Amusing Ourselves to Death

Todays technology is very distracting. We have to understand how it operates and what are the dangers.In the world of media there are no boundaries and no control. No government can control the misleading information that is given to us, through social media. Although this book was written log way back, it is very relevant today.

Really interesting take on media culture full of ideas that don’t occur to most people. Expected something more to do with media manipulation over the population but it’s much deeper than that. It expresses how the format in which information is conveyed directly influences how our perceptions are formed (I may not have that exactly right, but this book may warrant multiple readings).Having been written in the eighties, when the main source of information was television, it may appear dated since it naturally doesn’t discuss the implications of social media, and there are chapters that could be expanded on regarding newer information technology.However, it is no less important today since the philosophic basis for what the author has to say can be easily applied to our current predicament, and you will find yourself doing so at various points in the book.Anyway it’s highly fascinating and would recommend it to virtually anyone.

This is a history book that explains how America descended from astonishingly high levels of literacy and intellectual interest, to its current lamentable state, reflected certainly in Britain's educational standards. It is well and succinctly written, and shows the disastrous effect that unlimited quantities of useless, unverifiable information have on people. Consider America's 19th century debating societies, the huge vocabularies of the best-selling novels, and compare this with what people prefer today... I have bought copies for friends, and the cover has put some off, for Reagan is long gone, but the text is full of insights, connections, relevant quotes and statistics. Unfortunately the process of ever more trivial, non-stop entertainment, the tidal wave of shallow distraction, is being pushed all over the world. Is it reallypromoting the Abolition of Thinking? Beware, be aware, and read this excellent book.

The first part of the book focuses on the early influences of typography in America up until the end of the Nineteenth century. There are some fascinating insights into a world without electricity where the only means of communication were the spoken word or the printed word. Political debates attended by public audiences which could last for many hours at a time. There exists at this time a certain awe surrounding knowledge and its attainment.But this is not to last. We see how the advent of the telegraph brings with it a fast and seemingly endless stream of information - too much information! Information we cannot necessarily relate to or process. The media industry is mutating! Then photography enters the scene adding to the complexity of the narrative. A still image can leave a potent impression. This gives the photographer and ultimately the editor huge powers in the creation of this narrative. The choice made between a number of photographs taken in rapid succession can render a politician appearing either sceptical or optimistic in a given context.Part two of the book is primarily concerned with television. There should be sufficient material here to satisfy anyone with a critical eye on the medium. Of particular interest was the passage on how a credible, convincing performance by a politician for example will create a sense of wellbeing amongst the audience which will translate into more votes! You can draw your own conclusions. It may be the case that the flood of news/noise initiated by the telegraph and perpetuated by modern media has simply had the effect of dulling our senses and turning us into information zombies!Also covered are televised religious broadcasts and how charismatic preachers may take advantage of the potential for huge audiences. Religion is made into entertainment as is the only realistic outcome with television. The influence of TV advertising on politics is mentioned. The seductive nature of the carefully crafted visuals inspiring confidence in the target audience. And finally the use of TV in education.`Tyrants of all varieties have always known about the value of providing the masses with amusements as a means of pacifying discontent. But most of them could not have even hoped for a situation in which the masses would ignore that which does not amuse.`

A fascinating book that I have been meaning to read for a long time, and I am glad that I finally did.At the time of writing this book (mid 1980's) Neil postman was writing about the negative effects of the intrusion of the TV on our social lives. I wonder what he would say if he saw today's internet age wherein ,unfortunately as a society, we are even closer to the 'death by amusement' which he was lamenting back then.

Incredible read. I doubt books or even Authors like this exist today. With ever devolving nature of humanity and indulgences in selfishness, materialism and unGodliness, this book highlights what is wrong with the society today. Recommended read for those who exercise (or acknowledge) the need to dissociate themselves from cognitive distortion.

Despite being published in 1985, this is still entirely and completely relevant. The first half of the book especially is just brilliant.This particular edition is printed very poorly. The cover looks nice and sharp, but the text itself is crude and blotchy. An established publisher like Methuen should be ashamed to release such shoddy product. No, I'm not going to take a star off: it's not Postman's fault and it would still be worth reading the book if it were scrawled by a four year old....

A much needed book to understand the inroads and erosive consequences of so called technological advances.