Appearance
Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology
In his book, Conscientous Objections, Postman considers the question, "Why are books so long?" concluding that they don't have to be, and then gives a synopsis of Amusing Ourselves to Death, his most famous work. That book, like this book, is well worth reading, but this book could benefit from the same treatment. I could quote numerous long passages in this review, but instead I'll just give the once over lightly version, and the synopsis will have to wait.The basic idea is that cultures start as tool using cultures, then move into Technocracies, which is to say, become dependent on technology, and then, if they are the US, become a Technopoly, where any other world view, including the two previously named, gets short shrift. Clearly this is the US in a nutshell. However, the second stage, Technocracy (and he only calls it that a few times) needs a bit more elaboration.Technology is a clunky word, unlike the elegant, simple Latin names in most of the sciences. What Postman means is closer to Jacques Ellul's idea of technique in The Technological Society. That idea is that we invent a technique for some end (the Ford assembly line comes to mind), and then must conform to that technique to achieve that end (which seems obvious), and then become essentially enslaved to the technique.Maybe that even seems obvious. Anyway, in the chapter, The Loving Resistance Fighter, Postman gives his rather surprising suggestions, which he doesn't see as a solution but as a course of action. Since he's written so much about it, once again he calls for a revolution in education. The sorts of courses he wants include comparative religions, semantics, and something like philosophy of science. So the next surprise for me was to realize I had a profoundly Postmanian education, and the effect was to render me, long after the fact, grateful for those visionary teachers.The worst written (I don't know why) chapter is on sociology, but here he makes some of the best points. The need to use clunky words like technology all the time makes this book somewhat dense and confusing. However, Neil offers a great many lucid summaries and I found myself laughing aloud at some parts. I think this may have been one of his last books; I only heard him speak once in, I think, the '90s, and he left us soon after. But not before leaving this parting gift.
Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology
If in recent years you've noticed a palpable aura of technology gone awry in American society, then Postman's "Technopoly" will assure you that you're not the only one. This meaning that you just might not be an alarmist, defeatist, doomsayer, reactionary or any other title "they" like to bestow upon those concerned with long term consequences (among other aspects). This, of course, does wonders to allay any fears of insanity. If you're purchasing this book, more than likely you've thought about in depth many of the issues that Postman presents. These being computer technology, education, machinery, medicine, et al. The difference is, perhaps, that he clearly presents the issue, looks at the pros and cons, then offers logical conclusions. Conclusions that even computer huggers will have difficulty in deeming irrational. His premise rests on the fact that we always look to what new technolgies add, but ought to pay equal attention to what they take away; arguably similar to the cautionary tales offered by Asimov, Bradbury, Huxley, and Orwell. Following the issues is a chapter devoted to the "resistance fighter" in which Postman offers several principles to resist technopoly. His ninth principle "admire technological ingenuity but do not think it represents the highest possible form of human achievement" perhaps sums up this book. The irony is that technological ingenuity is human achievement, but to ignore or fail to even theorize potential ramifications is neither ingenious nor achieving. Read it, then you make the call.
Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology
Neil Postman, leaves no stone unturned in his attck on how technology's ideology is undermining our own values and our very way of life. This could be hardly considered an inspirational book, rather it a deep dark trip into how technology manipulates us,using us to become the supreme dictating system in society. This is a wonderfully informative book, supplying a fantastic amount of history from technology's humble beginnings in the form of the early printing press to the lightening fast computers of today. Even though the title "Technopoly" might suggest that this book might be filled with technical jargon, quite to the contrary, it is not concerned with such technical aspects, rather it is a book that would appeal to anyone, who is open-minded and wants to know the effect of rapidly growing technology on our soceity. Postman at first starts out with a more broad outlook at technology, but then devotes whole chapters to the different sciences that technology employs such as in medicine, physics etc so that it elevates its position to being considered in almost god-like porportions. It's interesting how Postamn points out to us has to how we have become so used to technolgy being integrated into our lifes that we don't notice how much we are prompting the aspects of accuracy and efficiency(which is one of the pillars that technology stands on), that we forget our own traditons and culture, out past is engulfed by technology's insatiable hunger. I could ramble on for quite a bit on this book, since there is so much stuff to comment on, to explain to understand. This book would be perfect as a stand alone read as well highly informative for high school or college students. It really does ask the reader to step back from the world of technology we live in today and take a long hard look at the side effects and the failure in morals that technology prompts us to make, and encourages us to look where it is taking us. I gave this book 4 stars becuase it is not something that will keep u awake till th wee hours of night. Not because this book is boring but so intense that after reading a chapter or two you need some time to evalute and reflect what the auhtor has said before proceeding on with the book. I myself was deeply effected by this book. In that we should not just take for granted the immense amount of convenience that we presume technology provides us. Nothing of great importance comes free, there is always some strings attached. On which you can find rich detail and a better understanding of the adverse effects of technology in Postman's book. One thing is for sure after reading the book I don't think I'll ever look at a computer the same way again.
Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology
Postman is perhaps (and rightly) better-known for his Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business. That books stands alone, but it logically follows his argument in this earlier work. The argument is that there are three types of cultures in the history of the world: 1) Tool-using cultures, of which most cultures are examples, 2) "Technocracies", in which a culture's tools play a significant role in defining the culture (e.g., seafaring in the British Empire), and 3) "Technopoly" (singular because the US is the only historical example), in which a culture is indistinguishable from the tools it uses.Postman argues that if you take away America's tools (i.e., the television, the automobile, and increasingly the computer), that there would be nothing distinct left to describe as "American culture." He argues persuasively with statistics and anecdotal evidence.Extremely challenging and insightful -- a must read for every thoughtful American.
Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology
I also had to read this book for a college class. I find postman to be a true rambler. I rolled my eyes several times and procrastinated considerably during the reading of this book. I still come away from this book thinking well what it wrong with being a technopoly? Perhaps it's our destiny? So be it.
Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology
This book will forever change how you see the world. It raises questions we should all be asking about society and our well being. You will not regret reading it. It will change your life!!! Read Neil Postman's other books too: Amusing Ourselves to Death is spot-on and will make you see the world in terms of what might be best for us instead of just what can be done.