Harassment Architecture

This book starts on a high note and never stops accelerating towards god knows what, it is as aggressive as it is extremely witty, very well thought-out experiment, a violent, violent ironic mess where it's sometimes hard to figure out if a passage is to be taken literally, ironically, or hyper-ironically. What I can say for sure is that Ma pinpoints the stomach-turning hypocrisy of the world in gruesome detail. It exposes every social phenomenon in an unrelenting manner. On the contrary, some passages are just pure poetry, or are simply beautiful and function as "standard" literature, it's this blend of extreme anarchism and serious, beautiful prose, that makes this book so good. Also, the amount of one liners in here. Hot damn. Should come with a bundle of stickers, this one. Lots of references, and the more you're familiar with the sort of post-postmodern limbo Ma is describing in this book, the more you will laugh, and the more you will feel attacked, and the more you will enjoy it. Truly one of the most important documents of post Y2K life. And don't forget:Nihilism and irony are really neat until you're dead and the only person who remembers you is your weed dealer.

all of the negative reviews for this book are by people who were offended by the content. instead of reviewing the book honestly and saying "it's well written but i find the subject offensive" they're saying "it sucks! poorly written trash!" don't believe the lies. this is a fantastic book, but there's something in here to offend everyone. i'm a right wing, heterosexual white male and even i found it mildly offensive, but the prose is excellent and mike ma is a very original thinker. those brave and openminded enough to read this book will be rewarded. i get the impression that mike ma was well aware that there is quite literally no audience for this book while he was writing it. it reads like something that he wrote for himself, and that's precisely why it's so good

“A nihilist is most easily defeated by his next electric bill”Offensive, Nihilistic, Comedic, A rawness in a diluted pool of yes men that have exchanged think for thing. Overall a fun short read for those unoffended by words and with a dark sense of humor. Ironically Iconic

I only read nonfiction and didn't know what I was in for with this one, but after a few pages I was laughing out loud, and then a few dozen more pages and it felt like I was in possession of a godly tome that needs to be cherished. This is basically a 21st century Catcher in the Rye except it's actually funny this time. The author delivered this sermon from a higher place, a mental state us mere mortals can only hope we ascend to; such clarity, such rhythm. Okay, in all seriousness, this is a book for men, and a book about men. It is basically a sort of comedy in the classical sense, removed from contemporary mores and modes, and thus, I would expect this book to be read centuries from now in the same way that we marvel at the Satyricon, which is the last book that made me laugh this hard. I guess Brave New World was very funny, too, but this is an Anti-Brave New World, written as though the Savage from the reservation was dropped into our Brave New World and could speak in words more complex than that of Shakespeare. Enough literary reference? I don't usually gush over books, in fact, I own thousands of books and hate 90% of them. This is one of those books I will buy multiple copies of, give to friends, keep for preservation, and go back to for a laugh because some of the passages in Harassment Architecture are flat-out hysterical. Oh did I mention that I'm not even halfway through it yet? I'm still not sure where this goes, but I sure love the trip.EDIT: now halfway through, and as much as I've laughed, this book can be pretty profound for what it is. Also when I looked up the author and realized he was devastatingly handsome I was not even a little bit surprised, only a demigod could write something so cunning.

You’ll be sitting somewhere (or lying down, maybe— who cares?) and the light from the sun, or a makeshift sun you’ve got plugged into some wiring in the drywall sandcastle you’ve managed to afford, will stream onto the pages as you flip through the book for the first time to see what’s ahead.You’ll look at the cover, and you’ll smile to yourself smugly, “Yes, I know this jester. This is me.” But it isn’t you, and you’ll know that deep-down. You could never be that kind of jester— the kind who’s willing to be humiliated in front of the other clowns in suits, the clowns wearing knockoff Luis Vuitton handbags and little else, crying desperately for attention from someone who would temporarily replace her, the clowns drinking soy by the gallon while sitting at faux-wood tables in some popular hipster café— at least, not without drastically changing. They’re too intimidating, because they control you.You’ll flip to the first page, and then instantly realize that envisioning yourself as the Jester was a mistake. You wouldn’t dare.You’ll keep reading, because you haven’t read anything like this before, and presumably you’ve got nothing better to do, (a depressing fact, which you will ignore and repress.) You’ll realize that you’ve thought about these things before. You’ve known that you can’t stand the meaninglessness of the modern world all along, but you still won’t dare to change any of the habits you’re obsessed with. You’ll scroll through Instagram on your iPhone for a minute, seeking the affirmation of people seeking affirmation of people seeking affirmation of people.And then you’ll keep reading, because you haven’t read anything like this before, and because presumably you’ve got nothing better to do. And in the darkest parts of your being, you’ll remember. These words could have been yours, had you the courage to embody that part of you which rebels against modernity and its gilded facade.Your ego will pretend to be shocked and violated. “I would never...”“I would never...”What? You would never what?You’ll ignore that in due time. But Harrassment Architecture will remind you of your primal desires, the ones God put in your soul from the beginning, but which you’ve denied over, and over, and over, and over, ad infinitum.The cover, the words, the bold letters, the scattering images. They will mean something to you, or else you’ll fill them with a false meaning you’ll superimpose upon them. You wouldn’t know the difference, anyway, would you?You’ll come away wishing that you could regret spending the money, but you won’t. You’ll think there’s something wrong with you. And in a way, you’ll be correct, but not in the way you’d think.

Best book of the modern era. Its more so philosophy and random mini stories centred around one character but it makes for easier discussion about topics. The morals provided in this book are amazing and although occasionally seeming bipolar the philosophy is great and the author has a great sense of humour and self awareness about modernity.

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Very original I will most likely read it again in the future to solidify it's message.

This book presents an immature perspective towards the world, where the author fantasies with the destruction of modern society through violence and chaos, while idolizing an utopian society of his dreams... This book has no class, content, insights or meaning...in the end, i have thrown it in the trash.

Ever since I heard about Mike Ma's Harrassment Architecture, my life has never been the same. Gone are the days of being a useless sap/desk jockey. I am now becoming fitter, more intelligent and refining my character in ways I could of never previously conceived.Mr. Ma's book very concisely summarises the plight of current society through his lens of black comedy to present the reader with a book that is thorough without being too wordy or verbose. A full exercise of his ability to paint a scene with words are found in his recollections of events or conversations that (allegedly) didn't take place. These become the building blocks for chapters that are, at some points, only a few sentences strung together.When Mike Ma is not describing the days of rigorous exercise or incessant social functions, the reader can also look to the strands of wisdom that Mike dispenses in small paragraphs and lines throughout the book, borrowing from the philosophic greats when needs be. Very rapidly, Mike cements himself as a dogmatic, intelligent man of principle, making his writing all the more engaging at the same time.I will end this review by saying that I look forward to Mr. Ma's next title, and hope he brings us many more books like this in the years to come.