In 'Team Human,' Douglas Rushkoff delivers a call to arms, emphasizing that being human is a team sport. He argues that society is threatened by a vast antihuman infrastructure that undermines our ability to connect, citing examples such as money becoming a means of exploitation, education turning into an assembly line, and the internet further dividing us. Rushkoff uses wide-ranging research on human evolution, biology, and psychology to show that working together leads to greater happiness, productivity, and peace. The book invites readers to reassert their humanity and make the world a better place through collective action.
In this book, Douglas Rushkoff argues that in a world increasingly mediated by software, it is crucial to learn how to program in order to maintain control over one's life. He outlines ten commands or ideas that highlight the biases of digital technologies and how these can be turned into advantages. Rushkoff advocates for a broader understanding of programming as a necessary literacy for the digital age, similar to reading and writing. The book is designed to help both technophobes and cyber enthusiasts navigate the complexities of digital media and its impact on society[1][2][5].
In 'Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology', Neil Postman argues that modern society has transitioned into a 'technopoly', where technology is not just a tool but the central organizing principle of culture. Postman contends that this shift has radical consequences for politics, art, education, intelligence, and truth. He describes how technology has become the primary source of moral authority, leading to a culture that values efficiency and technical calculation over human judgment. The book critiques the pervasive influence of technology on all aspects of life, highlighting issues such as the reduction of truth to data, the dominance of experts in all fields, and the erosion of traditional moral and cultural frameworks[2][4][5].
This book examines the consequences of repression and childhood trauma on an individual's mental wellbeing. Alice Miller argues that many successful people suffer from feelings of emptiness and alienation due to having to hide their own feelings, needs, and memories to meet their parents' expectations. The term 'gifted child' refers to those who survived abusive childhoods by adapting and becoming numb. The book helps readers understand and reclaim their true selves by acknowledging and accepting the truth about their childhood experiences.
In 'Good Without God,' Greg Epstein provides a world view for nonbelievers that emphasizes tolerance, community, morality, and goodness without the need for a higher being. The book is a response to the hostile and intolerant views of religion presented by authors like Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, and Richard Dawkins. Epstein argues that humans can be good and live meaningful lives through Humanism, which includes building communities that meet the same needs as traditional religious communities, such as culture, literature, rituals, counseling, and community service. He also discusses the importance of art, nature, and personal connections in providing a sense of sacredness and fulfillment for nonbelievers[2][4][5].
In 'Tech Agnostic', Greg Epstein argues that technology has surpassed religion as the central focus of modern life, influencing every aspect of society. He examines the beliefs, practices, and hierarchies of this 'tech religion' and advocates for a reformation that demands technology serve humanity rather than capital. Epstein emphasizes the importance of skepticism and agnosticism in evaluating the promises and risks of technological advancements, drawing on historical and personal contexts to illustrate the need for a more balanced and human-centered approach to technology[2][4][5].
Harvard & MIT Humanist Chaplain and Author of Tech Agnostic Greg Epstein helps us understand the Silicon Valley religion.
In his monologue, Rushkoff reminds us about the importance of mutual aid in our communities and the ways AI and Big Tech are fueling a return to historical norms of inequality.
đź“• Tech Agnostic: How Technology Became the World's Most Powerful Religion, and Why It Desperately Needs a Reformation by Greg Epstein is now available at your favorite bookseller.
This conversation was recorded on Tuesday, November 6.
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