#135
Mentioned in 137 episodes

Amusing Ourselves to Death

Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business
Book • 1985
In this book, Neil Postman argues that the contemporary world is more akin to Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World' than George Orwell's '1984'.

Postman contends that television's emphasis on entertainment has led to a decline in rational discourse and the trivialization of politics, education, and religion.

He contrasts the print-based culture of the 19th century with the televisual culture of the 20th century, highlighting how the medium of television inherently promotes incoherence and triviality, turning serious information into a form of entertainment.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 137 episodes

Mentioned by Anna Lembke when discussing the dangers of excessive entertainment and the warnings of Neil Postman's book.
2,252 snips
Dopamine Expert: Short Form Videos Are Frying Your Brain! This Is A Dopamine Disaster!
Mentioned by
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Cal Newport
as an influential book exploring the impact of television on society.
2,219 snips
Ep. 325: Simple Focus Protocols
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Cal Newport
as a classic book about the shift from a culture of reading to a culture of television.
1,822 snips
Ep. 369: Why Are We Getting Dumber? A Debate.
Mentioned by
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Cal Newport
for his perspective on how technology shapes information.
963 snips
Ep. 298: Rethinking Attention
Mentioned by
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Cal Newport
as a relevant book for understanding the impact of technology on culture and thinking.
646 snips
Ep. 288: Confronting Your Phone
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Cal Newport
when discussing his note-taking method.
568 snips
Ep. 250: In Defense of Thinking
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Derek Thompson
, referencing Neil Postman's thesis on how media shapes thought and communication.
432 snips
Everything Is Television
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Tristan Harris
as a highly influential thinker whose work shaped his views on technology.
359 snips
The Man Who Predicted the Downfall of Thinking
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Jackson Dahl
as a book he and
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Nabeel Qureshi
both recently read.
306 snips
13: Nabeel S. Qureshi - The Will to Care
Recommended by
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Cal Newport
to understand how media shapes thinking and the negative effects of social media.
294 snips
Ep. 3: Origin of my Productivity Obsession, Analog Relationships, and Detaching from Digital Judgment | DEEP QUESTIONS

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