40 pages • 1 hour read
Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology
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Book Brief
240
Book • Nonfiction
USA • 1990s
1992
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Technopoly by Neil Postman, a 1992 nonfiction book, examines the pervasive and unquestioned influence of technology on society, tracing cultural history from tool-using cultures to a Technopoly where technology dominates. Focusing on the United States, Postman discusses how technology's dominance shapes culture, highlighting medical technology and the rise of computers. He explores "invisible technologies" like statistics, critiques "Scientism," and offers an educational curriculum as a means to critically examine technology's role.
Informative
Contemplative
Challenging
Mysterious
Unnerving
Reviews & Readership
5,260 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Neil Postman's Technopoly is praised for its incisive critique of society's overreliance on technology and the erosion of cultural values. Critics commend its thought-provoking analysis, though some find it overly deterministic and nostalgic. While the book provides valuable insights, occasionally its arguments lack nuance and depth.
Who Should Read Technopoly?
Readers of Technopoly by Neil Postman are intellectually curious about the impact of technology on society and culture. They likely appreciate works like Amusing Ourselves to Death by the same author or The Shallows by Nicholas Carr. Ideal for those critical of technological determinism and interested in media ecology, similar to Marshall McLuhan's audience.
5,260 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
240
Book • Nonfiction
USA • 1990s
1992
Adult
18+ years
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