Description
The Usefulness of the Useless
Book Summary
In a world obsessed with productivity and performance, Nuccio Ordine invites us to reflect on the incalculable value of that which has no immediate utility. This manifesto brings together quotes and reflections from great thinkers, writers, and artists throughout history to defend literature, art, and knowledge as essential goods for humanity. A work that reminds us that what is free and disinterested is, in reality, what is most necessary for a full life and a freer society.
What is it about?
The Usefulness of the Useless is an essay structured into three fundamental parts. In the first, Ordine explores the paradoxical "usefulness of the useless" through literature, demonstrating how works with no apparent practical application are precisely those that teach us to think, to feel, and to be more human. Next, the author gathers contributions from key figures in the world of culture who, throughout history, have defended disinterested knowledge against the logic of profit. Finally, the work becomes a passionate defense of the humanities, education, and critical thinking as tools to resist the tyranny of the useful and the immediate.
Main themes
- Defense of literature and the humanities as essential goods.
- Criticism of a contemporary society obsessed with productivity and performance.
- The value of disinterested knowledge and reflection without a practical goal.
- The paradox of the usefulness of the useless in the formation of the individual and society.
- Compilation of quotes and thoughts from great figures of universal culture.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in philosophy, literature, and humanistic essays. It is especially recommended for those seeking a deep reflection on the role of art and knowledge in a world dominated by market logic, as well as for those who wish to find solid arguments to defend the importance of a comprehensive and disinterested education.
What this book offers
- A lucid and passionate defense of the intrinsic value of culture and thought.
- A rich compendium of quotes and reflections from classical and contemporary authors.
- Tools to question the obsession with productivity and material success.
- An invitation to rediscover the pleasure of the free and the truly human.
- A perspective that reclaims creative leisure and reflection as acts of resistance.
Technical specifications
- Author: Ordine, Nuccio
- Publisher: Faktoría K
- Language: glg
- Subject: SOCIETY AND CULTURE: GENERAL
- Collection: AGORA K
- Binding: Paperback
- Number of pages: 192
- Weight: 268 g
Editorial review
The Usefulness of the Useless is an intellectually profound essay that offers a necessary and counter-cultural perspective in our time. The work stands out for its erudition and its ability to connect classical thought with contemporary debates, making it of interest both to specialists and to a general public with cultural concerns. Its clear structure and the use of selected quotes facilitate an enjoyable and profound reading, making it a reference title for those seeking reflection on the true value of knowledge.