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siddharthagolu's review against another edition
3.0
A visionary. Although the whole idea could have been conveyed through an essay.
toffishay's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
3.75
This book definitely challenges some preconceived notions that I had about television and expanded my understanding of television as a medium of communication and the way that it defines and degrades public discourse. Some of the conclusions reached seem a little extreme to me and the printed word is deified, especially in the discussions about past political discourse in America, that could benefit from a more inter-sectional lens. I appreciate the perspective and the argument and see the value in the continuing conversation about "amusing ourselves to death" particularly as the Internet has come to overtake television in national discourse in many ways.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism
starryeved's review against another edition
3.0
Lots of great points made, if not somewhat dated. Even so, still holds up mostly.
laurammarkham's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
This book is a good reminder of the pitfalls of overconsumption of media.
gk1412's review against another edition
It went from “insightful historical expose on the degradation of the print medium” to “old man yells at cloud”
janessaalexis's review against another edition
I wanted to like this one, but I just don't think I was in the mood for it.
gregory_glover's review against another edition
5.0
Prescient. That has to be the most obvious and over-used description of this book. I rated it 5 stars, not because it is perfect or because I agree with every point, but because few books capture the spirit of the age and the challenges facing society to the degree that Postman did with Amusing Ourselves to Death. His diagnosis of the malaise in politics, religion, and education are spot on. Few prognosticators or futurists can claim to have come as close as he did in predicting what the future 25 years down the road would be like (and he did it without pretending to predict).
I find his remedies unsatisfactory and insufficient (as he also did), but I do think the notion that educators can pay closer attention to various media and their effects is a good start. Perhaps, given the tenure of Donald Trump (and its aftermath) and the social ineptitude and ignorance surrounding the COVID pandemic, educators will take a closer look at the role of media. Maybe, but probably not.
I suspect that I am more sanguine that Postman seems to be, and less alarmed even today, because I think it is possible for an individual (and some groups of people) to make the choice to incorporate large doses of reading into their lives on a regular basis. This may not be (probably isn't) possible or sufficient for society as a whole, and in some ways things are worse now than what Postman described (with Social Media, with its interactivity and immediacy, now taking the role once held by TV, but with the manipulation of content by algorithm), but for an individual or group of people who agree to do so, reading can provide an oasis for thought into which the young can be introduced and encouraged to partake.
I find his remedies unsatisfactory and insufficient (as he also did), but I do think the notion that educators can pay closer attention to various media and their effects is a good start. Perhaps, given the tenure of Donald Trump (and its aftermath) and the social ineptitude and ignorance surrounding the COVID pandemic, educators will take a closer look at the role of media. Maybe, but probably not.
I suspect that I am more sanguine that Postman seems to be, and less alarmed even today, because I think it is possible for an individual (and some groups of people) to make the choice to incorporate large doses of reading into their lives on a regular basis. This may not be (probably isn't) possible or sufficient for society as a whole, and in some ways things are worse now than what Postman described (with Social Media, with its interactivity and immediacy, now taking the role once held by TV, but with the manipulation of content by algorithm), but for an individual or group of people who agree to do so, reading can provide an oasis for thought into which the young can be introduced and encouraged to partake.
themtj's review against another edition
5.0
Well, that was a lot easier to read than Infinite Jest!
The running contrast of Brave New World with 1984 is a potent one. Americans of both major parties are ever on guard against Orwellianism (however unlikely it may be) and both philosophies are equally blind to Huxleyism even when it is staring them in the face.
The running contrast of Brave New World with 1984 is a potent one. Americans of both major parties are ever on guard against Orwellianism (however unlikely it may be) and both philosophies are equally blind to Huxleyism even when it is staring them in the face.