{"id":134,"date":"2016-03-29T21:35:30","date_gmt":"2016-03-29T21:35:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nicolaiherzog.de\/blog\/?page_id=134"},"modified":"2026-02-03T14:21:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T13:21:41","slug":"media-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.megamaschine.org\/en\/media-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Reviews & Media"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0Praise<\/h3>\n<\/div>

\"Chomsky.Standbild_Kontext-kor_close\"<\/span><\/p>\n


\n“The topic could not be more important. A very valuable and surely timely contribution.”<\/strong>
\nNoam Chomsky, Massachusetts Institute of Technology<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Prof <\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n


\n<\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cA must read for everyone rising against the system that is destroying life on earth and our future.\u201d<\/strong>
\nVandana Shiva, World Future Council, founder of Navdanya.org<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Jean<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cA magnificent book, that couldn\u2019t be more topical. We owe gratitude,
\nsolidarity and a lot of admiration to the author.\u201d<\/strong>
\nJean Ziegler, Advisory Committee to the UN Human Rights Council<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

\"wolfgang-sachs-neu\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cA fascinating new take on the parts of human history that got us where we are today. It\u2019s a disturbing story, but it offers some clues on the way out of our box canyon.\u201d<\/strong>
\nBill McKibben, climate activist and founder of 350.org<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Andrea<\/p>\n

\u201cThis book is a loud alarm that must not be ignored.\u201d<\/strong>
\nNnimmo Bassey, Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Nigeria<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Rober<\/em>
\n<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThis book, a sensation in Germany when it was first published, challenges us
\nto seek a new path for our and the planet\u2019s survival.\u201d <\/strong>
\nMaude Barlow, Chairperson of the Council of the Canadians<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

\"helmut-trischler\"<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cA fascinating book, delightful to read in spite of the grim topic.
\nThis is an excellent reflection on the terror\/hope that we are living.\u201d<\/strong>
\nJohn Holloway, Autonomous University of Puebla, Mexico<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Weizs\u00e4cker\" <\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n


\n<\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a brilliant achievement\u2014a wonderfully coherent, cogent and gripping story of the historical origins of the political, economic, social and ecological crises of our times. You can\u2019t be a serious activist committed to creating a new world if you haven\u2019t read this.\u201d<\/strong>
\n Firoze Manji, Carleton University; founder of Pambazuka News<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

“<\/span>This book tells us more than a hundred books put together. It should be required reading in every school”<\/strong>
\nMilo Rau, artistic director, Festival of Vienna
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

\"\"
\n<\/i><\/span><\/strong>“<\/span><\/span><\/span>In this fascinating and rich synthesis, Scheidler tells us the whole story of the Megamachine, this giant creature that eats minerals and spawns armies, from the very beginning of the mining age, to the current wholesale destruction of the Earth\u2019s crust.”<\/strong>
\nUgo Bardi, Universit\u00e9 de Florence \/ Club de Rome <\/em><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

\"Christian-Felber-Portrait-3-1024x1024\"“<\/strong>The End of the Megamachine is an informed and clearly written chronicle of how societies have reached the dire situation we now face. Going on from our perch on the precipice, do we accumulate ourselves into barbaric death under the rule the Megamachine? Or do we cooperate ourselves into civilized life by ending the Megamachine, and not ourselves? Scheidler offers historical insights meant to fuel the liberating outcome.”<\/strong>
\nMichael Albert , founder and editor of Z Magazine
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Weizs\u00e4cker\" <\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n


\n<\/i>“A highly original and fascinating book. It helps to understand
\nand overcome the global Megamachine that is threatening our future.”
\n<\/i><\/span><\/strong>Ernst Ulrich von Weizs\u00e4cker, president of the Club of Rome (2012\u20132018)
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Christian-Felber-Portrait-3-1024x1024\"“Fabian Scheidlers book paints a uniquely complete picture of the historical roots of capitalism.
\nIt is a profound mirror for the Western world, which is talking so much about values,
\npeace and democracy<\/strong>. For me, the book has a greater value than everything I learned
\nabout history at school.”<\/strong>
\nChristian Felber, founder of the \u201eEconomy for the Common Good\u201c<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

\"wolfgang-sachs-neu\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

“An eye-opener for social activists. A history of western civilization of only 300 pages:
\nno wonder that the book has such a great success! Fabian Scheidler brilliantly succeeds
\nin highlighting the rupture points in this process.”<\/strong>
\nWolfgang Sachs, Wuppertal Institute \/ Club of Rome; author of \u201eThe Development Dictionary\u201c<\/em>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Andrea<\/p>\n

\u201cA masterstroke\u201c<\/strong>
\nAndrea Komlosy, historian, Vienna University \/ Yale<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Rober<\/em>
\n<\/i>“<\/strong>Top 10 of non-fiction in 2015\u201c<\/strong>
\nRobert Jungk Library for Future Studies<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

\"helmut-trischler\"“Fabian Scheidler impressively proves that a deep understanding of the past is indispensible to\u00a0 better comprehend the present. The book highlights the necessity of profound changes in the relationship between humans and nature, society and the environment.<\/strong>“<\/strong>
\nHelmuth Trischler, historian, <\/em>director of the research department, German Museum Munich<\/em>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Excerpts from reviews in English<\/h3>\n<\/div>

\"Der<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

“<\/span>A thoroughly worthwhile read with a wealth of useful and relevant information.\u201c <\/span><\/strong>Morning Star<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Publik<\/a>“Scheidler looks at the emergence of modern civilisation and the capitalist system from new and unusual perspectives. A valuable contribution.” <\/strong>Socialist Standard<\/em><\/a><\/em><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Der<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

“<\/span>A\u00a0 spanning survey of civilization from its inception to the present. Scheidler has focused the key issue (\u2026) He leaves us with a sense of possibilities.” <\/span><\/strong>Counterpunch<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

“This highly acclaimed book, a best-seller in Germany when it appeared, is<\/strong><\/span><\/span>\"\"<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/em><\/a><\/span> <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/a><\/span>one of the most important that I have ever read in understanding the ro<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/a><\/span>ots of the destructive forces that threaten our very future.” <\/strong>David Lorimer,<\/em><\/span> Paradigm Explorer. Journal of the Scientific and Medical Network #149 <\/em><\/a>|<\/span> <\/em>PDF<\/em><\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Excerpts from reviews (English)<\/h3>\n<\/div>

\"Der<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

“<\/span>A thoroughly worthwhile read with a wealth of useful and relevant information.\u201c
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Publik<\/a>“Scheidler looks at the emergence of modern civilisation and the capitalist system from new and unusual perspectives. A valuable contribution.”
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Der<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

“<\/span>A\u00a0 spanning survey of civilization from its inception to the present. Scheidler has focused the key issue (\u2026) He leaves us with a sense of possibilities.\u201c
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Fabian Scheidler ne se contente pas de d\u00e9crire un cul-de-sac mais propose d\u2019examiner autrement le r\u00e9cit fondateur de la civilisation occidentale moderne. On peut voir cet ouvrage engag\u00e9 comme un manuel de r\u00e9sistance, une r\u00e9flexion motivante <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span>qui se r\u00e9sume en une question: quelle organisation sociale souhaitons-nous ?<\/span><\/span>\u201c<\/strong> Le Temps, Suisse<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

“Cette analyse, tr\u00e8s document\u00e9e, d\u00e9monte les mythes et r\u00e9cits qui ont glorifi\u00e9 et \"\"<\/a>naturalis\u00e9 les rapports de domination.”<\/strong><\/span>
\nLe Monde diplomatique<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Der<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Le livre nous fait comprendre comment la folie d’aujourd’hui est n\u00e9e.<\/span> Vous ne vous sentez plus confus et impuissant, mais pr\u00eat pour un nouveau d\u00e9part<\/span><\/span>.\u201c <\/strong>Der Freitag<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

\"Taz\" “Une lecture \u00e9minemment recommandable.”<\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/strong>Taz. Die Tageszeitung<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

\"WOZ\" “Le livre ouvre notre regard sur des contextes souvent n\u00e9glig\u00e9s.<\/span> L’histoire n’est pas pr\u00e9sent\u00e9e dans le cadre de disciplines distinctes (politiques, sociales, \u00e9conomiques, culturelles), mais dans ses interd\u00e9pendances<\/span><\/span>.” <\/strong>Der Standard (Autriche)<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

\"Der<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

“Une lecture tr\u00e8s m\u00e9ritante qui contient une multitude d’informations utiles et pertinentes.” <\/strong>Morning Star<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

“Raconter l\u2019histoire de l\u2019Occident sous un angle nouveau, c\u2019est le pari r\u00e9ussi de Fabian Scheidler dans cette somme qui se lit avec un int\u00e9r\u00eat qui ne se rel\u00e2che jamais. <\/strong>[\u2026] Tout <\/strong>est passionnant.” <\/strong>Reporterre<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Publik“Ce livre devrait faire partie des programmes de toutes les \u00e9coles et universit\u00e9s<\/span><\/span>.”<\/span>
\n<\/strong>Prof. Ulrich Duchrow dans le quinzomadaire allemand \u201cPublik Forum”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Zeitpunkt\"“Bien fond\u00e9 et tr\u00e8s original<\/span><\/span>.”<\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/strong>\u00a0“Zeitpunkt” (mensuel suisse)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"WOZ\" “Fabian Scheidler n\u2019a pas seulement \u00e9crit une histoire \u00e9conomique du capitalisme : il en a fait une remarquable histoire psychologique.”<\/span>
\n<\/strong>WOZ. Die Wochenzeitung (Suisse)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ko\u0308lner<\/p>\n

“Scheidler r\u00e9ussit \u00e0 expliquer des d\u00e9veloppements complexes et aide \u00e0 naviguer dans la jungle du chaos quotidien de l’information<\/span><\/span>.”
\n<\/strong>K\u00f6lner Stadtanzeiger<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n
\n

\"Publik<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cScheidler xamine l’\u00e9mergence de la civilisation moderne et du syst\u00e8me capitaliste sous des angles nouveaux et inhabituels. Une contribution pr\u00e9cieuse.” <\/span><\/strong>Socialist Standard<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Der<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

“Une \u00e9tude approfondie de la civilisation depuis ses d\u00e9buts jusqu’\u00e0 aujourd’hui. Scheidler s’est concentr\u00e9 sur la question cl\u00e9 (…) Il nous laisse avec un sentiment de possibilit\u00e9s”.
\n<\/strong>Counterpunch<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Excerpts from reviews in French<\/h3>\n<\/div>

<\/h3>\n

“This well-documented analysis dismantles the myths and narratives that have glorified and naturalized relations of domination.”
\n<\/strong>Le Monde diplomatique<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

“<\/strong>Telling the history of Western civilization from a new angle is Fabian Scheidler’s successful gamble in this comprehensive synopsis. A fascinating read throughout.” <\/strong>Herv\u00e9 Kempf, <\/em>Reporterre<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Fabian Scheidler does not just describe a dead end, but proposes a new \"\"way of looking at the founding narrative of modern Western civilization. This committed work can be seen as a manual of resistance, a motivating reflection that boils down to one question: what kind of social organization do we want?\u201c<\/strong> Le Temps<\/a>, Suisse<\/em><\/p>\n

For more reviews, interviews and reports (Radio France Culture, Lib\u00e9ration, Le Nouvel Observateur and many other media) please visit www.megamachine.org<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Excerpts from reviews in Spanish<\/h3>\n<\/div>

<\/h3>\n

“Scheidler’s prose has a great narrative drive, full of historical examples,\"\" facts and documents, leaving no room for tedium.” <\/strong>El Pa\u00eds<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/em>\"\"“A monumental work and a fascinating read. This is a very necessary book.” <\/strong><\/span>Radio Nacional de Espa\u00f1a<\/em> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Excerpts from reviews in Italian<\/h3>\n<\/div>

<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

“The work makes us realize (…) that the fundamental problem of modern societies is not only that of the environment or income inequality or increasingly looming financial instability, but that all these problems are in some way interrelated. Thus, the concluding diagnosis is credible: current policies for the environment are totally inadequate.” <\/strong>Marco Onado in Il Sole 24 Ore<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

“In his remarkable book, Fabian Scheidler tells the story of the first power \"\"structures up to the birth of Western universalism with its myth of modernity, and further from the 15th century to the present day.”<\/strong> Alfonso Berardinelli in Il Foglio Quotidiano<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Excerpts from reviews in German<\/h3>\n<\/div>

\"Der<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“The book makes us understand how todays madness came into being. You do not feel uncomprehending and powerless unymore, but ready for a new start.\u201c <\/strong>The German weekly Der Freitag<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Publik“This book should become part of the curricula of all schools and universities.”
\n<\/strong>Prof. Ulrich Duchrow in the German biweekly Publik Forum<\/a><\/em>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Taz\" “An extremely good read”<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>The German daily Taz. Die Tageszeitung<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Zeitpunkt\"“Well-founded and highly original.”<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>The Swiss monthly Zeitpunkt<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"WOZ\" “Fabian Scheidler has written not only an economic but also a remarkable psychological history of capitalism.”
\n<\/strong>The Swiss weekly WOZ<\/a><\/em>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ko\u0308lner<\/span><\/p>\n

“Scheidler succeeds in explaining complex developments und helps to navigate through the jungle of the everyday information chaos.”
\n<\/strong>The German daily “<\/em>K\u00f6lner Stadtanzeiger”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"WOZ\" “The book opens our view for contexts that are often overlooked. History is not presented in the frames of distinct disciplines (political, social, economic, cultural) , but in its interdependencies.” <\/strong>The Austrian daily Der Standard<\/a><\/em>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Interviews<\/h3>\n

For a list of interviews in English, French, Spanish and Italian please visit fabianscheidler.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Interviews in German: fabian-scheidler.de<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Interviews in English<\/h3>\n<\/div>

<\/span><\/p>\n