Chronicles of a Liquid Society

Umberto Eco was an international cultural superstar. In this, his last collection, the celebrated essayist and novelist observes the changing world around him with irrepressible curiosity and profound wisdom. He sees with fresh eyes the upheaval in ideological values, the crises in politics, and the unbridled individualism that have become the backdrop of our lives—a “liquid” society in which it’s not easy to find a polestar, though stars and starlets abound.

In these pieces, written for his regular column in L’Espresso magazine, Eco brings his dazzling erudition and keen sense of the everyday to bear on topics such as popular culture and politics, being seen, conspiracies, the old and the young, new technologies, mass media, racism, and good manners. It is a final gift to his readers—astute, witty, and illuminating.

“A swan song from one of Europe’s great intellectuals . . . [Eco] entertains with his intellect, humor, and insatiable curiosity.” — Kirkus Reviews

“An intelligent, intriguing, and often hilariously incisive set of observations on contemporary follies and changing mores.” — Publishers Weekly

“Chronicles of a Liquid Society is a wonderful reminder of a great writer, thinker, and human being.” — Toronto Star