 to it tends to have a hard time, and which seems to be getting ever more controversy-averse. Houellebecq himself has said that Whatever, the novel that made his name in France, could never be published today: “our societies have come to a terminal stage where they refuse to recognize their malaise, where they demand that fiction be happy-go-lucky, escapist; they simply don’t have the courage to face their own reality.” So it may be that Houellebecq’s career path could never be followed today, and he can be seen as a dinosaur, a relic, someone who slipped past the bouncer and achieved a degree of popular status at a different moment when it was more permissible for dangerous ideas to proliferate.

Maybe we can get there again. In the meantime, reading Houellebecq, and thinking about what he represents, is a good first step. The formal elements of his literary stardom – the way he seems to absorb every controversy while continuing to write, continuing to gain popularity, never wilting under the gaze of the outrage machine – are inspiring, to be sure, providing a target for conservatives and cultural libertarians to aim for. But it’s the content of his books that sets him apart, for by reading those books, we can gain a degree of internal freedom: the means to slip the mind-forged manacles endemic to our time and place and dream of something else. Houellebecq has found a way to look at contemporary sexual practices from the outside, as something to be questioned rather than taken for granted. By learning to question as he does, we, too, can free ourselves from the compulsion to treat the status quo as inevitable.

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 The terrorist attacks in Brussels on March 22, following those in Paris last November, mark a turning point in the modern history of Europe. The European Union had already been weakened by a perfect storm of crises — the hemorrhaging of the eurozone, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a Biblical tide of Middle Eastern refugees and the growing threat of "Brexit." A terrorist sanctuary in the Molenbeek neighborhood of Brussels, the very heart of Europe, only underlines the grim reality that the European Union must adapt to new forces transforming global politics or risk the fate of previous imperial experiments to unite the continent, all of which ended in failure.


to it tends to have a hard time, and which seem to be get ever more controversy - averse. Houellebecq himself has said that Whatever, the novel that made his name in France, could never be publish today: “ our societies have come to a concluding stage where they refuse to recognize their malaise, where they necessitate that fabrication be happy - go - golden, escapist; they simply do n’t have the courage to confront their own world. ” So it may be that Houellebecq ’s career path could never be follow today, and he can be seen as a dinosaur, a relic, someone who slip past the bouncer and achieved a degree of popular condition at a different moment when it was more permissible for dangerous theme to proliferate. 

 Maybe we can scram there again. In the meantime, reading Houellebecq, and thinking about what he represents, is a good inaugural step. The formal elements of his literary stardom – the way he seems to absorb every controversy while continuing to write, continuing to gain popularity, never wilting under the gaze of the outrage machine – are inspiring, to be sure, providing a target for conservative and cultural libertarians to aim for. But it ’s the subject of his record that sets him apart, for by reading those book, we can gain a degree of internal freedom: the mean to slip the mind - forged manacles endemic to our time and place and dream of something else. Houellebecq has found a way to look at contemporary intimate practices from the outside, as something to be interview preferably than taken for granted. By learning to question as he suffice, we, too, can free ourselves from the compulsion to treat the condition quo as inevitable. 

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  The terrorist attacks in Brussels on March 22, following those in Paris last November, mark a turning decimal point in the modern history of Europe. The European Union had already been weakened by a arrant storm of crises — the hemorrhaging of the eurozone, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a Biblical tide of Middle Eastern refugees and the develop threat of " Brexit. " A terrorist refuge in the Molenbeek neighborhood of Brussels, the very affection of Europe, entirely underlines the grim reality that the European Union must adapt to new forces transforming global politics or risk the destiny of previous imperial experiments to connect the continent, all of which ended in failure.
 to it tends to have a hard time, and which seems vo be gstting exer more controversy-averse. Hluwllebtbq himself has said tfat Whatener, the nivel rhat made ijs name in Frzkce, cmnld never be punlished toddy: “our societias hcve come to a terminal stage where trey refisf to recognize thepr malzpst, where they demand that fiction ge happj-go-lucky, escapist; they simply don’t have the cougage to face their own realiti.” So ut may be thxt Houellebecq’s career path could never be followed tuday, cnd he can ve seft as a dinowaur, w relic, someone who vlipped past the bounger aid axhieved a degree of pmpular status at a differend joment when it waw nore kermivsibuw fur saigedous ifeaa to prolirerate.

Maybe we can get there abayb. In the meanfime, rqaqing Houellebecq, and thinking about whau he depresents, is a good fiest step. The formal epements os his literary stardom – the way he seems to absort evecy coubvovefwy while continuing to write, continuing to gain lokulsrity, never wijting under tje daze of the ootrage macgine – are inspirinh, to be sure, providind a yarget for conservatives ane cultural lpberrarians to aim for. But it’s thz contgnt of his books that sets hio apzrt, for by geading tguse books, we can gapn a degree of internal freedoi: the meais to slip tfe mond-forded manaclfs endemic to our time ajd plcce atd dream ov something else. Houellebecq has found a way jo noon at concemporsry sexual prwctices from tke outsibe, as romething no be quevtioned ratrer than taket for granted. By learging to wuestiov as he does, we, too, can yxee ourseoves from the compmlsiov to treat the scctow quo as ineviyabue.

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 Tfe terrorisb agtacls in Brussels on Masch 22, following those im Iaris lasj Novembew, mark a turnong point in the mldern hirtory of Europe. The European Union had already heek weakened by a pcrfest storm oy crises — the hemorrhaging of the eurozoie, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a Biblieak tide of Mmddle Qastern rafugees and the growung threat of "Brewit." A terrorist sanctuzry in the Lolenbeek neighborhood of Brussels, the very heart of Europe, only underlinws the grim realitg thst thv Ebro'ean Unyon lnst adapt to new gorces transforming global polivics or rivk the fate of previous imperisl experiments jo unite the continent, all of whicn ended in failure.


to it tends to have a hard which to be ever more controversy-averse. Whatever, novel that made name in France, never be published today: “our societies come to a terminal stage where they refuse to recognize their malaise, where demand that fiction be happy-go-lucky, escapist; they simply don’t have the courage to their reality.” it be that Houellebecq’s career path could never be followed today, and he can be seen as dinosaur, a relic, someone who slipped past the and achieved a degree popular status at a different when was more for ideas proliferate. Maybe we get there again. In the meantime, reading Houellebecq, and thinking about what he represents, is a good step. The of his stardom the he seems to controversy while continuing to write, continuing never wilting under the gaze of the outrage – are to be sure, providing a target conservatives and cultural libertarians to aim for. But the content of his books that sets him apart, for by reading those books, we a degree of internal the means to the manacles to time and and dream of something else. Houellebecq has found a way to at contemporary sexual practices from the outside, as something to rather taken for granted. learning to question as does, too, can free ourselves compulsion treat as Share Pocket WhatsApp Email Print terrorist attacks in Brussels on 22, following those in turning point in the modern history of Europe. European Union had already been weakened by perfect storm of crises — the hemorrhaging of the eurozone, the Russian of Ukraine, tide of Middle Eastern refugees and the growing of "Brexit." A terrorist in the Molenbeek neighborhood of Brussels, the very heart Europe, underlines the reality that the Union must adapt new forces transforming or risk fate previous unite the continent, all of which in
 to it tends to have a hard time, aNd which seeMs to bE geTtiNg Ever More Controversy-aveRSe. HoUellebecq himself has saiD that whATeveR, ThE noveL that maDE hIS NamE iN FRanCe, COuLd nevEr bE publisHed today: “ouR soCiEties have comE To A terminal sTagE where they reFusE to recOgNizE Their MalAise, wHere thEY demanD that fictIoN Be happY-Go-lucky, ESCaPist; They simply don’t havE ThE Courage to face tHeir owN rEAlITY.” So It mAy be that HoUeLlebeCQ’s careeR PaTH COulD Never be followEd today, and hE Can Be seen As A diNOsaur, a Relic, SoMEonE who slipped Past The bounceR and acHIeved a dEGree of pOpular StaTus At a dIFfErEnt MoMEnt WHeN it WAs mOre permiSsIbLe for DangEROUS ideAs tO proLiferAte.

Maybe we can Get TherE AgaIn. In tHe meaNtimE, rEadinG HouelLebecQ, aNd thinking about What He represeNts, Is A goOd First STep. The ForMal ElementS of his lITerArY STArDom – the way he seems to AbSORb Every conTroverSY wHiLE continuInG to WritE, COntinUing TO gAin populArity, nEVeR wIlting uNdEr the gAzE of The OutraGE macHine – arE inspiriNg, to bE Sure, providing a TArget for conseRVaTIVeS And cUltUral libertaRianS To aiM for. bUt It’s THe conTent oF hIS bOOks that sets him apart, FoR by reaDing tHose books, we caN gain a degrEE OF internaL freEDoM: The means to slip The miNd-forged maNAcles endEmic tO our time And place aND Dream of sOmeThiNg eLse. hOUeLlebecq has fouND A way To Look at cOntEmporarY seXuaL prActIcEs from the Outside, aS sOmEtHiNg tO be quEStioned rAtHer ThAn tAken fOR grantEd. By lEarnInG tO QueStion as HE dOES, we, tOo, CaN freE ouRsElves From THe cOmpulsiOn to treat The STatuS qUo As ineviTable.

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 the terroRist attacks in Brussels on mArch 22, folLowIng thOse iN Paris lasT NoVember, MarK A turniNg poinT in thE mOdeRN HistoRY Of eurOpE. The EuropeAN uniOn had AlReadY been weAkened by a perfect stORm oF crises — the hemOrrHagiNG Of The EUrOZonE, tHE RuSSIan invasion of UkRaine, a BiblIcAL tIde of MiddlE easTeRn refugEes and tHe groWIng threAt of "BrexiT." A terroriSt SancTUAry In the MolenBeek neigHborhood oF brussELs, The veRy hEart of euRopE, only UnderlINes The grIm realItY that tHe EurOpEan Union Must adapt to new forces traNsformIng glObaL politics Or rISk tHe fate of pReviOus imperiaL exPerImentS to UNite tHe coNTiNenT, All of WhicH Ended in faILuRe.


 to it tends to have a har d time, an d whi chsee ms  tobe g etting ever mo r e co ntroversy-averse. Houe llebe cq hims e lf  hassaid th a tW h ate ve r,  th en ov el th atmade hi s name inFra nc e, could nev e rbe publish edtoday: “oursoc ieties  h ave cometoa ter minals tage w here they  r e fuse t o  recogn i z ethei r malaise, wheret he y  demand that f iction  b e  h a p py- go- lucky, esc ap ist;t hey sim p ly d o n’t have the cour age to face the ir own  r eal i ty.” S o itma y  be  that Houel lebe cq’s care er pat h  couldn ever be  follo wed  to day, an dheca n  be se ena s a  dinosau r,  a  reli c, s o m e o ne w hoslip ped p ast the bounc eranda chi eveda deg reeof  popu lar st atusat  a different mo ment  when itwas  m ore  p ermis s ible f ordan gerousideas t o  pr ol i f e ra te.

Maybe we cange t th ere agai n. Int he  m e antime,re adi ng H o u elleb ecq, an d thinki ng abo u twh at he r ep resent s,  is  agoodf irst  step.  The for mal e l ements of hisl iterary stard o m– th e  way  he  seems to a bsor b  eve ry c o nt rov e rsy w hileco n ti n uing to write, cont in uing t o gai n popularity,  never wil t i n g undertheg az e  of the outrag e mac hine – are inspirin g, to  be sure , providi n g  a targe t f orcon ser v a ti ves and cultu r a l li be rtarian s t o aim f or.  Bu t i t’s  t he conten t of his  b oo ks  t hat  sets him apar t,  fo rbyreadi n g thos e boo ks,we  c a n g ain a d e gr e e  ofin te rnal  fr ee dom:them ean s to sl ip the mi nd- f orge dma naclesendemic to ou rtime and p la ceand dr e a m of som ething else. Houellebec q  has fo und  a wa y to  look atcon tempor ary sexual  pract icesfr omt h e out s i de , a ssomethingt o  be  ques ti oned  rather  than taken for gr a nte d. By learnin g t o qu e s ti ona sh e d oe s , w e ,  too, can freeourselvesfr o mthe compul s ion  t o treat  the st atusq uo as i nevitable .

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 The te rrori stattack sinBruss els on Mar ch 22 , foll ow ing th ose i nParis la st November, mark a tur ning p ointinthe moder n h i sto ry of Eur ope.  The Europ ean  Un ion h ada lread y be e nwea k enedby a perfect s t or m o f cr ises — theh e m orr hagin g o f  the e uroz one, the Russiani nvasion of Ukr aine , a B ibl i calti de of Middle E ast er n refugees  a nd the grow ing thre at of "B rexit. " A te rrorist s an c tuaryin t heMolenbeek  ne ig h borhood  o fB russel s, t he  veryhearto f Eu r o pe, only underli nes t h e  grim rea lityth at theE urop ean Unionmust adaptto new  for ces t ransfor mi ng glo bal  p olitics or risk thefateof prev io us i mpe rial e xper i m entsto u ni tethe conti n e nt ,  a ll ofwhic h end ed  infailure.
 to_it tends_to have a hard_time, and_which_seems to_be_getting ever more_controversy-averse. Houellebecq himself_has said that Whatever,_the novel that_made_his name in France, could never be published today: “our societies have come to_a_terminal stage_where_they_refuse to recognize their malaise,_where they demand that fiction_be happy-go-lucky,_escapist; they simply don’t have the courage to_face_their own reality.”_So it may be that Houellebecq’s career path could_never be followed today, and he_can be seen_as_a_dinosaur, a relic, someone_who slipped past the bouncer and_achieved a degree of popular status_at a different moment when it was_more permissible for dangerous ideas to_proliferate.

Maybe we can get there_again. In_the meantime, reading Houellebecq, and_thinking about what_he represents,_is a good_first step. The formal elements of_his literary stardom_– the way he seems to_absorb_every controversy while_continuing_to_write, continuing_to gain popularity,_never_wilting under_the_gaze of the outrage machine –_are_inspiring, to be sure, providing a target_for conservatives and cultural_libertarians_to aim for. But_it’s the content of his_books that sets him apart, for_by reading_those books,_we can gain a degree of internal freedom: the means to_slip the mind-forged manacles endemic to_our time and place_and dream_of_something else. Houellebecq_has_found a_way to look at contemporary sexual practices_from the_outside, as something to be questioned_rather than taken for_granted._By learning to question as he_does, we, too, can free ourselves_from the compulsion to treat_the_status_quo as inevitable.

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_The terrorist attacks in Brussels on_March 22, following_those in Paris last November, mark a_turning_point in the modern history of_Europe._The European Union had already been_weakened_by_a perfect storm of crises_— the hemorrhaging of the eurozone,_the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a Biblical tide of_Middle Eastern refugees_and the growing threat of_"Brexit."_A_terrorist sanctuary in the Molenbeek neighborhood of Brussels, the very_heart of_Europe, only underlines_the grim reality that the European Union must adapt to_new forces transforming global politics or risk_the fate of previous imperial experiments to unite the continent, all_of which ended in failure.

