Super Short Summary

Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle by Chris Hedges examines the detrimental effects of mass media and popular culture on American society, politics, and the economy. It discusses the themes of celebrity culture, pornography, elite higher education, positive psychology, and the moral and political decline of the United States, ultimately arguing that the corporate state has damaged American society and that salvation lies in citizens' ability to distinguish illusions from reality. The book addresses the human consequences of pornography.