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Caliban and the Witch

Women, the Body and Primitive Accumulation

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Caliban and the Witch

By: Silvia Federici
Narrated by: J. Lee Craig
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About this listen

Literary nonfiction.

Caliban and the Witch is a history of the body in the transition to capitalism. Moving from the peasant revolts of the late Middle Ages to the witch hunts and the rise of mechanical philosophy, Federici investigates the capitalist rationalization of social reproduction. She shows how the battle against the rebel body and the conflict between body and mind are essential conditions for the development of labor power and self-ownership, two central principles of modern social organization. Re-recorded in 2025.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2004 Silvia Federici (P)2022 Post Hypnotic Press Inc. Other Religions, Practices & Sacred Texts Spirituality Witchcraft Magic Users Magic Capitalism English Women
All stars
Most relevant
The author covers so many things and ties them together making a tapestry of history and the impacts of capitalism on women and those not in power.

This is one of the most relevant books of our time and everyone, especially women should read it.

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The most important book written on capitalism and feminism. Should be studied on all curriculums.

Vital reading

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Federici covers various aspects of the historical development of capitalism and the violent manner in which this process has been achieved. Federici also challenges assumptions made by historians and theorists on the left and right of the political spectrum to lay bare how violent and controlling the process of imposing capitalism has been.

Critically, Silvia Federici centres the workers (particularly working women) in this history and demonstrates how popular political theory and historical research has omitted the stories of women and thereby have weakened their own understanding.

Federici speaks to relevant issues in today’s world such as the control of women’s bodies and demonstrates how these struggles are part of a larger process of top-down control necessary for the development and maintenance of capitalism.

This is all presented in a well-researched and brilliantly written way, making these points easily accessible.

I thoroughly recommend Caliban and the Witch.

An excellent summation of the processes that capitalism inflict upon working people and their bodies, particularly women.

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Like water to a parched land, I read this book with thirst and appreciation. It touches on fundamental subjects that are so often overlooked in all other history books so that you are left unable to comprehend anything because such basic pieces of information and analysis are missing,. BUT when you read a book like this, lights begin to turn on, and things begin to fall into place in a marvellous way. I want to thank the author for it. The narration is not brilliant, but it is good enough.

A fascinating and intelligent book

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There is for sure some very dense language, but embedded within are some thorough factual observations on the world and women’s position in it. A must read for all.

Poetic and thoroughly executed

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