The book is composed of two separate but related parts: "For a New Critique of Political Economy," and "Pharmacology of Capital and Economy of Contribution." The first section was published as a short book in France, Pour une nouvelle critique de l'économie politique (2009) ISBN2718607971, whereas the second section is part of a larger work published in France under the title, Ce qui fait que la vie vaut la peine d'être vécue (2010) ISBN2081220350.
Both sections constitute a response to the global financial crisis, and introduce Stiegler's ideas about the relation of technology and economy, as well as calling for a new consideration of the questions emerging from the crisis.