead, every movement towards the other is read as a cynical shoring up of one's own ego / capital. this is just rational actor theory, the *predominant* psychological theory of industrial society. as with gamergate, it's clear that ted kaczynski has never visited a battered women's shelter or an lgbtq suicide hotline. the way he collapses woke capitalism with leftism, and ignores all forms of grassroots organising, betrays a lack of engagement with actually existing leftist organisations.

can we approach those hurt by this world with compassion and understanding rather than distrust and disdain?

better resources:

political correctness / virtue signalling:
essay | exiting the vampire castle
book | democracy and other neoliberal fantasies: communicative capitalism and left politics
book | regulating aversion: tolerance in the age of identity and empire
video | woke brands
video | postmodernism is not identity politics

reactionary fragility:
video | a case study in digital radicalism (gamergate)
video | climate barbarism and eco-fascism
video | incels
film | taxi driver

standardisation, consumption, alienation:
essay | the culture industry: enlightenment as mass deception
book | the society of the spectacle
book | the consumer society: myths and structures
book | the mcdonaldization of society
video | capitalism, cultural disintegration, and buzzfeed
video | the emoji movie, adorno and the culture industry

neoliberalism:
book | a brief history of neoliberalism
book | undoing the demos: neoliberalism's stealth revolution
book | the hard road to renewal: thatcherism and the crisis of the left
video | neoliberalism: from ronald reagan to the gig economy
video | the problem with hyper-individualism
video | the awful story of south america's most evil dictator

empire and race:
essay | discourse on colonialism
book | black skin, white masks
book | how europe underdeveloped africa
book | the darker nations: a people's history of the third world
book | the divide: a brief guide to global inequality and its solutions
video | critical race theory is awesome and here's why

feminism on industrialisation:
pamphlet | witches, midwives and nurses: a history of women healers
book | caliban and the witch
video | the witch trials and the rise of modernity and capitalism
video | witchcraft, gender, & marxism

climate change:
book | this changes everything: capitalism vs. the climate
book | fossil capitalism: the rise of steam power and the roots of global warming
book | less is more: how degrowth will save the world
book | critical theory and animal liberation
book | marx's ecology: materialism and nature

anarchism / mutual aid:
book | the conquest of bread
book | against the grain: a deep history of the earliest states
book | the ecology of freedom: the emergence and dissolution of hierarchy
novel | the dispossessed
novel | a country of ghosts
video | anarchy and taoism: tao te ching: an anarchist manifesto

healing from resentment / defensiveness, cultivating empathy / vulnerability:
book | joyful militancy: building thriving resistance in toxic times
book | nonviolent communication: a language of life
book | polysecure: attachment, trauma and consensual nonmonogamy

your local infoshop / community organisation

[Nathan Shuherk · Rating 5 out of 5]

(This review is not a critique of the philosophy of Kaczynski.)
The artwork is beautiful and haunting. Transposed with the writing of this manifesto during the 90s and the technology of the 2020’s, this graphic novel is a psychological exploration of extremism. The intelligence paired with psychopathy was fascinating and unsettling. Would certainly recommend for the likely very few people wanting to read the Unabombers’ manifesto.

[Vikram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illustrations are masterpieces, and taken from themes of current affairs, when juxtaposed with paragraphs from this decades old essay, become more poignant

[Sara Olsson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I watched the series and read it out of curiosity. I do not agree with anything that FC did or stood for.

Even though some of the theories here weren’t completely off, they gave off an immature vibe. It was clear that the author wasn’t happy with the hand they’ve been dealt in life and was using a surrogate activity—applying his own concepts—to try to reset the world and be given another chance. Or maybe make his life mean something, probably both.

But I will say it gave you something to think about and a sense of unease about how the society works as a whole and the extent of our restraints in today’s society. Although the perks are definitely outweighed by the negatives. The way that we really do become more and more dependent on technology and the discussion about how we can apply ethics to it. The ethical values will be created by influence of someone and everyone, not always benefiting everyone. This isn’t something new that the author has come up with, but rather bringing it to light as an accurate representation of the ethical dilemma.

I haven’t read the whole thing; I’ve only made it through half. We’ll see if I can push myself through the rest. It’s quite tiring, and I must say, triggering, considering the leading events.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read. 30 years old. Wow.
Would this qualify as anarcho-libertarian?

[Mirco17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend the books written by Kaczynski. His literary works are thought-provoking, and his writing style is captivating. Whether delving into fiction or non-fiction, Kaczynski's books offer a unique perspective on various subjects.

One of his most renowned works is "Industrial Society and Its Future" where he explores the negative effects of industrialization and technological advancements on society. Kaczynski's well-researched arguments make readers question the price we pay for progress and the impact it has on our individual freedom.

In conclusion, Kaczynski's books are essential reads for those seeking unconventional perspectives on societal issues and exploring the impact of technology on our lives. His thought-provoking arguments challenge readers to critically examine our collective path and reevaluate the consequences of our actions. Whether you agree with him or not, Kaczynski's books promise to ignite intellectual curiosity and stimulate meaningful discussions.

[Zak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real truths made fun as a comic. A primitivist utopia won’t ever exist and surrogate activities are fulfilling but may benignly rely on certain technologies.

[Gustavo Juarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

scrambled nihilistic rant, ultimately cynical and destructively pessimistic. mostly true but a psychotic individual with a useless "truth"