Baudrillard’s “The Consumer Society: Myths and Structures” is a book that looks at the modern world through the lens of consumerism. It examines how we as a society have become obsessed with acquiring things, even if we don’t need them. Baudrillard also looks at how this obsession has led to a number of negative consequences, … Read more
In his analysis of America, Baudrillard focuses on the structures of consumption and production that have come to define American culture. He argues that America is a culture built on excess and that this excess is what drives both American consumption and production. This has led to a situation where American culture is not only … Read more
In Technopoly, Postman argues that technology has become increasingly dominant in American culture. He contends that technology has not only changed what we do but how we think about ourselves and our world. According to Postman, we have become a “technopoly”—a society in which technology is revered above all else. This worship of technology has … Read more
In his book “Conscientious Objections: Stirring Up Trouble About Language, Technology, and Education”, Neil Postman takes a critical look at the state of education in America. Postman contends that the American education system is in a state of crisis, and he attributes this to a number of factors, including the increasing use of technology in … Read more
Neil Postman was an American author, educator, media theorist, and cultural critic, who is best known for his work in the field of communications and technology. Postman’s most famous book, Amusing Ourselves to Death, is a critique of television and its impact on public discourse. In it, Postman argues that television has had a detrimental … Read more
Neil Postman offers a six-point guide on how to watch television news critically. The first step is to be aware of the fact that most news programs are structured around entertainment values rather than informational ones. This means that the goal of the news program is not necessarily to inform the viewer, but to keep … Read more
In “On Being Rich and Poor,” Jacques Ellul examines the effects of wealth and poverty on individuals and society as a whole. He delves into the psychological and sociological ways in which wealth and poverty interact to create a vicious cycle that can be difficult to break out of. The Disadvantages of Wealth Ellul begins … Read more
In his book “Perspectives on Our Age”, sociologist and philosopher Jacques Ellul offers a searing critique of modernity and the ways in which it has reshaped our world. He provides readers with a unique perspective on the problems of our age, and offers some possible solutions. The Roots of Modernity Ellul begins his book by … Read more
French thinker and theologian Jacques Ellul is one of the most important, yet under-read, writers of the 20th century. As we will see in “A Guide to Reading the Books of Jacques Ellul” – his works cover a wide range of topics, including technology, propaganda, and social psychology. While Ellul can be difficult to understand … Read more
Power. It’s what drives us. The pursuit of it is what motivates us. But what is power, really? And how can we get more of it? In his book “Understanding Power: The Indispensable Chomsky,” Chomsky explores these questions in depth. Here’s a quick summary of his most important insights. Chomsky defines power as “the capacity … Read more