The Book

Author’s Note: The presence of a link to, an essay by, or an extract from the work of, a person does not represent an endorsement of their entire body of work, or their activities outside of writing / activism. The book was written in 2012 / 13 and since then, personal activities have eclipsed the writings of some individuals. It is possible, some of the language used in this book may be slightly outdated – I will endeavour to correct this whenever I become aware of it.

Underminers is arranged into sections and chapters, along with an Introduction and an Epilogue.

Section 1 is the Theory of Undermining, including the background explaining why undermining is necessary and a detailed look at different aspects of undermining including the kinds of people who do it, the nuts and bolts of operational matters and a set of “rules” that Underminers should try to adhere to.

Section 2 is the Practice of Undermining which provides a huge variety of different things Underminers can do within five distinct paradigms: The Veil of Ignorance, The Machine, Activism, Communities and the Individual.

Below is a detailed account of each chapter including links to the published version where available.

Introduction [LINK]

Part 1: Groundwork

Chapter 1: Shake Yourself from Sleep [LINK]
We are born as connected human beings, and for many of us that is the last time we are connected to the real world. This is a chapter about the nature of connection and why it is the most important thing to reclaim if we are to allow humanity to continue on Earth.
Includes an essay by Carolyn Baker

Chapter 2: Undermining The Tools of Disconnection [LINK]
The Tools of Disconnection dominate every aspect of our civilized lives, from the seemingly mundane to the terrifyingly direct; from how we speak and how we learn to the theft of time and our insistence on hope over action, this chapter dissects these Tools in order that we can understand what we are up against. It also reveals why we don’t know many of these Tools exist at all.
Includes an exclusive essay by Dave Pollard

Chapter 3: Who Are The Underminers? [LINK]
At one time it was hoped that the environmental movement could save the Earth from the worst excesses of humanity. Now it is clear that the environmental movement includes some of the worst failings of humanity. Underminers are a unique breed of activists who eschew traditional ideas of what “change” really means; this chapter explains who they are.

Chapter 4: The Principles of Undermining [LINK]
Undermining is not something to just fall into or carry out in haste: it is a deliberate and careful process that has to be properly planned in order for it to succeed. It also requires a surprising number of personal attributes, all of which are explained in this chapter. If you want to become an Underminer here is where you will learn the basics.
Includes an essay by CrimethInc

Chapter 5: Ground Rules [LINK]
With great power comes great responsibility. Undermining is potentially the greatest force that will ever be unleashed on the destructive industrial machine, and thus it must be carried out with care and compassion. There are rules to undermining, and this chapter explains them with refreshing clarity.
Includes an exclusive essay by Anonymous

Part 2: Undermining

Chapter 6: Removing The Veil [LINK]
The most powerful Tool of Disconnection is the one that prevents us from perceiving how we are being kept as disconnected parts of Industrial Civilization. This chapter will explain a number of ways that the Veil of Ignorance can be torn, allowing people to finally see through to the workings of the machine.
Includes an essay by Nicky Hager

Chapter 7: Undermining the Machine [LINK]
The great edifices of civilization are about to be brought down, but not with force – with cunning and care. This chapter will address the systems that control communication, learning, consumption and wealth and the very way we perceive what is “good” in civilized society.
Includes exclusive essays by Ana Salote, David Edwards and Richard Reynolds

Chapter 8: Real Activism [LINK]
Undermining the industrial system is anathema to the desires of the environmental and social movements that claim to speak for the Earth and humanity. This chapter will address that conundrum and help to build a real movement for change through the power of undermining.

Chapter 9: Building Community [LINK]
The future of humanity – how we live, work and thrive as a species – lies not with civilizations, but with communities. We have to undermine the civilized (and divisive) ideas that we must at once be homogenous, global citizens and atomised, selfish achievers. This chapter is about learning to live together once more.

Chapter 10: Reclaiming Ourselves [LINK]
We are increasingly defined not by who we are but the way we live: we have “lifestyles” not lives; we do not work, we have “jobs”; we network rather than relate to each other. What Matters is What Matters To Us – here we will learn to do possibly the most difficult thing of all, tell ourselves the truth about who we are.
Includes an essay by Guy McPherson

Epilogue: A Last Toast to the Old World [LINK]

Please note that the text of published chapters could change at any time due to redrafting and error correction. The text pages include a version number and date to prevent confusion.

Full Book:

If you would like to read the whole book as a single download then there are currently two locations:

PRIMARY: ARCHIVE.ORG – CLICK TO DOWNLOAD PDF (opens in new window).

SECONDARY: LOCAL DOWNLOAD – CLICK TO DOWNLOAD PDF.

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