{"title":"Neil Postman","description":"\u003cp\u003eNeil Postman’s work offers a profound examination of how media and communication shape culture and education. His incisive critiques, such as in \u003cem\u003eAmusing Ourselves to Death\u003c\/em\u003e, explore the impact of television and technology on public discourse and the dissemination of knowledge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders interested in the theory and practice of education will find Postman’s ideas both challenging and inspiring. His writing encourages a thoughtful consideration of teaching methods and the role of education in society, making his books essential reading in \u003cstrong\u003eEducation \u0026amp; Reference\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eScience \u0026amp; Nature\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"amusing-ourselves-to-death","title":"Amusing Ourselves to Death","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eAmusing Ourselves to Death\u003c\/i\u003e by Neil Postman is a profound examination of the impact of television on public discourse. Set against the bleakly humorous parallel between George Orwell's dystopian vision in \u003ci\u003e1984\u003c\/i\u003e and the author's insights, the book delves into the transformation of media from a vehicle for public enlightenment to a conduit for mere entertainment.\n\nOriginally published in 1985, Postman's groundbreaking polemic has grown more relevant with time. As new forms of electronic media—purveyed through the Internet, cell phones, and streaming services—join television in shaping public consciousness, the book's prophetic warnings resonate even louder today.\n\nPostman charts the shift from a print-based culture, where information was dissected and discussed, to a visual and sound-bite-friendly society that prioritises amusement over substance. Through a deft analysis of historical patterns and media theory, he reveals the detrimental consequences this shift has had on our politics, journalism, education, and even religion. As attention spans shorten and entertainment value grows paramount, Postman argues that our critical faculties and civic understanding are gravely undermined.\n\n\u003ci\u003eAmusing Ourselves to Death\u003c\/i\u003e is not just a critique but also a call to action. It offers a blueprint for regaining control of our media landscape, advocating for a more informed and engaged populace. \n\n“Well-written and engaging, this book offers a chilling prophecy of what becomes of politics, education, and religion when they superficially cater to entertainment demands,” says Jonathan Yardley of \u003ci\u003eThe Washington Post Book World\u003c\/i\u003e. Linking modern phenomena like Trump's rise to Postman's insights, \u003ci\u003eCNN\u003c\/i\u003e notes, \"It's unlikely that Trump has ever read \u003ci\u003eAmusing Ourselves to Death\u003c\/i\u003e, but his ascent would not have surprised Postman.\"\n\nA timeless and urgent read, \u003ci\u003eAmusing Ourselves to Death\u003c\/i\u003e challenges readers to reflect seriously on the media's role in shaping our world, urging us to reclaim the intentionality and depth that our predecessors once valued.\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Ingram Book Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45744879796460,"sku":"9780143036531","price":51.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780143036531.jpg?v=1726660717"},{"product_id":"amusing-ourselves-to-death-1","title":"Amusing Ourselves to Death","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eAmusing Ourselves to Death\u003c\/i\u003e by Neil Postman is a profound exploration into the effects of television on public discourse and democratic life. Drawing upon historical insights and cultural analysis, Postman contends that television, with its emphasis on entertainment, has degraded serious public communication and rational debate. By prioritising visual sensations and brief, captivating segments, it undermines the very fabric of meaningful dialogue that is crucial for a healthy society.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePostman opens by contrasting the dystopian futures envisioned by George Orwell in \u003ci\u003e1984\u003c\/i\u003e and Aldous Huxley in \u003ci\u003eBrave New World\u003c\/i\u003e. He suggests that Huxley's vision, where people are controlled by their addiction to pleasure, is a far more accurate reflection of contemporary society. Through a series of compelling arguments, supported by historical context and modern examples, Postman elucidates how television has become a tool for delivering trivial content that is detrimental to rational public discourse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThroughout the book, Postman addresses various areas of society—politics, education, religion, and journalism—demonstrating how each has been transformed by the needs and formats of television. He vividly portrays how each sector has adapted to a medium that rewards entertainment over substance, thus skewing the function and purpose they once served.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe core argument of \u003ci\u003eAmusing Ourselves to Death\u003c\/i\u003e is a stark warning: If society continues to allow television to dictate the terms of public discourse, we risk eroding the very foundations of democracy and thoughtful engagement. Postman not only delineates these dangers but also offers practical suggestions on how to resist and mitigate the pervasive influence of television. He urges a conscious recognition of how media shapes culture and lives, advocating for a movement towards media literacy and responsible media consumption.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis eloquent and persuasive book is a clarion call to reclaim the integrity of public discourse. Postman’s insights remain profoundly relevant, capturing the essence of the challenges posed by modern media on the way we communicate and perceive the world. \u003ci\u003eAmusing Ourselves to Death\u003c\/i\u003e is essential reading for anyone concerned with the impact of media on society and eager to understand how we can navigate and counteract its pervasive influence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Gardners Books Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45762857533676,"sku":"9780413404404","price":40.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/932148851b10c0487a1d1a2c8ad9ef46.jpg?v=1789340692"},{"product_id":"teaching-as-a-subversive-activity-by-neil-postman-9780385290098","title":"Teaching As a Subversive Activity","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA no-holds-barred assault on outdated teaching methods— with dramatic and practical proposals on how education can be made relevant to today's world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eTeaching As a Subversive Activity\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"A healthy dose of Postman and Weingartner is a good thing: if they make even a dent in the pious... American classroom, the book will be worthwhile.\" — \u003cem\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"Teaching and knowledge are subversive in that they necessarily substitute awareness for guesswork, and knowledge for experience. Experience is no use in the world of Apollo 8. It is simply necessary to know. However, it is also necessary to know the effect of Apollo 8 in creating a new Global Theatre in which student and teacher alike are looking for roles. Postman and Weingartner make excellent theatrical producers in the new Global Theatre.\" — Marshall McLuhan\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"It will take courage to read this book... but those who are asking honest questions—what's wrong with the worlds in which we live, how do we build communication bridges across the Generation Gap, what do they want from us?—these people will squirm in the discovery that the answers are really within themselves.\" — \u003cem\u003eSaturday Review\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"Neil Postman and Charles Weingartner go beyond the now-familiar indictments of American education to propose basic ways of liberating both teachers and students from becoming personnel rather than people... the authors have created what may become a primer of 'the new education'. Their book is intended for anyone, teacher or not, who is concerned with sanity and survival in a world of precipitously rapid change, and it's worth your reading.\" — \u003cem\u003ePlayboy\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"This challenging, liberating book can unlock not only teachers but anyone for whom language and learning are not dead.\" — Nat Hentoff\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48247790600428,"sku":"9780385290098","price":50.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780385290098-teaching-as-a-subversive-activity-1.jpg?v=1788142903"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/neil-postman.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}