First published 1972
Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari argue that Western civilization exploits our fundamental need to belong to groups. Government institutions, media organizations, and economic systems manipulate this herd instinct to control individual behavior. The authors propose that people diagnosed with mental illness might actually represent the most authentic individuals, since their isolation from mainstream society preserves their independence. They examine how our fear of being cut off from the collective makes us vulnerable to various forms of social control. The book sparked fierce debate when it appeared in France, with critics calling it both brilliant and completely mad. More than twenty-five years later, their analysis continues to fuel important conversations about independent thought and social conformity. The authors offer readers a framework for understanding how institutional power operates through our deepest psychological needs.
Genres: philosophy, psychology, social-science, non-fiction
Vibes: dark, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: psychological-analysis, social-commentary
Period: 20th-Century
432 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books Ltd