Faustian Bargain:

Name: Faustian Bargain, No Thanks: Staying Sane in a Polarised Age
Author: Erik Pleijel
ISBN: 979-8303795198

The Dark Temptation That Destroys Societies

Demagogues sow division and create chaos. Their followers cheer and applaud — for them it's all entertainment. The Faustian bargain is to sacrifice your integrity for the thrill of power. Is it worth it?

Boy looking at poster: "Power corrupts. Character builds resilience. Choose your path!"

On this website we will explore:

✦ What the "Faustian bargain" means

✦ What the seven classical virtues are

✦ Why they matter more than ever

✦ How they cultivate deeper inner strength

Read and listen to the summary below!

First, a brief look at the background.
We’ll continue just below.

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Background:

The Dramatic Journey Behind the Philosophy

ABOUT ME. My name is Erik Pleijel, and I’m from Sweden. I believe theology and philosophy should offer real help and guidance in everyday life — not just remain abstract theories. My journey has involved practical work with water supply projects across Africa and Asia.

I share that story in my book Adventures and Reflections — combining life experience with the lessons it’s taught me.

What others have said about the book:

In fast-moving, sometimes dramatic texts , he takes us to genocidal Rwanda, civil war Sri Lanka and an absurdly closed North Korea. ... But he is not an ordinary technology nerd, rather a humanist, philosopher and theologian. Who thrives on human diversity, listens, learns, reflects and tries to empathise with the history and identity of other individuals and cultures. ... [Swedish prime minister], give this book to your ... minister for international development ...!

— Column in Bohusläningen newspaper (6 Oct 2014), by Stefan Edman

Based on his life experience, he reflects on aid, philosophy and Christian faith on a Lutheran basis. It is a wise man who writes and his wisdom is often easily transferable to everyday life in Sweden.

— Review in KT, the Swedish church newspaper (issue 34-2014), by Bishop Mikael Mogren

Here are some excerpts from the book:

Now, back to the main theme!

I’ve seen crisis, conflict, and power plays up close — just the kind of turmoil that fills the headlines. But that’s only half the story. Beneath the real-world drama lies an inner struggle that matters just as much.

Let's take a look at how we can meet that challenge with insights that have stood the test of time.

Read and listen! Audio narration included. Go to this page or watch a this scrollcast:

Continue to the full book.

Read for free here!

Faustian Bargain, No Thanks: Staying Sane in a Polarised Age, Copyright © 2025 Erik Pleijel. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International. You must include this link: ErikPleijel.se/eng. You can view the full license details here: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 .

Illustrations: Cartoon queen, sloth: FriendlyStock; Cartoon priest: Copyright Brad Fitzpatrick; Cartoon boy: VectorStock; Kaio hfd CC BY-SA 3.0;

Contact: email