The Unnamable Present

Roberto Calasso's The Unnamable Present examines the intersection of modern technology, politics, and culture through two main essays and a brief coda. The book positions itself at a critical moment in contemporary history, analyzing the rise of nationalism and totalitarianism against the backdrop of artificial intelligence and digital transformation. The first essay, "Tourists and Terrorists," explores the complex relationship between internet pornography, Islamic terrorism, and Western consumer culture in the 21st century. "The Vienna Gas Company," the second essay, investigates historical parallels and philosophical underpinnings of current societal shifts, while the final section "Sighting of the Towers" serves as a concluding reflection. Calasso draws connections between seemingly disparate elements - from social media to religious fundamentalism, from market economics to political movements - to construct a portrait of our current era. His analysis suggests profound questions about the nature of modern society and its trajectory in an increasingly digitized world.

Readers note Calasso's complex analysis of modern society, though many found the dense philosophical writing challenging to follow. Several reviews mention the book requires multiple readings to grasp fully. Readers appreciated: - Deep insights into technology's impact on human consciousness - Rich historical and cultural references - Thought-provoking commentary on contemporary life Common criticisms: - Meandering, non-linear structure - Overly academic prose style - Abstract concepts without clear resolution Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (87 ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (14 reviews) One reader on Goodreads wrote: "Like trying to catch water with a net - profound ideas that slip away just as you grasp them." An Amazon reviewer noted: "Brilliant observations buried in unnecessarily complicated language." The book has limited reviews online, with most coming from readers already familiar with Calasso's other works.

The Technological Society by Jacques Ellul This foundational text traces how technical processes have come to dominate social and political life, providing context for the technological determinism Calasso explores.

The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff The text maps the transformation of technology companies into data merchants and social engineers, intersecting with Calasso's concerns about digital culture.

The True Believer by Eric Hoffer Hoffer's examination of mass movements and fanaticism connects to Calasso's analysis of modern terrorism and nationalism.

Notes Toward a Performative Theory of Assembly by Judith Butler Butler's investigation of public gatherings and political resistance parallels Calasso's exploration of contemporary social movements and collective behavior.

The Stack: On Software and Sovereignty by Benjamin Bratton This analysis of digital infrastructure's impact on geopolitics extends Calasso's observations about technology's influence on modern society.

🔹 Roberto Calasso was a renowned Italian publisher and writer who led the prestigious Adelphi Edizioni publishing house for over 50 years, helping introduce works by Kafka, Nietzsche, and other major thinkers to Italian readers. 🔹 "The Unnamable Present" is part of Calasso's larger literary project spanning nine books, known as "The Work," which explores the relationship between myth, culture, and modern society. 🔹 The book's examination of tourism and terrorism was partly inspired by the author's observation that both phenomena peaked simultaneously in the early 21st century, sharing unexpected connections in how they shape global movement and perception. 🔹 Calasso wrote most of his works, including this one, by hand in notebooks, maintaining this traditional practice even as he analyzed digital culture's impact on society. 🔹 Before his death in 2021, Calasso was often called "Italy's most important literary intellectual," and was one of the few modern writers to successfully blend publishing, writing, and scholarly work while maintaining independence from academia.