Technopoly

The Surrender of Culture to Technology

Neil Postman

Recommended By

Book Reviews

Will Marshall: "Great book!"

Book Synopsis

"Technopoly" by Neil Postman explores the impact of technology on society, particularly the rise of a new philosophy that he calls Technopoly. This philosophy holds that technology is the ultimate solution to all human problems and that it should be unquestioningly embraced.

Postman starts by presenting the historical progression of technological advancements, illustrating how they shape and reshape culture. He argues that technology does not exist in isolation but is deeply intertwined with the values, beliefs, and social structures of a society.

Postman highlights the dangers of Technopoly by examining how it affects different domains of life. He criticizes the overemphasis on efficiency and productivity, which often come at the expense of human interactions, critical thinking, and meaningful experiences. He warns against the erosion of moral and ethical frameworks, as technology allows for the manipulation and control of information.

The impacts of Technopoly extend beyond individuals to institutions and systems. Postman discusses how technology has transformed education, politics, and the economy. He raises concerns about the loss of genuine learning and thoughtful civic engagement, as well as the rise of a consumer-driven culture where value is measured solely in economic terms.

Postman argues that resisting Technopoly requires a conscious evaluation of technology's consequences and a renewed commitment to human values. He encourages readers to take a critical stance towards technology and to actively shape its trajectory, rather than passively accepting its inevitability.

Through thought-provoking analysis and a call to action, "Technopoly" offers a compelling examination of the ways in which technology shapes our lives and the importance of maintaining a balance between technology and human values in order to preserve our humanity.

Explore More Books

See All
Liberal Privelege
Investment Biker
A Most Beautiful Thing
Viral Loop
Modernity Without Restraint
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Blackout
Clear Thinking
Women
The Blind Watchmaker
Wake Up: Why The World Has Gone Nuts
The Princeton Companion to Mathematics
The Obstacle Is the Way
On The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation
One Billion Hungry
The Outermost House
God Emperor of Dune
The Fiat Standard
The Inmates Are Running the Asylum
The Fourth Turning
Educated
Planta Sapiens
Not Zero
How The Internet Happened
Rick and Morty Book Two
Count Down
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics
Principles for Dealing With The Changing World Order
Same As Ever
Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World
A Guide To The Good Life
Violence and Social Orders
The White Album
Syntax & Sage
The History of Money
Little Fires Everywhere
Deep Learning
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
More Human
A History of the Theory of Investments
The Trial of Socrates
How To Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck
Working Backwards
Dare To Fly
Chaos Monkeys
Rise of the Robots
On Bullshit
Startup
Maisy Mouse Collection
The Ones We Have Been Waiting For
George's Marvellous Medicine
Check Your Financial Privilege
The 5 Resets
Taxes Have Consequences
The Red Queen
100 Plus
The Emotionally Intelligent Investor
Think Again
The Meaning of the 21st Century
Autobiography of a Spiritually Incorrect Mystic
More Money Than God
Skin In The Game
Healing
Radical Son
Birth of a Theorem
High Fidelity
Acts of Love
Pride and Prejudice
The Precipice
A Bite-Sized History of France
A Life Decoded
Carry on, Jeeves
Find Me Unafraid
Everything is Bullshit
From Galileo to Newton
Tipping Points
Lessons for the Living
Parents Who Lead
Whiplash
Matter
The Doctrine of Deification in the Greek Patristic Tradition
Complexity
Plowman's Folly
The Double Helix
Gödel, Escher, Bach
Beyond Religion
Falling into Grace
Into Thin Air
The Moth Presents All These Wonders
Empires of Light
The Gift
The Martian
Self Reliance
Stories of Your Life and Others
Rich Woman
Sunset at Blandings
Tribe of Mentors
End The Fed
The Uninhabitable Earth
The Construction of Social Reality