Against the Machine

On the Unmaking of Humanity

De: Paul Kingsnorth

Narrado por: Owen Hall

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

How a force that’s hard to name, but which we all feel, is reshaping what it means to be human

In Against the Machine, “furiously gifted” (The Washington Post) novelist, poet, and essayist Paul Kingsnorth presents a wholly original—and terrifying—account of the technological-cultural matrix enveloping all of us. With masterful insight into the spiritual and economic roots of techno-capitalism, Kingsnorth reveals how the Machine, in the name of progress, has choked Western civilization, is destroying the Earth itself, and is reshaping us in its image. From the First Industrial Revolution to the rise of artificial intelligence, he shows how the hollowing out of humanity has been a long game—and how your very soul is at stake.

It takes effort to remain truly human in the age of the Machine. Writing in the tradition of Wendell Berry, Jacques Ellul and Simone Weil, Kingsnorth reminds us what humanity requires: a healthy suspicion of entrenched power; connection to land, nature and heritage; and a deep attention to matters of the spirit. Prophetic, poetic, and erudite, Against the Machine is the spiritual manual for dissidents in the technological age.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“The most powerful and important book I have read in years. This book should be required reading not only for politicians, technocrats, teachers and all who help shape our world, but for every still-living soul in this terrifying age of the Machine.” —Iain McGilchrist, author of The Master and His Emissary

“Something in our common life has long seemed bewildering, even ominous, and Paul Kingsnorth makes it finally clear what we're up against. The gears clanking around us are not working at random, but with increasingly inhuman intent. Now I see what I must do. Now I understand.” —Frederica Mathewes-Green, author of Facing East

“Against the Machine is an eloquent and erudite critique of the perils of modern technology. But it’s much more than that. It’s a searching, moving meditation on the fate of humanity in a world where money and mechanism have displaced meaning.” —Nicholas Carr, author of Superbloom and The Shallows

“Thank God for Paul Kingsnorth! Serious, furious, and always consistent, this is a Christian thinker who does not sugarcoat his convictions.” —Justin Smith-Ruiu, author of The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is

“Kingsnorth has done something extraordinary: he has captured the spiritual crisis of our time in language so compelling I could not put the book down. The vision he paints is a bleak one: a post-human, machinic future. But as long as our world still has space for voices this vivid, I dare hope we have not yet succumbed to the Machine.”—Mary Harrington, author of Feminism Against Progress

“Well-argued and greatly needed.” —Wendell Berry, author of The Unsettling of America and Jayber Crow

A critique with an answer

My life has had some parallels to Paul Kingsworth, especially from a philosophical standpoint. Always thankful that God give some people the gift to articulate with many others failed to be able to put in words.
every small thing I do outside of the "machine" is a prayer. Coincidentally when he was talking about hitting with Wood I was lighting my wood stove. I hit with wood just to stay grounded. I garden just to connect with biology. When the action plan is absolutely not utopia listen up it might be a good action plan. What we know is that anyone who seeks utopia will reap destruction.

Very important read.

This is one of the most important books of our time. I strongly encourage everyone to read it.

An eco-tech-oriented 'Strange New World'

As someone that is such a huge fan of Carl Trueman's "Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self," I thoroughly enjoyed "Against the Machine." Paul Kingsnorth is a very talented writer with a very interesting perspective on where we're at today in our world. However, as someone that's also a passionate follower of Jesus, this book does lack the spiritual teeth and insights that I loved so much about Trueman's book. Kingsnorth does appear to be a believer as well, which is super cool too and comes out in certain parts of his writing, but he definitely comes at this book from a different angle with a different spin on things than where I personally might've gone with it knowing that so much of what we face today is a spiritual battle, and not a tech-related capitalistic one. That said, it's a very well done book that, though is a bit ambiguous and abstract at times, is extremely informative and well worth the time invested in listening/reading it. Not to mention that the narrator is great, and he makes you feel smarter just listening to him and having him read to you. I'd recommend this book for anyone trying to get their fingers on our times right now.

Incredible

Read this and join the rain dance. These words might be the most hopeful I’ve heard in a very long time.

Pragmatic. Audacious. Evolving.

I usually consider myself a technology optimist. After reading this book, I’m not so sure.

Kingsnorth has framed the epic “Wizard and Prophet” analogy in a beautiful and thought provoking way that will captivate readers. His willingness to include his spiritual awakening and show how it fits within the “machine” narrative was exceptional.

Definitely in my top ten books of 2025.