Book

Now

📖 Overview

"Now" is a political text published in 2017 by The Invisible Committee, an anonymous collective of radical French writers and activists. The book examines contemporary forms of power, control, and resistance in modern society. The authors analyze topics including digital technology, surveillance capitalism, social movements, and the nature of revolutionary politics. Their arguments draw connections between major political events and everyday experiences of alienation and rebellion. The text moves between philosophical analysis and direct strategic proposals for disrupting dominant systems. Examples from recent uprisings and social movements illustrate the authors' theoretical framework. At its core, this work presents a critique of technological capitalism and an argument for immediate revolutionary action rather than gradual reform. The book challenges readers to reconsider their relationship to power structures and collective resistance.

👀 Reviews

Readers describe this political text as an urgent call-to-action, though many note it's less focused than the Committee's previous works. Readers appreciate: - Raw, energetic writing style - Analysis of technology's role in control - Practical suggestions for resistance - Clear progression from theory to action Common criticisms: - Dense academic language makes it inaccessible - Arguments can feel scattered and repetitive - Some concepts lack sufficient explanation - Translation from French loses nuance Several readers commented that the book works better as a series of standalone essays rather than a cohesive narrative. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (244 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (16 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Powerful ideas buried in needlessly complex prose" - Goodreads reviewer "More manifesto than manual" - Amazon reviewer "The urgent tone sometimes undermines the philosophical depth" - LibraryThing review

📚 Similar books

The Coming Insurrection by The Invisible Committee A manual for revolutionary resistance that examines the collapse of social institutions and proposes methods for building autonomous communes.

Desert by Anonymous An analysis of civilization's future through the lens of climate change and anarchist thought that explores possibilities for life in a post-collapse world.

To Our Friends by The Invisible Committee A strategic assessment of contemporary revolutionary movements that maps paths of resistance against global capitalism and state power.

Caliban and the Witch by Silvia Federici A historical investigation into the transition to capitalism that reveals the connections between primitive accumulation, gender oppression, and social control.

Society of the Spectacle by Guy Debord A critique of consumer capitalism and modern social life that exposes the mechanisms of alienation and commodity fetishism in contemporary society.

🤔 Interesting facts

📚 "Now" was published anonymously in 2017 as part of a trilogy, following "The Coming Insurrection" and "To Our Friends" 🌍 The Invisible Committee is believed to be associated with the Tarnac Nine, a group of activists arrested in France in 2008 for alleged sabotage of train lines 💭 The book argues that traditional forms of protest have become ineffective, suggesting instead that true revolution emerges from building alternative ways of living 📖 Despite being written collectively, the text maintains a distinctive single voice throughout, a deliberate stylistic choice to emphasize unity of thought 🔍 The French government once labeled the works of The Invisible Committee as a "manual for terrorism," which ironically boosted their readership and influence worldwide