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A review by zoracious
Hypermodern Times by Gilles Lipovetsky, Sebastien Charles
4.0
This is a very well-balanced book on the 'post-postmodern era' - what the author refers to as hypermodernity, a period that is equal parts individualism, consumerism, technocratic revolution, a time filled with paradox. This hypermodernity is characterized, says he, by paradox: We are preoccupied with the present but also with memory. We are owned by the things we buy but also buy these things with the deliberate intention of using them to achieve our own pleasure.
What he describes resonates as recognizable, which is in part why it is so likable a read. Sometimes he makes sweeping generalizations to which he provides no foundation, but most of the time he provides examples that make this book a mirror to hypermodern society.
The book is separated in three parts: the first is an introduction by Sebastien Charles, the second is the words of Lipovetsky himself, and the third is an interview with Lipovetsky. The three parts together make for one cohesive package. Charles' introductory essay prepare the reader for some of Lipovetsky's basic arguments and beliefs, and then his own essay that follows expands upon these and then adds his own observations. The interview, conducted by Charles, crystallizes the previous pages by compelling Lipovetsky to boil his ideas down to concise but insightful paragraphs, while also revealing some interesting and sometimes amusing views into the author's own background and education.
Altogether Lipovetsky manages to create a commentary on today's society while mostly withholding judgment. Surprisingly he also manages to create a balanced picture (though his suggestion of paradox almost lends itself to this). He is neither overly positive nor excessively gloomy. The three parts together open a window into the mind of one of today's most interesting thinkers.
What he describes resonates as recognizable, which is in part why it is so likable a read. Sometimes he makes sweeping generalizations to which he provides no foundation, but most of the time he provides examples that make this book a mirror to hypermodern society.
The book is separated in three parts: the first is an introduction by Sebastien Charles, the second is the words of Lipovetsky himself, and the third is an interview with Lipovetsky. The three parts together make for one cohesive package. Charles' introductory essay prepare the reader for some of Lipovetsky's basic arguments and beliefs, and then his own essay that follows expands upon these and then adds his own observations. The interview, conducted by Charles, crystallizes the previous pages by compelling Lipovetsky to boil his ideas down to concise but insightful paragraphs, while also revealing some interesting and sometimes amusing views into the author's own background and education.
Altogether Lipovetsky manages to create a commentary on today's society while mostly withholding judgment. Surprisingly he also manages to create a balanced picture (though his suggestion of paradox almost lends itself to this). He is neither overly positive nor excessively gloomy. The three parts together open a window into the mind of one of today's most interesting thinkers.