⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amusing Ourselves to Death by Postman
| Full Title | Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business |
|---|---|
| Authors | Neil Postman, Andrew Postman |
| Year Published | 1985 |
| Date Read | December 30, 2024 |
| Rating | 4/5 stars |
Vacillated between 3 and 4 stars. I have a buddy who talks alot about “the medium is the message” (a concept originally introduced 20 years before the publishing of this book), and Potsman engages with the same kind of concerns here. The contrasting views of truth in print-based vs. oral cultures was an interesting exercise in perspective, especially his point that a photo, while being “worth a thousand words,” actually allows the least room for deeper / nuanced truth, forcing the consumer to stay in a decontextualized slice of space-time.
The most enjoyable part of the book for me was the discussion on colonial / 19th century America and the media consumption habits at the time. Both the high literacy rates and the impressive attention spans of ‘common folk’ during the time offer ready contrasts to the present day. The Lincoln and Douglas debates, which gave each side hours rather than minutes to speak (and had the audience leave to eat dinner & come back!) feel so foreign today.
While the book is a little long in some places and shows its age with its over-reliance on the TV as the medium, I still think it is a worthwhile read (though probably via audiobook rather than physical book).