Submission: A Novel
Product ID: 35544430
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Submission: A Novel [Houellebecq, Michel, Stein, Lorin] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Submission: A Novel Review: Not a book on the rise of Islam, but a book on the failure of Europe - This is not Houellebecq's best work, but it is worthwhile. The novel has been portrayed as a controversial look at the rise of political Islam in France. Unfortunately, I find this description misleading. While Islam, in the form of a French based Muslim Brotherhood, is an important theme, it plays more of a passive role in the novel. The rise of the Brotherhood and the changes that occur to the French Republic are described in a matter of fact way. The real story of the novel is the clash between Everyman and the Western political elites that have failed to effectively promote the march of liberalism and secular humanism. Houellebecq describes a world adrift, lacking motivation and metaphysics. Additionally, he holds his greatest contempt for the Leftist intellectuals and mainstream political elites who are more than willing to throw their hat with the Brotherhood rather than permit the Far Right to hold any semblance of democratic legitimacy. The Left destroys humanism through having multiculturalism devour itself. Meanwhile, the Right eventually will find itself at home in an mildly Islamist country (less sexual society, return to family values, less drinking!). This is a description of a society that is split between apahty and desperation. Secular humanism fails to provide metaphysics. The promise of European liberalism died in the trenches of World War I and has been usurped by two forces: American consumerism and Islamism. His points show that it's hard for a society to get excited about mediocre politics, commerce and sexual liberation. Islamism represents a return to orthodoxy that Europe has been missing since the fall of medieval Christianity. Mainstream politics keeps liberalism on life support, masking the world as a struggle between communism and social democracy. However, both systems rely on statism and the erosion of the nuclear family and the Church. In the end, the masses realize there is little tangible difference in what is being offered by the political elites. Islam could easily be the new orthodoxy. It provides meaning and stability to both the apolitical and the overtly political (what is Islam without politics?). The West can retire nationalism, a 19th century invention that perpetuated death and destruction around the world, with minimal violence. The West can make an influence on Islam by inviting it in and safeguarding its cultural history. If history is written by the victors, why not surrender and influence the writing of history? Europe can shed the pain and suffering of the 20th century overnite. What great art or thought has come out of the West after the Franco-Prussian war? American consumerism? Do you really want to celebrate that? The West can protect and shape the history of its people by willfully submitting to a new orthodoxy, such as Islam. Imagine if the West could join its moderate Islamist brothers to help create a global, meaningful ever lasting Dar al Islam. Even better if the Dar al Islam could be run by the European Union. For those unfamiliar with Houellebecq, his writing style is not for everyone. He will provoke and occasionally disgust some readers. Reading Houellebecq is not a comfortable proposition, but Submission is one of his most approachable works. He writes a funny, engaging novel that presents a dire warning to where Western culture is heading. While having fun with us, Houellebecq is also serious about his subject matter. This is a fine example of contemporary tragic satire. It is important to remember this is satire. This is not realistic. However, despite the absurdity of the events, there are elements that are entirely plausible. Grand coalitions are made to ensure organizations like the National Front do not come to power. Far Right groups are gaining ground in just about all Western countries. A lot of the fear of the Far Right are not so much the history of fascism some groups represent, but instead their open hostility to the great EU experiment. The mainstream elites have spent 15 years using illiberal means to perpetuate the power Brussels has over the people. Houellebecq captures this sad disconnect between people and its rulers and shows just how bizarre society can get when people stop caring. Review: A sociologist's dream of a novel - This novel is far more a portrait of contemporary society than any inflammatory depiction of Islam. Houellebecq's protagonist, Francois, is the modern human who goes through life devoid of meaning, passion, any cherished human connection or deeply held beliefs. Sex and gourmandise fail to provide even momentary joy. His academic pursuits at least provide diversion and prestige, but they are not particularly fulfilling. This regime, that regime; it's hard to see how it could make any substantive difference to Francois. This is the masterful means by which we come to observe several sociological truths. First, nature abhors a vacuum; ergo those who do believe in something will trump the apathetic, the nihilist, and the anomic. Second, the family is a core unit of society; ergo the fraying of ties accompanied by the increased atomization of the individual poses a threat to the societal tapestry that must be addressed. Religions and other ideologies tend to fill the interstices, the cracks that form, rather effectively in a society. The filler in the 2022 France of Submission is a moderate Islam, a religion that already had traction due to Islamic immigration and a high birth rate. Rest assured that no terrorism is involved; that would be "amateurish" and repugnant. The multiple parties vying for power in France fracture the political system enough to allow the Islamic party to assume power with just 22% of the vote. Those who believe the events described to be totally implausible must not know history. Having lived in places where regime change dramatically transformed societies virtually overnight, I disagree vehemently. As for the criticism that a university would never allow itself to be subsumed into such an ideology, I counter with a decade of teaching experience in the university and another decade as a keen observer. Intellectuals can be co-opted and paid off as easily as other segments of society and are--witness the endowed chairs and the political bent they often have that supports the donors' so neatly. In Submission's Universitรฉ of Paris, there is abundant money flowing from the Gulf States to fund it all; salaries rise astronomically and those employees who no longer fit are paid sumptuous pensions. Why complain? Now they're free to do their research without the pesky teaching responsibilities. The regime change privileges males: patriarchy is acknowledged as reflective of the order and hierarchy present in nature. Women are relegated to the domestic sphere; polygamy becomes normalized. Again, those privileged by the system are unlikely to complain. This is a compelling page turner of a novel. It is intelligently written and as a result makes the reader feel smart. It does what great literature should do: it illuminates aspects of the human experience that are both changeless and quite specific to our time. Houellebecq reveals that, despite our disavowals, the undeniable human craving for the meaning and connection that is lacking in their lives can lead them down some rather unexpected paths.
| Best Sellers Rank | #49,270 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #152 in Political Fiction (Books) #411 in Fiction Satire #3,132 in Literary Fiction (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars (4,250) |
| Dimensions | 5.4 x 3.2 x 8.2 inches |
| Edition | Translation |
| ISBN-10 | 1250097347 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1250097347 |
| Item Weight | 2.31 pounds |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 256 pages |
| Publication date | October 25, 2016 |
| Publisher | Picador |
K**.
Not a book on the rise of Islam, but a book on the failure of Europe
This is not Houellebecq's best work, but it is worthwhile. The novel has been portrayed as a controversial look at the rise of political Islam in France. Unfortunately, I find this description misleading. While Islam, in the form of a French based Muslim Brotherhood, is an important theme, it plays more of a passive role in the novel. The rise of the Brotherhood and the changes that occur to the French Republic are described in a matter of fact way. The real story of the novel is the clash between Everyman and the Western political elites that have failed to effectively promote the march of liberalism and secular humanism. Houellebecq describes a world adrift, lacking motivation and metaphysics. Additionally, he holds his greatest contempt for the Leftist intellectuals and mainstream political elites who are more than willing to throw their hat with the Brotherhood rather than permit the Far Right to hold any semblance of democratic legitimacy. The Left destroys humanism through having multiculturalism devour itself. Meanwhile, the Right eventually will find itself at home in an mildly Islamist country (less sexual society, return to family values, less drinking!). This is a description of a society that is split between apahty and desperation. Secular humanism fails to provide metaphysics. The promise of European liberalism died in the trenches of World War I and has been usurped by two forces: American consumerism and Islamism. His points show that it's hard for a society to get excited about mediocre politics, commerce and sexual liberation. Islamism represents a return to orthodoxy that Europe has been missing since the fall of medieval Christianity. Mainstream politics keeps liberalism on life support, masking the world as a struggle between communism and social democracy. However, both systems rely on statism and the erosion of the nuclear family and the Church. In the end, the masses realize there is little tangible difference in what is being offered by the political elites. Islam could easily be the new orthodoxy. It provides meaning and stability to both the apolitical and the overtly political (what is Islam without politics?). The West can retire nationalism, a 19th century invention that perpetuated death and destruction around the world, with minimal violence. The West can make an influence on Islam by inviting it in and safeguarding its cultural history. If history is written by the victors, why not surrender and influence the writing of history? Europe can shed the pain and suffering of the 20th century overnite. What great art or thought has come out of the West after the Franco-Prussian war? American consumerism? Do you really want to celebrate that? The West can protect and shape the history of its people by willfully submitting to a new orthodoxy, such as Islam. Imagine if the West could join its moderate Islamist brothers to help create a global, meaningful ever lasting Dar al Islam. Even better if the Dar al Islam could be run by the European Union. For those unfamiliar with Houellebecq, his writing style is not for everyone. He will provoke and occasionally disgust some readers. Reading Houellebecq is not a comfortable proposition, but Submission is one of his most approachable works. He writes a funny, engaging novel that presents a dire warning to where Western culture is heading. While having fun with us, Houellebecq is also serious about his subject matter. This is a fine example of contemporary tragic satire. It is important to remember this is satire. This is not realistic. However, despite the absurdity of the events, there are elements that are entirely plausible. Grand coalitions are made to ensure organizations like the National Front do not come to power. Far Right groups are gaining ground in just about all Western countries. A lot of the fear of the Far Right are not so much the history of fascism some groups represent, but instead their open hostility to the great EU experiment. The mainstream elites have spent 15 years using illiberal means to perpetuate the power Brussels has over the people. Houellebecq captures this sad disconnect between people and its rulers and shows just how bizarre society can get when people stop caring.
C**T
A sociologist's dream of a novel
This novel is far more a portrait of contemporary society than any inflammatory depiction of Islam. Houellebecq's protagonist, Francois, is the modern human who goes through life devoid of meaning, passion, any cherished human connection or deeply held beliefs. Sex and gourmandise fail to provide even momentary joy. His academic pursuits at least provide diversion and prestige, but they are not particularly fulfilling. This regime, that regime; it's hard to see how it could make any substantive difference to Francois. This is the masterful means by which we come to observe several sociological truths. First, nature abhors a vacuum; ergo those who do believe in something will trump the apathetic, the nihilist, and the anomic. Second, the family is a core unit of society; ergo the fraying of ties accompanied by the increased atomization of the individual poses a threat to the societal tapestry that must be addressed. Religions and other ideologies tend to fill the interstices, the cracks that form, rather effectively in a society. The filler in the 2022 France of Submission is a moderate Islam, a religion that already had traction due to Islamic immigration and a high birth rate. Rest assured that no terrorism is involved; that would be "amateurish" and repugnant. The multiple parties vying for power in France fracture the political system enough to allow the Islamic party to assume power with just 22% of the vote. Those who believe the events described to be totally implausible must not know history. Having lived in places where regime change dramatically transformed societies virtually overnight, I disagree vehemently. As for the criticism that a university would never allow itself to be subsumed into such an ideology, I counter with a decade of teaching experience in the university and another decade as a keen observer. Intellectuals can be co-opted and paid off as easily as other segments of society and are--witness the endowed chairs and the political bent they often have that supports the donors' so neatly. In Submission's Universitรฉ of Paris, there is abundant money flowing from the Gulf States to fund it all; salaries rise astronomically and those employees who no longer fit are paid sumptuous pensions. Why complain? Now they're free to do their research without the pesky teaching responsibilities. The regime change privileges males: patriarchy is acknowledged as reflective of the order and hierarchy present in nature. Women are relegated to the domestic sphere; polygamy becomes normalized. Again, those privileged by the system are unlikely to complain. This is a compelling page turner of a novel. It is intelligently written and as a result makes the reader feel smart. It does what great literature should do: it illuminates aspects of the human experience that are both changeless and quite specific to our time. Houellebecq reveals that, despite our disavowals, the undeniable human craving for the meaning and connection that is lacking in their lives can lead them down some rather unexpected paths.
R**R
ๆจๅนด่ชญใใ ใใ่ฅฟๆดใฎ่ชๆญป: ็งปๆฐใปใขใคใใณใใฃใใฃใปใคในใฉใ ใใง่จๅใใใฆใใไฝๅใ ใใใฉใณใน่ชใฎไฝๅใชใฎใงใใฉใณใน่ชใฏใปใจใใฉ่ชญใใชใใฎใง็ก่ฆใใฆใใใใ่ฑ่ช่จณใใใฃใใฎใง่ชญใใงใฟใใ้ฉใใใใจใซๆฅๆฌ่ช่จณใพใงๅบใฆใใใใใใใใฉใณในๆๅญฆใฃใฆๆฅๆฌใงใพใ ็ฟป่จณใใใใใ ใ ไธญ่บซใฏใพใ่ชญใฟใใใใใใฉใณในใฎๅฐ่ชฌใ ใจใใใใจใงใใใใฎใใใใชใๆใ็ถฟใ ใจ็ถใใๆๅใฏใฏใใใฆ่ชญใใใฎใใจใใๆๆใใใฃใใฎใ ใใใใใฏๆๅญๆใใใใฃใจใใ้ใซ่ชญใใฆใใพใใๆใใใฆใใๅ ดใฏใใฉใณในใฎใใชใฎๅคงๅญฆใฝใซใใณใใใใฉใใใใฉใณในใฎๅคงๅญฆใฎไป็ตใฟใฏใใใใใใชใใฎใ ใใใงใๅคงๅญฆใฏๅ ธๅ็ใชๆๅๆฟๆฒปใ่กใใใๅ ดใ ใไธปไบบๅ ฌใฏใใใงใใฉใณในๆๅญฆใๆใใ40ไปฃใฎๆๆใใใฆๅฝผใฎๅฐ้ใฏใธใงใชใน๏ผใซใซใซใปใฆใคในใใณในใชใใงใใใใใฎไฝๅฎถใฏๅๅใใๆๅใชใใซใใณๆดพใฎไฝๅฎถใฎใ ใใใใใพใงใฏ่ชญใใ ใใจใฏใชใใ็ฌฌไธๆฌกๅคงๆฆๅใซ่ฆๅใใใใใใใผใฆใคใณใฎ้ฒๅ่ซใซใใ็ฅใๆญปใใ ๅพใฎไพกๅคใฎ็็ฉบ็ถๆ ใๅใใใใจใใๆตๆดพใจใใ็่งฃใ็งใฏใใฆใใใ ใใใฆๆใใใๆไปฃใฏ่ฟๆชๆฅใฎ2022ๅนดใฎใใฉใณในใใใ่ฟๆชๆฅๅฐ่ชฌใใใใใใฃในใใใขๅฐ่ชฌใใใใงใฏ็ท้ธๆใ่กใใใๅฝๆฐๆฆ็ทใ็ฌฌไธๅ ใซใชใใฎใ ใใ้ๅๆฐใๅพใใใจใฏใงใใใ็คพไผๅ ใฏ็ฌฌไธๅ ใซ่ปข่ฝใ็ฌฌไบๅ ใซ่บ้ฒใใใฎใMuslim Brotherhood๏ผใ ในใชใ ๅ่ๅฃ?)ใใใใงๅทฆๆดพใจไธญ้ใใใฎ็ฌฌไบๅ ใจ้ฃๅใ็ตใถใจใใใใใ ใใใฎ้ฃๅใฎใใผในใจใชใๆฟ็ญๅๅฎใๆฒ่ ใ ใฃใใใใฎๆฟ็ญๅๅฎ่ชไฝใฏๅฎๆใฎๅพฉๆจฉใจ็คพไผ็ฆ็ฅใฎๅๆธใจใฆใผใญใฎๅต้ ็ใชๆกๅผต(ๅใขใใชใซ่ซธๅฝใๅผใ่พผใใใจใซใใEurabiaๆงๆณ๏ผใใใผในใจใใฆใใใฎใ ใใใคใพใใจใใใฏๅฝๆไผๆฅญใๅ ฌๆ่ฒใธใฎๆฟๅบ่ฃๅฉใฎๅปๆญขใๆฟๅบ่ฃๅฉใๅปๆญขใจใชใฃใใใใ็พฉๅๆ่ฒใฏๅคงๅน ใซ็ญ็ธฎใใใๆ่ฒใฎๅ้ใงใฏใใฉใณในๅ ฌๆ่ฒใ็นๅพดใฅใใไธไฟไธป็พฉใฏๅฆๅฎใใใ็งๆ่ฒใไธญๅฟใจใชใใใจใซใชใใใคใพใใจใใใฏใชใคใซใใใผใๅผใณใใใๅ้ๅคงๅญฆใฎใฟใ่ฒกๆฟใ็ขบไฟใงใใใใจใซใชใใใใ ใใคในใฉใ ๆใฎๅคงๅญฆใธใจ่กฃๆฟใใใใใใจใซใใฃใฆใฎใฟใใใฎใชใคใซใใใผใฎๆฉๆตใซใใใใใใจใใใใจใซใชใใฎใ ใใคใพใๅคงๅญฆใฎใคในใฉใ ๅใชใฎใ ใใใใฆๅคงๅญฆใใใฏๅฅณๆงใฎๆๅกใฏๆถใใๅฅณๅญๅญฆ็ใฎๆ่ฃ ใๅคงๅน ใซๅคใใใใจใซใชใใใพใใๅฎถๆใใฎๅฝนๅฒใฎ่ฆ็ดใใซใใใๅฅณๆงใฎ็คพไผ้ฒๅบใฏๅฆๅฎใใใๅฅณๆงใฎๅฎถๅบญใธใฎใๅพฉๅธฐใใจๅผใๆใใซใๅทจ้กใฎๅญใฉใไธฆใณใซๅฎถๆๆๅฝใๆดๅใใใใใจใซใชใใๅดๅๅใฎไพ็ตฆใๆธใใๅคฑๆฅญ็ใๅคงๅน ใซไฝไธใใใใจใซใชใใ ไธปไบบๅ ฌใฎๅคงๅญฆๆๆใฏๅคงๅญฆใฎใคในใฉใ ๅใฎ็ตๆใๅคงๅญฆใใใฏ้ญ ๅ็ใชๅนด้ใจๅ ฑใซ้ฆใ่จใๆธกใใใใฌใผใซใใฌใณใใงใใๅฅณๆงใใคในใฉใจใซใธ็งปไฝใใฆใใพใฃใใใใใใจใใจๅธ่ใงใใฃใ็คพไผใจใฎๆฅ็นใ็ตถใใใฆใใพใใฎใ ใใใฎ็คพไผใจใฎๆฅ็นใฎ่ใใฏใใไปฅๅคใซใๆงใ ใช่งๅบฆใใๅผท่ชฟใใใใใใฎ็ถๆณใฎไธญใงไธปไบบๅ ฌใฏใใใคใใฎๆญดๅฒ็ใชใซใฝใชใใฏๅง้ขใๅถ็ถไธฆใณใซใใ็ฎ็ใฎใใใซ่จชใใใใจใซใชใใใใ ใใฎใใจใซใไปๅพใฎ้ใ่ฆใใใใจใฏใชใใใใใฆใใ้ธๆใใใฎไธปไบบๅ ฌใซ็ชใใคใใใใใใจใซใชใใ ใใฎ้ธๆใๆญฃๅฝๅใใใใใฎๅฒๅญฆ็ใชๅฏพ่ฉฑใใใฎๆๆใจๅคงๅญฆใฎๅญฆ้ทใจใฎ้ใง็นฐใๅบใใใใใฎใ ใใใใใฏๆฌไฝๅใฎ่ใงใใใใใฎไฝๅใฎใฟใคใใซใใ็คบๅใใฆใใใฎใงใ็จฎๆใใใฏๆงใใใ็ฅใ้ๅ ดใใๅพใฎๅฏพ็ซใฏใใผใใชไบบ้ไธป็พฉ๏ผๅ ฑ็ฃไธป็พฉ๏ผใจใฝใใใชไบบ้ไธป็พฉ๏ผliberal democracy)ใฎ้ใง็นฐใๅบใใใใฆใใใใใ ใใไธญ้ๅฃไฝใๆฐๆใใใใกใใซใใฆใใใใกใฏใใใฃใใฎใ ใใใจใใจใ็ฉถๆฅตใฎใๅฎถๅบญใใจใใๅไฝใฎๅดฉๅฃใซใพใงใใฉใ็ใใจใใใฎ่ซ็็ใชๅธฐ็ตใฏๅบ็็ใฎไฝไธใจใใใใใ ใใใฎ็จฎใฎๅฏพ่ฉฑใฏใใฑในใใฉใผใฎใDarkness at NoonใใใArrival and Departureใใงใ็นฐใๅบใใใใฆใใๅฎ็ชใฎไปๆใใ ใใใใ ๆฌๆธใงใฏใใใ็จฎpornographicใพใใใฎใทใผใณใไฝๅบฆใๆฟๅ ฅใใใใฎใ ใใใใพใๆฌ่ณช็ใชๅฟ ็ถๆงใฏๆใใใใชใใไธปไบบๅ ฌใฎๅฐ้ใงใใใใฆใคในใใณในใใฆใคในใใณในใฎๅๆไปฃไบบใงใใใๆงใ ใชใใซใใณๆดพใ่ฑกๅพดไธป็พฉใฎ่ฉฉไบบใๆๅญฆ่ ใซใ่จๅใใใใฎใ ใใใใใใฎไบบ็ฉใซใใพใ็ฅ่ญใฎใชใ็งใซใฏๆฌๆธใฎใใผใใจใฎๆๆฉ็ใช้ฃ้ขใใฉใใใใใใใใชใใฃใใใฏใใใฆๆฌไฝๅใใชใผใฆใจใซใฎใ๏ผ๏ผ๏ผ๏ผๅนดใใใถใใฃใผใใณใฎใๆใใใซๅนๆตใใไฝๅใใฉใใใฏ็ๅใ ใใใใใใซ่ฅฟๆฌง็คพไผใ่ฆใ็พไปฃใฎใใใชใบใ ใจใคในใฉใ ใ็พไปฃใฎใใฉใณในใจใใ่ๅฐใๅใใฆๅฏพๅณใใใใจใใไป็ตใฟใฏใใใใซใใ็จฎใฎ้ญ ๅใ็บๆฃใใใฆใใใๆฅๆฌใงใฏๅฎๆใใใฎใใใช้กๆใจใใไฝๅใฏๆธใใซใใใ ใใใ
A**.
This book is a best seller in France. If you know about human beings basic instincts, you will be able to draw countless ideas.
S**D
Very entertaining and well written. I loved the author's sardonic humour, although I had hoped for a slightly less compliant ending. But, I suppose, the appeal of an easy life is hard to resist.
Z**E
This book is a masterpiece. One might not find it appealing, since it talks about the well-known boring academic life, where nearly no one gets to do research on their chosen topic, or simply read what they want. However, the author portrays a middle-aged professor who is intelligent, melancholy, depressive, and yet French. Indeed, there is something very French about this book. The pace of the narration mirrors even Sagan, saying, Bon Jour, life! Salut everything. Being an expert on 19th century French literature, where Baudelaire brought the "depressive disease" at the turn of the century, he knows all about sensitivity, being an intellectual, politics, privilege, visiting prostitutes and strolling... Sometimes, I could smell the indifference Camus brought to our awareness. That, also strikes me to think about all the terror attacks happened recently as well as the protagonist. When Abbes comes into power, how on earth could he understand Camus' indifference with the tight kinship background. But yet the transformation for women to stay at home and wear veils have been smooth, not much confrontation. But where, should we put our Walter Benjaminian bourgeois sorrow? Among some issues, author sounds like Dostoyevsky, only with a much more peaceful reasoning, but still, the stormy conversation in big chunk paragraphs. It's reminiscent like history at all times.
R**L
This is such a strangely disturbing book that it's hard to classify. Is it a piss-take? Are we being taken for a ride? Perhaps only the French are qualified to have an opinion on those questions but for the English speaking reader it's a fascinating glimpse of a totally credible future . If you ignore one or two unlikely digressions , his picture of the abdication of the French intelligentsia makes perfect sense. I read this book in two days and couldn't stop thinking about it for a week.
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