Plot Summary

The Technological Society

Jacques Ellul
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The Technological Society

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1954

Book Brief

Jacques Ellul

The Technological Society

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1954
Book Details
Pages

449

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

1950s

Publication Year

1954

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In The Technological Society, Jacques Ellul argues that "technique," defined as the pursuit of rational and efficient methods in all fields, dominates modern life, rendering human control over technology illusory and marking the end of traditional social constructs. He identifies seven characteristics of technique, such as rationality, artificiality, and autonomy, illustrating its pervasive influence.

Informative

Challenging

Unnerving

Contemplative

Dark

Reviews & Readership

4.4

1,333 ratings

84%

Loved it

11%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Jacques Ellul's The Technological Society is praised for its deep, insightful analysis of technology's pervasive impacts on society and human behavior, highlighting its foresight and intellectual rigor. However, some readers find the prose dense and the tone overly pessimistic. The book remains a seminal, though challenging, critique of modern technological dependence.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Technological Society?

A reader who would enjoy The Technological Society by Jacques Ellul is likely interested in the philosophical and sociological implications of technology's role in modern life. They may also appreciate books like Neil Postman's Technopoly or Marshall McLuhan's Understanding Media, which similarly examine the effects of technological advancement on society.

4.4

1,333 ratings

84%

Loved it

11%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

449

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

1950s

Publication Year

1954

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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