Age of Anger: A History of the Present

Age of Anger examines the roots of modern political rage and ressentiment by tracing intellectual and social movements from the 18th century to the present. Mishra connects contemporary phenomena like ISIS, Trump's rise, and nationalist movements to historical patterns of reaction against progress and modernity. The book moves through key periods of modernization and industrialization, focusing on philosophers, writers and thinkers who both championed and opposed Enlightenment ideals. Through figures like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Nietzsche, Mishra explores how promises of progress and prosperity created new forms of alienation and displacement. The narrative spans multiple continents and centuries, examining how similar patterns of anger and violent reaction have emerged in different societies facing rapid change. The analysis encompasses the French Revolution, European nationalism, Russian anarchism, and various anti-Western movements in Asia. This sprawling historical analysis offers a framework for understanding the emotional and psychological dimensions of political movements that resist globalization and modernization. The book suggests that current expressions of rage and resentment follow established historical patterns rather than representing entirely new phenomena.

Readers describe this as a dense academic work that draws parallels between historical movements and modern populism/nationalism. Common feedback notes the book requires concentrated attention and prior knowledge of philosophy and European history. Positive reviews highlight: - Thorough research and historical connections - Fresh perspective on global discontent - Clear links between past intellectual movements and present-day anger Main criticisms: - Convoluted writing style with long, complex sentences - Repetitive arguments and examples - Lack of clear solutions or recommendations - Too focused on Western/European perspectives Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (180+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Important ideas buried under unnecessarily complicated prose" - Goodreads "Brilliant analysis but needs better editing" - Amazon "Makes you think differently about modern political movements" - The Guardian comments "Too academic for general readers" - Amazon

The True Believer by Eric Hoffer A study of mass movements and fanaticism reveals the psychological patterns behind radical ideologies across time periods and cultures.

The Revolt of The Public by Martin Gurri An examination of how digital networks and information access drive social upheaval and institutional distrust in contemporary society.

The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind by Gustave Le Bon An analysis of crowd psychology and mass behavior explains the mechanisms behind social movements and political transformation.

From the Ruins of Empire by Pankaj Mishra A historical account traces how Asian intellectuals responded to Western dominance and shaped modern political consciousness.

The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt A investigation of the roots of totalitarian movements connects nineteenth-century imperialism to twentieth-century mass politics and social alienation.

🔹 The book draws fascinating parallels between today's political upheavals and the intellectual rebellions of the 18th and 19th centuries, suggesting that modern terrorism shares roots with historical anarchist movements. 🔹 Author Pankaj Mishra was inspired to write the book after witnessing the rise of Hindu nationalism in his native India, which he connected to similar patterns of ressentiment worldwide. 🔹 Despite being published in 2017, the book began taking shape in 2014 - before Brexit, Trump's election, and other major political shifts that would later seem to validate its central thesis. 🔹 Mishra challenges the widely held belief that economic progress naturally leads to social stability, using historical examples from Voltaire to RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) to demonstrate otherwise. 🔹 The book's title was partly influenced by philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche's concept of "ressentiment" - a psychological state born of repressed envy and hatred that he believed could reshape entire societies.