Speed and Politics.

"Speed and Politics" (first published in France in 1977) is the matrix of Virilio's entire work. Building on the works of Morand, Marinetti, and McLuhan, Virilio presents a vision more radically political than that of any of his French contemporaries: speed as the engine of destruction. "Speed and Politics" presents a topological account of the entire history of humanity, honing in on the technological advances made possible through the militarization of society. Paralleling Heidegger's account of technology, Virilio's vision sees speed - not class or wealth - as the primary force shaping civilization. In this "technical vitalism," multiple projectiles - inert fortresses and bunkers, the "metabolic bodies" of soldiers, transport vessels, and now information and computer technology - are launched in a permanent assault on the world and on human nature. Written at a lightning-fast pace, Virilio's landmark book is a split-second, overwhelming look at how humanity's motivity has shaped the way we function today, and what might come of it.