The Mechanic and the Luddite

A Ruthless Criticism of Technology and Capitalism

By: Dr. Jathan Sadowski

Narrated by: Gary Roelofs

This short book demystifies how the two systems of technology and capitalism work together and equips listeners with practical tools to dismantle them and build a better world, bit by bit.

Our society is constantly made to serve the needs of two systems: technology and capitalism. Neither exists outside humans, but both are treated as above and beyond us. The Mechanic and the Luddite offers the critical tools needed to deconstruct these systems—how they work, whom they work for, and what work they do in our lives. With signature style and energy, Jathan Sadowski presents a provocative one-stop shop for understanding the political economy of technology and capitalism.

Each chapter breaks down key features of technological capitalism, offering sharp, synthetic, and authoritative analysis of topics like innovation, labor, data, and risk. It's not enough to know how the machinery of capitalism is put together and how its parts operate; we must also know whom the machines serve and when they should be taken apart, to be rebuilt for new purposes or destroyed for good. The Mechanic and the Luddite provides the political guidance needed to make these crucial decisions.

The book is published by University of California Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

©2025 Jathan Sadowski (P)2025 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Short, accessible and easy to dip in and out of...a call for both good theory and good practice...an excellent starting point...." (Counterfire)

"Succinctly encapsulates a decade of social tech research...a basic introduction to how Marxists understand capitalist exploitation..." (LSE Review of Books)

"Lays the groundwork for a more cohesive resistance against capitalist technology...." (Red Pepper Magazine)