Age of Anger: A History of the Present by Pankaj Mishra

In Age of Anger: A History of the Present, Indian essayist and author Pankaj Mishra explores the rise of anger, aggression and irrationality at the heart of today’s chaotic world. At a time when populism and extremism are gaining strength, Mishra delves into a deep examination of history in an effort to better understand the origins of our current discontent.

Mishra begins his thought-provoking book by examining the French Revolution, and its origins in partisan political differences and a pervasive sense of inequality in a system perceived by its beneficiaries as unjust. He examines how this revolution, a “radical and furious overturning of an ancien regime”, gave rise to intensely felt emotion, anger, and irrational behavior that was not seen in France since the age of Catiline.

Mishra then shifts his focus to identify the causes behind the modern rise of anger and its consequences. With each chapter, he examines different angles of the global discontent that has risen from the ashes of World War II and the fall of the Soviet Union. He considers the rapid spread of globalization, the power and reach of technology, and the emergence of a new type of working-class politics, as well as the rise of stubborn economic inequality and ongoing military interventions around the world.

Mishra secondarily observes the consequences of the radicalism, pointing to the popularity of culturally repressive figures such as Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Central to his discussion is how tradition-bound societies have become more willing to embrace dangerous ideologies, while those around the world who were once seen as moderate and outward-looking have become more radicalized and bitter. He draws upon multiple examples to illustrate how people living in one corner of the world increasingly view and act upon individuals in distant places as if they were their enemies.

Having identified and explored the causes of contemporary anger, Mishra then seeks to answer where all this discontent and agitation is leading us. He addresses the disruption of nation-states, and the emergence of a new kind of global disorder, as well as the growing sense of insecurity and the changing character of war. He also contemplates the future of populist movements, calling for reform and innovative long-term solutions.

In his book, Mishra offers his own particular takes on contemporary terror, political revolutions, economic transformations, social media and its effects on public thought, and the consequences of globalization. In the end, his analysis invites his readers to meditate on the implications of the current age of anger and to seek out hopeful paths to a better future. His work is thoughtful and provocative, and with its mix of astute scholarship and passionate storytelling, it provides a powerful and timely look at the troubled state of our world.