#135
Mentioned in 91 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 91 episodes

Mentioned by
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Cal Newport
as an influential book exploring the impact of television on society.
2,200 snips
Ep. 325: Simple Focus Protocols
Mentioned by
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Cal Newport
for his perspective on how technology shapes information.
952 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
Mentioned by
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Cal Newport
when discussing his note-taking method.
539 snips
Ep. 250: In Defense of Thinking
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Tristan Harris
as a highly influential thinker whose work shaped his views on technology.
331 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.
265 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.
256 snips
Ep. 3: Origin of my Productivity Obsession, Analog Relationships, and Detaching from Digital Judgment | DEEP QUESTIONS
Mentioned by
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Austin Kleon
in relation to his book "Amusing Ourselves to Death."
230 snips
Austin Kleon on Fueling Artistic Ambition
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Scott Galloway
as a warning of becoming obsessed with entertainment over enlightenment.
228 snips
No Mercy / No Malice: Stream On
Mentioned by
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Jackson Dahl
in the introduction, comparing Orwell's and Huxley's views on censorship and information overload.
227 snips
11: Eugene Wei - Amusing Each Other to Death
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Ezra Klein
as a book that explores how media changes us.
201 snips
Is there a sane way to use the internet?
Mentioned by
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Jonathan Haidt
as an author whose work explores the impact of electronic communication on society.
140 snips
Is Social Media Really Ruining Our Lives… Or Is It Something Else? (ft. Jonathan Haidt)
Mentioned by
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Brad Stulberg
, referencing Postman's prescient observations on the decline of meaningful communication in American society.
130 snips
107 - Wise Words: 16 of Our Favorite Quotes to Live By
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Jackson Dahl
when discussing the potential paternalistic nature of Daylight and its impact on users' attention.
118 snips
16: Anjan Katta - A Sunrise Over Computing
Mentioned by
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Jackson Dahl
in relation to the shift from a text-based society to a TV-based society.
115 snips
17: Alex Danco - Innovation Begins with Gifts
Mentioned by
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Cal Newport
as an author whose work influenced his thinking.
103 snips
Ep. 31: RYAN HOLIDAY on Ranch Life, Fostering Discipline, and the Loss of Reading Culture
Mentioned by
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Jon Lovett
when discussing the challenge of censorship and noise in the media.
102 snips
An Obama Arrest a Day Keeps the Epstein Files Away
Mentioned by
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Caitlin Schess
while discussing the impact of entertainment media on political discourse.
88 snips
659: The Root of Racism is Greed Not Hate with Malcolm Foley
Mentioned by
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Mario Gabriele
, contrasting Orwell's and Huxley's dystopian visions.
85 snips
How AI Will Enhance Human Potential, Not Replace It: Reid Hoffman
Mentioned by Vivian Lai as a book she revisits, focusing on the effects of television and electronic media on politics.
83 snips
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