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aligrint's review
2.0
Now, it is social philosophy so I should have seen it coming, but this book starts strong and then heads deep into academic-themed overwrought prose that makes it very hard to go on and quite tempting to sleep. As the argument broadens, it also weakens, suggesting a significant lack of research or confidence that most readers are fine with their analysis of recent history done in broad and questionable strokes.
chloerb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
2.25
Compelling ideas let down by inaccessible language, convoluted and unnecessary references, and the general sense that Crary would have been better off writing a much shorter essay.
A borderline unreadable book, written for the sake of other academics, saved only by the strength of the central idea.
A borderline unreadable book, written for the sake of other academics, saved only by the strength of the central idea.
hieronymusbotched's review
3.0
A necessary book written in a strangely distant way. The academic side prevails here, when I think a more emotional appeal (buffeted by things all too true) would have landed better. What’s left is polemic, or an anger far too methodical to feel.
Still, there is much to ponder here, and I‘ll not think of sleep the same way ever again.
Still, there is much to ponder here, and I‘ll not think of sleep the same way ever again.
sandrinepal's review against another edition
2.0
Although there were some ideas to be gleaned from this pamphlet of a book, I felt like the Marxist discourse clouded the issue quite a bit. This might be because I am not well-versed enough in philosophy to appreciate the intricacy of the arguments. Maybe it is itself a result of what Mr. Crary calls the "counter-revolution" of neo-liberalism. I find it hard to identify with a thesis that relies heavily on the personification of modernity as an intrinsically nefarious entity that is "out to get" natural bio-rhythms. I guess I drank the Kool-Aid. Anyway, when I picked up this book, I was hoping for something a little more down-to-earth, that would shed more light on the circumstances and examples of 24/7 in modern societies. And no, I wasn't thinking about the Internet or smart phones.