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 Construction of Social Reality
The New One
Different
The Complete Stories
100 Plus
Discovering Your Personality Type
The Model Thinker
Lords of Finance
Leading
Bureaucracy
Educated
What School Could Be
The Canceling of the American Mind
Inside the Rise of HBO
Emergency
The Little Liar
Disruptor
The Great CEO Within
The Journalist and the Murderer
A Mathematician's Apology
Xi Jinping: The Governance of China
Powernomics
Strength In Stillness
The Confessions
It's All Too Much
The Jack Vance Treasury
Ending the War on Drugs
Carry on, Jeeves
Fauna & Family
Parfit
Same As Ever
Matter
The Psychology of Achievement
Can't Hurt Me
My Years with General Motors
The Course of Love
Brute
We Wish To Inform You
Thirst
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
Citizen Coke
Search Inside Yourself
The Power of Myth
Savage News
Human Compatible
On the Genealogy of Morals
The Origin of Wealth
James Turrell
Eisenhower
Poor Charlie's Almanack
The PayPal Wars
All Marketers are Liars
The Story of Civilization
Carrying The Fire
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia
The Unwritten
The Viral Storm
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
The Evolution of Cooperation
I am Benjamin Franklin
From Headless Chicken to Golden Goose
Inversions
The Jungle
Savage Son
Caste
Radical Chic and Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers
Originals
Slouching Towards Bethlehem
Getting to Yes
The Evolution of Beauty
A Very Expensive Poison
Mission
Mindstorms
Modelling Extremal Events
The Great Wave
Me Talk Pretty One Day
High Output Management
The Beginning Of Infinity
Ordinary Men
The Great Influenza
Game Engine Black Book
Inside the Investor's Brain
Makers
The Ultimate Resource 2
On Grief and Grieving
No Ordinary Time
Maps of Meaning
The Search
Fiasco
The Inflamed Mind
Value-added Measures in Education
How We Got To Now
The War for Kindness
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
Toussaint Louverture
Under Saturn's Shadow
To Dare and to Conquer
Best Evidence
Bird by Bird
How Big Things Get Done