Amusing Ourselves to Death
By Neil Postman & Andrew Postman
- Release Date: 1985-11-29
- Genre: Social Science
Description
What happens when media and politics become forms of entertainment? As our world begins to look more and more like Orwell's 1984, Neil's Postman's essential guide to the modern media is more relevant than ever.
"It's unlikely that Trump has ever read Amusing Ourselves to Death, but his ascent would not have surprised Postman.” -CNN
Originally published in 1985, Neil Postman’s groundbreaking polemic about the corrosive effects of television on our politics and public discourse has been hailed as a twenty-first-century book published in the twentieth century. Now, with television joined by more sophisticated electronic media—from the Internet to cell phones to DVDs—it has taken on even greater significance. Amusing Ourselves to Death is a prophetic look at what happens when politics, journalism, education, and even religion become subject to the demands of entertainment. It is also a blueprint for regaining control of our media, so that they can serve our highest goals.
“A brilliant, powerful, and important book. This is an indictment that Postman has laid down and, so far as I can see, an irrefutable one.” –Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post Book World
Reviews
Great read
4By ran1974Definitely see where it fits in todayOne of the most prescient works of the 20th century
5By JazzKeysManPostman takes “media ecology” into the mainstream in this amazing work. The introduction is worth the price of the book. It is one of my top 5 books.Well written judgement.
4By Josh777777777it's not that television is bad. It's here to stay. It's how we use it and how we easily lose ourselves with the fast paced nonsensical flow of irrelevant images designed to capture our attention for a few moments and then the, "now... This". I'm a realist. Tv is here to stay. It's not about the bad things it's how you decide to watch it and what you decide to watch. Above everything remember the majority of content is about entertainment from politics to education. Great read. I'll probably read it again.Excellent Book
5By HotCopsIncredible book. I was required to read this book in school and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Postman's rhetoric is stunning and this book provides a great insight into technology (particularly television) that is rarely thought about. Very ironic that this book is available for e-readers.