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
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
The Four Agreements
The Elephant in the Brain
The Charisma Myth
Foundation's Edge
When Breath Becomes Air
The Gifts of Imperfection
Check Your Financial Privilege
Security Analysis
Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln
Private Truths, Public Lies
Behave
Recapturing The Spirit Of Enterprise
AOL.com
The Truth Machine
The New Penguin Atlas of Ancient History
Bossypants
Shortcut
All Over but the Shoutin'
Crossing the Chasm
Information
Foundations
Change.edu
Think Twice
How We Got To Now
The Adventures of Henry Thoreau
The Robber Barons
Kelly
When The Wolves Bite
To Dare and to Conquer
Command
The Art of Travel
Ice Age
In Pursuit of the Common Good
Thank God for Bitcoin
Stranger In A Strange Land
The Oxford History of Britain
City of the Century
How The Mind Works
The Internet of Money Volume 1
Brotopia
The Machine Stops
The Untethered Soul
Ponzi's Scheme
Kill Switch
Wild And Crazy Guys
The Hydrogen Sonata
Market Wizards
Super Mind
Filters Against Folly
Altars of Unhewn Stone
Founders at Work
The Double Helix
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Quantum Computing Since Democritus
Simon the Sea Cat
If The Universe Is Teeming With Aliens...Where Is Everybody?
Being With Dying
The Creative Act
Benjamin Franklin
Evicted
7 Powers
Triumphs of Experience
The Power of Glamour
The Hockey Stick Illusion
My Stroke of Insight
Intellectual Life in the Middle Ages
Math, Better Explained
Competing Against Luck
How to Be Topp
Pandemic 1918
High Growth Handbook
Impromptu
COAN
Foundation and Earth
Tribal Leadership
Memoirs or Chronicle of the Fourth Crusade and the Conquest of Constantinople
A Random Walk Down Wall Street
Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World
Happiness
A Fighting Chance
The Story of Philosophy
Devil Take the Hindmost
A Great Leap Forward?
The Lord of the Rings
Cloud Atlas
Don't Shoot the Dog!
Ladies and Gentlemen - Lenny Bruce!!
The Dao of Capital
Cognitive Surplus
Why We Get Fat
Darwin's Blind Spot
Glass
The Prize
Stan Smith
Happy Accidents
Diocletian and the Roman Recovery
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism
Sex at Dawn
The Song Machine