Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative?
The clearest and most influential introduction to Fisher’s account of capitalism, ideology, and culture.
Author guide
Mark Fisher Books in Order
Mark Fisher (1968–2017), also known as k-punk, was a British cultural critic, theorist, writer, and lecturer. He co-founded Zero Books and later Repeater Books, taught at Goldsmiths, University of London, and wrote extensively on popular culture, capitalism, neoliberalism, mental health, hauntology, and political possibility. His principal books include Capitalist Realism, Ghosts of My Life, and The Weird and the Eerie. Posthumous collections expanded his bibliography with previously unpublished writings and lecture transcripts.
cultural criticismpolitical theoryphilosophyliterary criticismmusic criticism
Catalog record updated .
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
Ghosts of My Life: Writings on Depression, Hauntology and Lost Futures
The best starting point for his writing on hauntology, popular culture, depression, and lost futures.
The Weird and the Eerie
A concise standalone study that demonstrates his distinctive approach to literature, film, and aesthetics.
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (2)
- Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative?
nonfiction · 2009
Tradução em português do livro Capitalist Realism, de autor Mark Fisher, pela editora Autonomia Literária.
- The Weird and the Eerie
nonfiction · 2017
A comprehensive collection of the writings of Mark Fisher (1968-2017), whose work defined critical writing for a generation. This comprehensive collection brings together the work of acclaimed blogger, writer, political activist and…
Essays and speeches (3)
- Ghosts of My Life: Writings on Depression, Hauntology and Lost Futures
essay-collection · 2014
This collection of writings by Mark Fisher, author of the acclaimed Capitalist Realism, argues that we are haunted by futures that failed to happen. Fisher searches for the traces of these lost futures in the work of David Peace, John Le…
- k-punk: The Collected and Unpublished Writings of Mark Fisher (2004–2016)
essay-collection · 2018
- Postcapitalist Desire: The Final Lectures
lecture-collection · 2020
A collection of transcripts from Mark Fisher's final series of lectures at Goldsmiths, University of London, in late 2016. Edited with an introduction by Matt Colquhoun, this collection of lecture notes and transcriptions reveals…
Frequently asked questions about Mark Fisher
Who was Mark Fisher?
Mark Fisher was a British cultural critic, writer, theorist, and lecturer whose work connected critical theory with music, film, popular culture, and politics. He died in 2017.
Sources: gold.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)bfi.org.uk (opens in a new tab)
Where did Mark Fisher work and teach?
Fisher taught in Goldsmiths, University of London’s Department of Visual Cultures and led its MA in Contemporary Art Theory. Earlier, he helped found the Cybernetic Culture Research Unit at the University of Warwick.
Source: gold.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)
What was Mark Fisher’s k-punk identity?
k-punk was Fisher’s online alias and the name of his influential blog, launched in 2003. It made him known for bringing critical theory into accessible discussions of music, film, popular culture, and politics.
Sources: bombmagazine.org (opens in a new tab)thenation.com (opens in a new tab)
Which thinkers and cultural traditions influenced Mark Fisher?
His thinking grew from Continental theory and the intellectual milieu around Warwick’s CCRU, including ideas associated with Deleuze and Guattari, Lacan, Baudrillard, and Nietzsche. Music, film, science fiction, and popular culture were equally important influences on his criticism.
Sources: irishtimes.com (opens in a new tab)bfi.org.uk (opens in a new tab)
Why is Mark Fisher still influential?
Fisher gave readers accessible language for linking capitalism, culture, and mental health, while concepts such as capitalist realism and hauntology shaped how many people discuss lost futures. His writing continues to influence the online left, artists, musicians, and cultural critics.
Sources: bombmagazine.org (opens in a new tab)theguardian.com (opens in a new tab)thenation.com (opens in a new tab)