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Ivan Illich
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Tools for conviviality (Harper colophon book/CN 743) Paperback – January 1, 1980

by Ivan Illich (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 94 ratings
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Questo libro analizza la particolare relazione uomo-strumento che si è affermata nel contesto della società industriale.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    135 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Harper & Row
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 1980
  5. ISBN-10
    0060907436
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0060907433
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper & Row (January 1, 1980)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 135 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060907436
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060907433
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.6 ounces
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 94 ratings

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Ivan Illich

Ivan Illich
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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
94 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Joe Johnston
5.0 out of 5 stars Who's got privilege? Not me!
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2014
Verified Purchase
I think Illich was way ahead of his time. He shows that any program, or lack of program should be questioned: "Who benefits, who pays, who decides" He talks a lot about the ideas of Privilege and of Monopoly. Most of us are unaware of our own privilege, even when we are aware of that of others. Henry George in "Progress and Poverty" offers a solution to the economic aspects of privilege and monopoly.
19 people found this helpful
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Eli R. Good
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2019
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Definitely recommend. Some new takes on tools and how and why we do and SHOULD use them.
3 people found this helpful
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Gracie Tracie
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2018
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A must read if you want the truth!
2 people found this helpful
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Alex Sanchez
3.0 out of 5 stars Alright.
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2022
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This book neither presents a great argument nor much thoughtful insight into the philosophy of technology. It is an easy read but other than that it's not thought-provoking.
One person found this helpful
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Maria
5.0 out of 5 stars stunningly topical
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2012
I was blown away by the fact that 40 years after it was first written, this little book can make so much sense!
22 people found this helpful
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Daniel Pizarro
5.0 out of 5 stars Profound insight
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2014
Incredibly well presented case for understanding our relationship with tools.
5 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars mind blowing.
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 1999
This only fortifies my opinion that our leftists operate as industrial elitists and only serves big business with their social programs that insure the subordination of an underclass of consumers to keep the capital and mythical progressivism on motion.
14 people found this helpful
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BoldlyAsserted
2.0 out of 5 stars Kernels of insight buried in piles of manure
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2015
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An interesting look back at 1970 utopian socialism. Many, if not most of the prescriptions are ridiculous, suggestions such as limiting all transportation to the speed of bicycles or setting maximum and minimum incomes very close.

The book does offer some healthy critiques of technology and its potential for dehumanization (not the language used in the book). Also some of the analysis of institutional structures like education, which is condemned as conditioning only for industrial production have some validity. Politics and even language are indicted as creating a society of consumers who are slaves to addiction or slaves to envy.

Offers a historical perspective on anti-progress arguments that still appear today, but today, the sharp teeth are covered by benign dentures.
19 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Adam Greenfield
2.0 out of 5 stars Cheaply produced POD edition, without even a title or author on the spine
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 24, 2018
Verified Purchase
What you get in purchasing this edition of "Tools for Conviviality" is a cheap, nasty, print-on-demand pamphlet using poor quality materials, rather than a properly bound book. I can't even begin to comment on the irony.

Do yourself a favor and buy, instead, an old paperback edition in good shape, which will afford you much greater pleasure in reading.
12 people found this helpful
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細田泰子
5.0 out of 5 stars Tools for Conviviality
Reviewed in Japan on November 6, 2014
Verified Purchase
目立つ汚れもなく、とてもきれいでした。今後もご依頼したいと思います。
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