Common Sense

This book offers a dramatically new understanding of human history, challenging fundamental assumptions about social evolution, the development of agriculture, cities, the state, democracy, and inequality. Graeber and Wengrow argue that traditional theories of human history, such as those posited by Hobbes and Rousseau, are not supported by anthropological or archaeological evidence. Instead, they show that humans have lived in large, complex, but decentralized societies for millennia, often without ruling elites or hierarchical systems. The authors draw on extensive research in archaeology and anthropology to reveal a history that is more varied and hopeful than previously assumed, emphasizing human experimentation with different social arrangements and the potential for new forms of freedom and societal organization.

Frantz Fanon's "The Wretched of the Earth" is a seminal work of postcolonial theory that explores the psychological and social effects of colonialism on colonized peoples. Fanon argues that colonialism creates a system of oppression that dehumanizes and alienates the colonized, leading to violence and resistance. He analyzes the role of violence in the struggle for liberation, emphasizing its necessity in breaking the cycle of oppression. The book also examines the process of decolonization, highlighting the need for a complete transformation of society and the creation of new forms of social and political organization. Fanon's work remains highly influential in discussions of colonialism, decolonization, and the ongoing struggle for racial and social justice.

On Certainty is a collection of notes written by Ludwig Wittgenstein in the last eighteen months of his life. The book responds to G. E. Moore's essays, particularly 'A Defence of Common Sense' and 'Proof of an External World'. Wittgenstein examines the nature of certainty and how certain propositions are foundational to our language games and forms of life. He argues that these propositions are not subject to doubt because they are deeply integrated into our daily activities and worldviews. The work challenges traditional philosophical skepticism and epistemology, suggesting that certainty is not based on empirical evidence but on the rules and practices of our language games.