Revolt Against the Modern World

Politics, Religion, and Social Order in the Kali Yuga

De: Julius Evola

Narrado por: Michael Moynihan

With unflinching gaze and uncompromising intensity Julius Evola analyzes the spiritual and cultural malaise at the heart of Western civilization and all that passes for progress in the modern world. As a gadfly, Evola spares no one and nothing in his survey of what we have lost and where we are headed. At turns prophetic and provocative, Revolt Against the Modern World outlines a profound metaphysics of history and demonstrates how and why we have lost contact with the transcendent dimension of being.

The revolt advocated by Evola does not resemble the familiar protests of either liberals or conservatives. His criticisms are not limited to exposing the mindless nature of consumerism, the march of progress, the rise of technocracy, or the dominance of unalloyed individualism, although these and other subjects come under his scrutiny. Rather, he attempts to trace in space and time the remote causes and processes that have exercised corrosive influence on what he considers to be the higher values, ideals, beliefs, and codes of conduct—the world of Tradition—that are at the foundation of Western civilization and described in the myths and sacred literature of the Indo‑Europeans. Agreeing with the Hindu philosophers that history is the movement of huge cycles and that we are now in the Kali Yuga, the age of dissolution and decadence, Evola finds revolt to be the only logical response for those who oppose the materialism and ritualized meaninglessness of life in the 20th century.

Through a sweeping study of the structures, myths, beliefs, and spiritual traditions of the major Western civilizations, the author compares the characteristics of the modern world with those of traditional societies. The domains explored include politics, law, the rise and fall of empires, the history of the Church, the doctrine of the two natures, life and death, social institutions and the caste system, the limits of racial theories, capitalism and communism, relations between the sexes, and the meaning of warriorhood. At every turn Evola challenges the listener's most cherished assumptions about fundamental aspects of modern life.

A controversial scholar, philosopher, and social thinker, Julius Evola (1898-1974) has only recently become known to more than a handful of English speakers. An authority on the world’s esoteric traditions, Evola wrote extensively on ancient civilizations and the world of Tradition in both East and West. Other books by Evola published by Inner Traditions include Eros and the Mysteries of Love, The Yoga of Power, The Hermetic Tradition, and The Doctrine of Awakening.

©1969 Edizioni Mediterranee-Roma, Translation Copyright 1995 by Inner Traditions International. All Rights Reserved. (P)2021 Inner Traditions Audio. All Rights Reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Revolt Against the Modern World is destined to remain an essential work and frame-of-reference for anyone seriously involved in native European spirituality." (Michael Moynihan, Vortru)

"Evola does not write in abstract philosophical language but in lively prose, filled with fascinating and concrete details. Given a basic grounding in history and culture, one can dip into the book anywhere and find new twists and reinterpretations. Such an encounter with a totally original mind is a rarity in these days of bland consensus, and a thrilling one whether one agrees with Evola or not." (Joscelyn Godwin, Gnosis Magazine)

More true now than ever

I’m thankful to have found Evola. Although I dispute some of his specifics, I truly enjoy and am inspired by his general philosophy. This is for those that it is for…

4/5 Stars

Almost everything was great about this book. The only problem was that the chapters were misaligned. You'll see.

A Masterwork

The reasoning that Evola lays out on a wide variety of topics is highly compelling. There are many profound observations that you should hear: excellent commentary on noblesse oblige, increasing atomization as a result of urbanized and mechanized society, a lack of phillia resulting in anarchy, and what to do about it.

A Question of Metaphysics

definitely mixed in his sense of reality Evola develops an interesting Metaphysical Structure that takes a completely sideways view of history religion and society.

An Insightful Book

When understood through the mindset of being-v-becoming, this book really cuts to the heart of the evils of modernity. We live in a demystified world of cogs and mechanics, and the spirit of what is is no longer recognized, only sheer reason and material.

Foolishness

Interesting but nearly useless for doing any good. The core of this is simply old, failed paganism despite numerous mostly accurate criticisms of modern western civilization.

Relevant but heady

Some highly relevant insights.
Some highly irrelevant insights.

Way to easy to misattribute to… less than admirable causes.

Hard to follow

There are many foreign terms that go untranslated. The narrator is monotone. I couldn’t finish the book.