Resurrection From The Underground

Feodor Dostoevsky

Rene Girard

Recommended By

Book Synopsis

Resurrection From The Underground by Rene Girard dives into the depths of human desire and the power dynamics that shape our society. Through a close examination of influential literary works and cultural myths, Girard unveils the destructive nature of mimetic desire and the scapegoat mechanism.

Drawing from the works of Dostoyevsky, Cervantes, Shakespeare, and others, Girard explores how the resurrection of Christ disrupts the cycle of violence inherent in human affairs. With incisive analysis, he reveals how our collective fear of death and our relentless pursuit of rivalry lead to societal turmoil and the sacrificial victimization of others.

Girard's work exposes the fallacy of mimetic rivalry, in which we imitate others out of a misguided belief that it will fulfill our desires. He argues that the primal fear of contagion and exclusion drive individuals to turn against each other in a perpetual war of imitation. This rivalry, often fueled by envy and resentment, ultimately results in the sacrifice of a chosen victim who is blamed for society's ills.

However, according to Girard, in the resurrection of Christ lies the hope for liberation from this destructive cycle. By exposing the violence and scapegoating mechanisms, the resurrection reveals the necessary sacrifice of Jesus as a means to transcend mimetic rivalry and restore harmony within society.

Resurrection From The Underground is a thought-provoking exploration of human desires, violence, and the potential for redemption. Girard's critical analysis unearths the universal patterns of behavior that underpin our societal structures, offering an alternative path towards peace and understanding.

With its meticulous examination of literary classics and philosophical concepts, this book offers readers the opportunity to reflect on their own desires and the impact of mimetic rivalry on their lives and relationships. Resurrection From The Underground serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of love, forgiveness, and the need for communal reconciliation.

Explore More Books

See All
The Robert Collier Letter Book
The Reluctant Mr. Darwin
Calculus Made Easy
Consciousness
Traction
The Lizard King
Priceless
Globalizing Capital
Feeding the Dragon
The American Challenge
How Companies Win
How to Get Lucky
The Crisis of Global Capitalism
Leadership and Self-Deception
Super Pumped
Markings
The New One Minute Manager
Over the Edge of the World
The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Trillion Dollar Coach
How To Avoid a Climate Disaster
Layered Money
The Fault in Our Stars
Notes From an Apocalypse
Hackers and Painters
Fallen Leaves
If The Universe Is Teeming With Aliens...Where Is Everybody?
The World is Flat
The 4 Hour Work Week
Stories of Your Life and Others
The Great War of Our Time
Impromptu
The Sovereign Individual
Cloud Atlas
The Upside of Stress
Working in Public
The Plus, Self-Help for People Who Hate Self-Help
The Rape of Nanking
Great Short Poems
Principles
COAN
More Human
A Great Leap Forward?
Nonviolent Communication
Asset Management
Rainbows End
The Capitalist Manifesto
Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant
Exhalation
On Wings of Eagles
The Gene
Devouring Freedom
Liberating Learning
Dataclysm
Upheaval
Call of the Reed Warbler
The Art of Computer Programming
Pre-Suasion
Good To Great
The Emperor of All Maladies
Our Final Invention
Bad For You
Plants of the Gods
101 Things I Learned in Engineering School
The Gutsy Girl
1000 Ways to Make $1,000
Foundation
Jack
Lincoln
Storm of Steel
Clear Thinking
The Great Transformation
Success
The Etymologicon
Be Here Now
The Compleat Strategyst
Hug Your Haters
Bet With the Best
When The Heavens Went on Sale
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Chapterhouse: Dune
Seeking Wisdom
The Idealist
A Mind at Home with Itself
Hail Mary
Lonesome Dove
Founding Sales
Simple & Direct
Evicted
The Machine Stops
Maverick
The Goal
The Warrior Ethos
Live Your Truth
Siddhartha
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Thinking Physics
American Lion
Dear Leader