52 pages • 1 hour read
One-Dimensional Man: Studies in the Ideology of Advanced Industrial Society
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Book Brief
320
Book • Nonfiction
1960s
1964
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
One-Dimensional Man by Herbert Marcuse is a critique of advanced industrial society, highlighting how technology and capitalism create a one-dimensional existence that suppresses critical thinking and genuine liberation. Marcuse argues that people are subdued by the comforts provided by the technological system, which flattens societal tensions and enforces a form of subtle but pervasive totalitarianism.
Challenging
Mysterious
Dark
Contemplative
Informative
Reviews & Readership
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Review Roundup
Herbert Marcuse's One-Dimensional Man is praised for its incisive critique of modern capitalist societies, resonating with readers concerned about conformity and mass consumer culture. However, some critics argue that Marcuse's dense prose and pessimistic outlook can be challenging and potentially alienating. Overall, it remains a seminal work in critical theory and philosophy.
Who Should Read One-Dimensional Man?
A reader who would enjoy One-Dimensional Man by Herbert Marcuse is likely someone interested in critical theory, socio-political critique, and philosophy. Similar to audiences of Adorno’s Dialectic of Enlightenment or Horkheimer's Eclipse of Reason, they appreciate deep analyses of societal structures and ideological control.
7,283 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
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Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud
An Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, his theories on the psyche and sublimation significantly influence Marcuse’s philosophical work.
Karl Marx
Karl Marx
A philosopher and economist known for his critiques of capitalism, his revolutionary ideas serve as a foundation for Marcuse's critiques of advanced industrial society.
Plato
Plato
An ancient Greek philosopher whose dialectical dialogues inform Marcuse’s ideas about dialectical thinking as a tool for societal and individual liberation.
Aristotle
Aristotle
An ancient philosopher and student of Plato, whose approach to logic is critiqued by Marcuse for reinforcing conservative thought and resisting dialectical change.
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
A German philosopher whose dialectical method and historical perspective on freedom influence Marcuse’s development of two-dimensional thinking.
320
Book • Nonfiction
1960s
1964
Adult
18+ years
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