Capitalist Realism

Is There No Alternative?

by Mark Fisher

eBook, 81 pages

English language

Published Dec. 15, 2009 by Zero Books.

ISBN:: 978-1-84694-317-1
OCLC Number:: 699737863
Goodreads:: 6763725

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(106 reviews)

Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative? explores Fisher's concept of "capitalist realism," which he takes to describe "the widespread sense that not only is capitalism the only viable political and economic system, but also that it is now impossible even to imagine a coherent alternative to it."The book investigates what Fisher describes as the widespread effects of neoliberal ideology on popular culture, work, education, and mental health in contemporary society. Capitalist Realism was an unexpected success and has influenced a range of writers.The subtitle refers to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's pro-market slogan "There is no alternative".

5 editions

Ben P reviewed Capitalist Realism by Mark Fisher

Review of 'Capitalist Realism' on 'GoodReads'

4 stars

Like Adam Curtis's Hypernormalisation, this book is a heady attempt at parsing the continuum of what Fisher calls "the Real" and "the big Other." He invokes Marx, Baudrillard, Lacan, "Office Space," Nirvana, and "Children of Men" with equal deference, utilizing pop culture and theory to explain the puzzling, if no less certain, links between neoconservativism and neoliberalism, and posits a leftist anti-capitalist project based on critical analysis of capitalist realism's offerings and shortcomings, as much as its obfuscatory sleight of hand aims at perpetuating a sense that it is, itself, unalterable and unable to be opposed.

Svalbard Sleeper District reviewed Capitalist Realism by Mark Fisher

Review of 'Capitalist Realism' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

No society survives effects of its material existence on social, economic, political, cultural and personal lives. K-Punk knows like nobody else how to describe the burden of the consumerist society on its every member, from the moment of their waking up to the second of their going to sleep. The ubiquitous presence of market demands, propaganda of individualist existence, and economic hardship which, for most people, leaves no space and time for analysis and introspection, is conveyed in his usual, rare eloquence, and even rarer emotional intelligence.

aly reviewed Capitalist Realism by Mark Fisher

Review of 'Capitalist Realism' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

While it’s an excellent overview of our current situation, I found Fisher’s last chapter-where he haphazardly provides a sort of outline for moving forward-to be the weakest part of the book. That said, Fisher’s arguments for the now are nonetheless very compelling and timely.

sirodoht reviewed Capitalist Realism by Mark Fisher

Review of 'Capitalist Realism' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I've known this book forever and I always thought I knew what it says until I read it. It's true, I knew! But what a refreshing and succinct view on the theories of capitalism and its problems! Definitely recommended for all — even for people who know what it says!