Questions About Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business

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Answered Questions (5)

I'm curious what Postman would say in 2019. Is this book outdated or is it still relevant?

Rodrigo Utino There's a very important commentary that Neil Postman did on the final part of the book about computers. It goes as:

"To which I might add that questi…moreThere's a very important commentary that Neil Postman did on the final part of the book about computers. It goes as:

"To which I might add that questions about the psychic, political and social effects of information are as applicable to the computer as to television. Although I believe the computer to be a vastly overrated technology, I mention it here because, clearly, Americans have accorded it their customary mindless inattention; which means they will use it as they are told, without a whimper. Thus, a central thesis of computer technology—that the principal difficulty we have in solving problems stems from insufficient data—will go unexamined. Until, years from now, when it will be noticed that the massive collection and speed-of-light retrieval of data have been of great value to large-scale organizations but have solved very little of importance to most people and have created at least as many problems for them as they may have solved."

It's very clear now what he envisioned 35 years ago.(less)

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any body read this book?

Mat Bought it in Columbus, OH, back in 1987. Read it shortly after and thought it was right on the money: The medium does shape the discourse. The mention…moreBought it in Columbus, OH, back in 1987. Read it shortly after and thought it was right on the money: The medium does shape the discourse. The mention of the 7-hour (!) Douglas-Lincoln debate in Peoria, IL, in 1854, and Postman's answer to his "What kind of audience was this?" nailed it for me. Just unearthed it from the vault and will re-read it. Stay tuned...(less)

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Does this book remind anyone of the movie Idiocracy? Or vice versa?

Nancy Mills Yes!! Our little attention spans are getting shorter and shorter. And celebrity supercedes qualifications in our public figures. That movie is absolut…moreYes!! Our little attention spans are getting shorter and shorter. And celebrity supercedes qualifications in our public figures. That movie is absolutely hysterical but what is saying is really pretty scary!(less)

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Is it necessary to read "1984" and "Brave New World" before reading this?