The book places suffering at the center of its socio-critical considerations, replacing the famous alienation motif of the Frankfurt School. It begins by critiquing the concept of alienation and its long tradition in social and political philosophy, especially in Critical Theory. An orientation towards concrete experiences of suffering then leads to comments on the current and concrete socio-cultural limits of human formability. Through the elaboration of different aspects of suffering, a multilayered focus is provided, which aims to highlight the transcendental and productive sides of suffering. Suffering is thus read as a symptom that refers to something hidden and reveals a particular truth which can provide guidance for personal and social change.