The Insatiable Empire

From "our next great American historian" (Geraldine Brooks), an astonishingly ambitious account of how our desires became the engine that built the modern world

To want is human. To want without end is modern. Our desires have never been easier to satisfy or harder to escape, shaped by a system that cultivates and multiplies them. In reinforcing our hunger for more, capitalism’s power lies somewhere more primal than markets: it turns human desire into demand for ever more labor and resources. What does it mean to live, work, and hope in such a system?

The Insatiable Empire tells the story of our modern world through five brutal extractions—iron, salt, sugar, fish, and the self. From the enclosures of English fields to the sugar plantations of the Caribbean, from Russian iron foundries to the cobalt mines and factory floors of today, Paz traces the global economic machinery that transforms our world and the people who live in it into fuel for a system that must expand or perish. Drawing on history, political economy, and philosophy, Paz shows how the chains of slavery became tidy contracts and hunger replaced the whip; how the conveniences of modern life carry within them the lives that made them possible; and how coercion endures by assuming the forms of choice and progress.

Refusing nostalgia, redemption, or absolution, The Insatiable Empire confronts the reader with an unsettling truth: the modern world was built not beside suffering but through it, and even one of our most desperate desires—to be innocent—has become another product to sell. This humanistic history of capitalism asks us to face the forces that have made the modern world—and our own place inside them.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs