_Men Among the Ruins_ is the post World War II political reflections of the Italian intellectual Julius Evola. Continuing along the same lines as he had in his more famous _Revolt Against the Modern World_, Evola advocates a return to Tradition and radical counter-revolution. This translation is divided into three parts: an excellent introduction to the life and thought of Julius Evola, the text of _Men Among the Ruins_ proper, and Julius Evola's defense when brought in front of a court for charges of subversive activity.

_Men Among the Ruins_ has been called a "dangerous book" and Evola has been called a fascist; however, if we are unable to read these "dangerous books" and decide for ourselves what they have to say then we will never be able to learn anything from outside of the dull conformist mainstream. The introduction to this book explains much of Evola's thought and life, while at the same time explaining the particularly tricky issues of his involvement with fascism, his lectures in Germany, his racist theories (unlike the crass biological racism of certain components of the National Socialist regime, Evola advocates a spiritual notion of race), and his relationship with antiSemitism (including mention of the notorious forgery "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion").

_Men Among the Ruins_ advocates a return to Tradition and a rejection of modern day liberalism, Bolshevism, individualism, collectivism, and the ideals of the revolution. Against this, Evola proposes a return to an underlying Indo-European substratum, authority, and a re-recognition of the necessity for transcendence. The book includes discussions of various aspects of the State, hierarchy, work and the economy, the Roman Imperium, corporativism (which Evola will somewhat reject along with socialism), militarism, and the role of war. Evola also tackles the issues of the "occult war" (including many of the rumors about the Jews - Evola rejects the more virulent forms of antiSemitism), the "problem of births", and Roman Catholicism as a component of that Tradition. I disagree somewhat with Evola's rejection of Catholicism, although it is unclear to me how much of this aspect of the Tradition is retainable (this would include recognition of the changes in the Church post-Vatican II, as well as the need to address the problem Evola brings up of the world's other religious traditions within the framework of Catholicism). Evola concludes with a discussion of the united Europe and a call for a new European Order. Evola writes specifically about the kind of men that are needed to compose this new Order, including old European families and military leaders. He concludes, "It remains to be seen which and how many men, in spite of it all, still stand upright among so many ruins, in order that they may make this task their own." The book concludes with Evola's defense before the Italian court and his rejection of his specific "glorification of Fascism" charge. This defense is one of the best clarifications of Evola's personal idiosyncratic thought that I have encountered.

In order to read this work, it is probably necessary to first complete Evola's more famous _Revolt Against the Modern World_. Most of Evola's other works that have been translated have a more esoteric bent to them and are less outrightly political. In the end however, Evola advocates a form of apoleteia, a phenomenon he will refer to as "riding the tiger", and a rejection of all party politics. In fact, Evola never participated in outright politics nor ever voted in his entire life. The book goes beyond the familiar schema of Right and Left political thinking and is certainly not to be recommended to any person completely absorbed in either mainstream or modernist ideologies and modes of thinking.

A great book. Not as good as his Revolt Against The Modern World but still great. A good read for any one interested in the Pagan Revival and fighting against liberalism, capitialism, and the new world order.

Now, with "Men Among the Ruins," the political Evola also enters the ruinous cultural landscape of America. Here we find the dynamite of Evola's world view, packed in the warning colors of black and red. Another safety-mechanism, as Joscelyn Godwin aptly remarks in his Foreword, is the hundred-page introduction to Evola's political thought by H. T. Hansen. The placement of a thinker in his historical and biographical context naturally relativizes the ideas that he advocates--however apodictically he may have expressed them. Hansen's analysis, taken from the German edition of the book ("Menschen inmitten von Ruinen" 1991) presents not only the first factual biographical sketch of Evola in the German world, but remains hitherto the fundamental treatment of his political development, above all in the Fascist and National Socialist epoch--although, as Hansen mentions in the additions he has made for the American edition, some very worthwhile works have appeared in the meantime, which help to sharpen many contours. Evola appears more and more as a central figure of a right-wing, 'reactionary' revulsion against the mass-aspects of National Socialism and the biologism of many of its ideologues. His 'spiritual racial doctrine' arises from the attempt to offer an alternative in the field of racial theory to the cattle-breeding mentality of the National Socialists.
In "Men Among the Ruins," the concepts of democracy and of electoral Fascism, of the nation-state and individualism, the bourgeois world-order, historical pusillanimity, economic thought-habits, to name but a few, are torn to shreds simply through being juxtaposed with the sovereign, Ghibelline, authoritarian, masculine, and solar Tradition. Then in the course of sixteen chapters, the ruins of the modern world are carted away, piece by piece. As the book closes, the view opens up: one breathes the new, freer and fresher air of the aristocratic spiritual and soul-world that one's reading has revealed, and sees in the distance a Europe united in the spirit of Tradition.

This book shows a american's prospective of fighting with the British R.A.F. during the World War. This book has many personal insights into that period of Mr.Raymond's experince being a bomber piolt for the R.A.F.

TYR's focus on anti-modernist viewpoints, primarily within the scope of history and paganism, is very close to völkisch ideologies in early twentieth century Europe: references to nature and the gods abound. While that acceptable on some levels, at times the contents of Tyr become too radicalized for its own good. Specifically by referencing John Walker, the American Taliban, and murderers like the Unabomber as a sort of purveyor of anti-modernism, Tyr would seem to alienate all but the most reactionary of individuals.

The general proposition from Tyr is rather then transform modernity into something beneficial beyond the current environment of plutocracy, one should avoid it altogether (see recommendations such as "eliminate technology as much as possible" or "leave one's dwelling and encounter nature directly"). This is not practical to the standard individual (whom ultimately I can only assume they are trying to cater to) and at worst comes across as idealistic.

One can hope that in the second issue some of these issues are addressed.

TYR is a surprisingly well-written book based on the Radical Traditionalist ideals of Italian Neo-Pagan and Nationalist Julius Evola.
Whereas Julius Evola was a Roman Neo-Pagan and a bit of a Taoist, a Radical Conservative, (Evola was NEVER a Fascist), and a flag-waving Italian Patriot, the people who wrote the essays that make up the book TYR are Norse Pagans, heathens, Odinists, or followers of the Asatru Faith.
Their political ideas are Left wing, Right wing as well as some pretty middle of the road stuff. I don't find Radical Traditionism very "radical", but I am a very extreme Pagan.
I liked Thorsson's essay about culture a lot. He showed how culture creates citizens.
After watching great American cultural events like Yuppies on Fear Factor racing to see who can eat a Pig Penis the fastest, it's surprising that more Americans aren't serial killers. What trash has Western culture become!
Anyway, if you didn't already know the soul of the West is rotting, you wouldn't be into Asatru in the first place, so I don't need to tell what a sack of vomit America is.
The book TYR is set up like a magazine. This is Vol. 1; hopefully, Vol. 2 will be out next year.
I like the ads. for Nordic goods: music, art, etc. It has some great culture connections.
TYR is a must have book for today's heathen. It will spark some good debates around the Mead Hall.
There are so few books now days that force you to think outside the Iron Heel box. TYR is very Un-PC. TYR is a good blow against the "Dictatorship of Crap" we call Western Civilization.

Tyr is a great journal. The articles are written by true scholars, philosophers, and theologians of the Greater Heathen Awakening. This book shows how we do not need to latch onto the present "Decline of the West" and be the host animal to the leeches of Monoculturism, Urban Life, and Ignorance. Yes, there are simularities to some old Volkisch philosophies, but the difference is, Tyr keeps them from going into the extremist realms that WWII Germany let them fall victum to. We mustn't let a knee-jerk reaction prevent us from seeing truth. Tyr keeps good, heathen thought pure and at home. As Stephen E. Flowers says in his opening sentence of his article, "Our culture is sick." But Tyr is the, at first bitter but, severely needed swallow of the badly needed medicine which many cure us. The first dose is always the hardest to swallow. But once you know and think about it intellectually, you come to realize it tastes pretty good. Now people just need to turn the knowledge into action!! Joshua Buckley, Michael Moynihan, and the rest of the editors of Tyr did an incredible job. I cannot wait to get my hands on volume 2! Every heathen should read this journal.

Sure, this book shows the so-called "occult" focus behind the Nazo party, but what it doesn't do is explain that this focus has NOTHING at all to do with the ancient ways of Europe. The runes, an alphabet script employed all over Europe in pagan times were used by Wiligut and co. to link the totally Middle Eastern nonsense of Kabballa, Hermeticism, etc. with European paganism, which, in fact, had nothing in common with the Jewish Kabballa at at all.
If you're interested in authentic European paganism and its focus, read "The Well and the Tree", which is available right here at amazon.com but if you merely want information on the pathos that some within the Nazi party attempted to develop into an occult/philosophical system, then this book will do.
Its amazing that for a political party containing people who had strong negative feeling against the Jews, the occult current they chose to focus on and subvert old and authentic European pagan symbols and powers with, was Jewish! Of course, this may explain why the Rothschilds, Warburgs, Schiffs, and other Jewish banking families were never harmed by the Nazis whether they were living in German throughout the war, or whether they were in occupied France. There's more to the Nazi's, the Jews, and the second world war than meets the eye!

Well, the introduction gives a decent introduction to Wiligut's basic ideas, but I would have liked more background in Wiligut's involvement with the Nazi party and Himmler. There are vauge references to Wiligut being rejected by the Ahnenrbe as "too fanciful", but more treatment would have been a real bonus. An introduction to rune-ology, and its historical placement & impact on Germanic/Nazi thought would have helped place Wiligut in a broader historical perspective.

Wiligut's writings, which make up the bulk of the book are for the die-hard fan only. You will need a serious grounding in contemporary germanic metaphysical thought to get much out of it.

Layout & printing of the book present well (and it gets an extra star for it)

The Secet Kings is a good translation of a very weird book by a very weird man.
First, any one into the occult, Nazism, history, runes, or Asatru should buy this book, for no other reason than this is the only book I know of that has Wiligut's Nazi occult writtings.
As far as German occultists go, Wiligut is only important because he was a friend of the head of the S.S.
Most German Wotanists, both racialists and non-racialists, thought of him as nuts.
There is a thin line between a nut and a prophet.
Some people say there is no line.
In fact, he was kicked out of the S.S. for being insane.
The Great Aryan Pagan Walter Darre thought Wiligut a crackpot; to understand the New Paganism, read Darre.
Guido Von List, who was Folkish, but not an Aryan racist by our standards, is far more important to Neo-Pagan thought, while Wiligut, who was more of a common nut than a true Aryan racist, is more important as a shadowy figure in Nazi history.
This is an interesting book, but it should not be taken too serious in the world of today's Euro-centric Paganism.
Darre is the best Pagan out of the National Socialist age.

Great intro to Global Marketplace. Of course, by now many examples and data provided in the book are somewhat outdated, but consider it a reference. The rest you can look up on the Internet. Actually, I really enjoyed the book and the course. Probably, the reason was that one of the co-authors was teaching it. Anyway, it's a great book and a nice reading.

I received my copy of "Lords of Chaos" a few months ago and I have read about three times. I was surprised by the excellent writing and unbiased view of a controversial scene. Moynihan and Soderlind should be commended on the job they did. Contrary to the views of a few ignorant people, the book is not fascist propaganda but takes an honest look at the Black Metal scene from its origins to the individual bands and their views. Unfortunately in this culture of "political correctness" people have become hyper-sensitive to anything that doesn't follow or adhere to their agenda. I think Moynihan deals with the subject matter in a very professional manner and neither supports nor condemns the views of certain persons, but covers them objectively to let ther reader make up his or her own mind. While as a minority I was somewhat put off by certain viewpoints expressed, it did not diminish my high praise for the book. Those who want more info can also check out certain underground magazines such as Terrorizer, Metal Maniacs and also a Norweigan zine called Slayer Mag. Also, one can investigate underground labels like Century Media, Nuclear Blast, Misanthropy, Candlelight and others for more information about certain bands and their music. Kudos and props to Moynihan and Soderlind for their superior piece of literary work. Don't believe the hype- read for yourself and make your own conclusions!!

I've been listening to extreme metal for about 2 years now, and black metal is something that is still sparse in my collection. I'd heard lots of stories about the exploits of the most well known members of the genre, but this book was the first detailed account about the shocking amount of activity that occurred, that I read. Not only did I gain a new perspective on the band members and followers of the movement and its beliefs, but the music as well. Fortunately, the majority of the book focused on the "why". What drove these social outcasts to murder? Sometimes simplistic answers are downright chilling. It would be difficult for any one book to truly capture the full essence of the philosophy that drives the black metal movement, probably the first branch of metal with such a closely tied political and spiritual agenda, but this book gives a fantastic introduction to the unsuspecting newcomer. Anyone who is remotely curious about the music, the philosophy, or the church burnings/murders/suicides should definintely pick this up. The information about politics towards the end can get somewhat thick, but it is still worth the read.

Lords of Chaos traces Satanic Metal from its dark roots in jazz and blues, through it's rather comical incarnations with bands such as KISS and Black Sabbath, on to the bloody and deadly serious Black Metal of Norway. The book is very well thought-out, and does not merely report on the bands, but the real people involved in them; their thoughts, their frustrations, their goals and their dreams. Lords of Chaos also deals briefly with the elements of facism and Odinism in the black metal "scene," and some of the effects of Satanic music in America. I highly recommend Lords of Chaos to metal fans, Satanists, Odinists, janitors, housewives, and security guards, (just to name a few.) It's enlightening, entertaining, and moves deftly from the ghastly to the esoteric and back; kids, you just won't get this on Jerry Springer! (Or, maybe you will, on the show, "My Daughter Sold Her Soul To Burzum.") Well worth the money; buy two, and give one to a friend!

I purchased this book as a researcher to assist me in my work and serve as a tool to both speed-up processes and use as a source to back-up my findings. One would imagine that the publishers would have provided accurate information. I found several errors in the information provided which demonstrates a lack of research and sloppiness in proofing of material contained within it. For instance; Judy Garland (a well known Irish American with very public information) is listed as the granddaughter of a FITZGERALD she was a FITZPATRICK ( big difference when you are using the information for research and genealogy and want a reliable source document for footnotes or bibliographies! the errors can result in un-substantiated work and wrong information. There are other errors less obvious but are too numerous to list. In short, this book was a waste of money and time on my part being of no help at all. I question all the data contained in it. The publisher has not provided a correction of the page as requested by me.

This encyclopedia is a wonderful source of information that is delightfully synthesized into one volume. The beauty of this book is that it acts as a source of historical information and provides hours of leisure entertainment in one volume. From Bing Crosby to Eamon De Valera, the Irish American relationship is well embraced and honored wonderfully. With reference to the Irish influence in virtually every state, this book provides a unique look at the history of these hard-working and successful immigrants. A must have in any Irish-American household.

This weighty volume will appeal to holdings with strong Irish history interests: it is compiled by a panel of scholars drawn from various nations and details the Irish people in Ireland and America. The inclusion of listings by state and area allows students to narrow their studies to local Irish history, while the listings include notable individuals, events, and social and religious topics affecting the Irish. A comprehensive and important addition to any serious Irish history collection.