The Art of Manliness

The Future Is Analog

Nov 21, 2022

In this engaging discussion, David Sax, author of "The Revenge of Analog," delves into the resurgence of physical experiences in our digital world. He argues that the pandemic highlighted our need for real human connections. Sax critiques the limitations of remote interactions and emphasizes the importance of embodied cognition in learning. He shares insights on the value of in-person shopping and education while reflecting on the emotional richness of face-to-face relationships compared to the virtual realm. Through personal anecdotes, he advocates for a balanced future that honors both analog and digital.

53:47

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Episode guests

David Sax

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Digital Disconnect: The Limits of a Virtual Life

22min

The Importance of In-Person Education and the Struggles of Online Commerce

4min

Navigating the Intersection of Digital and Analog Commerce

4min

The Value of Personalized In-Person Shopping for Outdoor Gear

3min

The Loss of Connection: Navigating Virtual Interactions

19min

Exploring Resources and Supporting Independent Bookstores

2min

In 2016, David Sax wrote a book called The Revenge of Analog, which made the case that even as we marched towards an ever more digital future, we were increasingly returning to real, tangible things — choosing vinyl records over streaming, brick and mortar bookstores over Amazon, and in-person conversations over Skype.

In the intervening years, the pandemic hit, and, David argues, truly reaffirmed his case, which he lays out in his latest book: The Future Is Analog.

Today on the show, David explains how the pandemic gave us a trial run of an entirely digital future, and made us realize we really don't want it, or at least, we don't want all of it. We discuss the drawbacks that came from going virtual with work, school, shopping, socializing, and religious worship, and discuss how we're not as smart when we don't use our embodied cognition, how information is different from education, and why there are few things quite as awful as a Zoom cocktail party.

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