by Neil Postman
First published 1985
In a world where entertainment reigns supreme, Neil Postman's "Amusing Ourselves to Death" sounds the alarm. As television replaces print as the dominant medium, our public discourse - from politics to religion - becomes increasingly trivialized and sensationalized. Postman argues that this transition not only alters how we consume information, but also fundamentally changes what we value as a society. With incisive wit and biting critique, he reveals the hidden costs of our "information age" and issues a clarion call to reclaim the substance of our civic and cultural life.
Genres: philosophy, media-tie-in, non-fiction, criticism, communication, academic
Vibes: critical, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: cultural-critique, social-commentary
Setting: United States
208 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books