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niniane's review against another edition
4.25
I learned that America used to be very literate in the 1800s. Over 90% could read. People listened to oration and read books. They understood nuanced political issues. They attended 7 hour debates.
Now people watch TV instead. This puts focus on looks instead of good ideas.
It also focuses on being entertaining instead of educational, in order to keep viewer attention for the advertisers.
One way to censor thoughts is by distracting people with trivial content.
Now people watch TV instead. This puts focus on looks instead of good ideas.
It also focuses on being entertaining instead of educational, in order to keep viewer attention for the advertisers.
One way to censor thoughts is by distracting people with trivial content.
moksha's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I cannot believe that a book that charts the rise of television and it's subsequent muddying of the culture could fortell the future with such accuracy! Slightly miffed and embarrassed that I didn't know of this book's existence until very recently. If only I could travel back in time and introduce Mr. Postman to the concept of an audiobook :/
sedonapearl's review against another edition
Ugh. Mostly negative jabbering about Television Bad and Not Educational. I will not stand for Sesame Street or SNL slander. TV rocks and the ~rotting of my brain~ is worth it.
Chapter on Televangelists and the politicians-as-celebrities and traumatic news stories-as-entertainment narratives are great and still apt.
Chapter on Televangelists and the politicians-as-celebrities and traumatic news stories-as-entertainment narratives are great and still apt.
emilyrh77's review against another edition
4.0
This audiobook was 5 + hours of the author dragging TV and it’s influence on society. Though incredibly critical, I thought it an important perspective to consider especially when thinking about how our culture relates to social media, the internet, and smartphones today. Our current culture didn’t just appear out of no where.
Because this book was written in the 1980s, there are many points the author makes that I’ve never considered largely because I’ve never experienced anything different. TV has always been around for me. That’s life.
I didn’t agree with everything and found it to be overly critical in some aspects, particularly in how he regularly mocked different methods teachers use to engage students, but nonetheless I could see his point.
Would love to read an updated version relating to how internet has now influenced culture.
Because this book was written in the 1980s, there are many points the author makes that I’ve never considered largely because I’ve never experienced anything different. TV has always been around for me. That’s life.
I didn’t agree with everything and found it to be overly critical in some aspects, particularly in how he regularly mocked different methods teachers use to engage students, but nonetheless I could see his point.
Would love to read an updated version relating to how internet has now influenced culture.
drblockbooks's review against another edition
5.0
A disquieting and powerful argument. This book was published in 1985, before the Age of the Internet, and yet its arguments seem even better suited for the world of smartphones and wi-fi than for a world of television alone. If you read this book, be prepared to be amazed, enlightened, frightened, and, ultimately, depressed.