# Amusing Ourselves to Death link:: [Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/74034) As someone who was born in an era where television had already become mainstream, before later got superseded by video-sharing and social media platforms, I never really questioned its prominence as the primary source of information. This book challenges the seemingly _de facto_ standard and compares it with how things were back when we still relied on typography, especially in the context of public discourse. It outlines the potential dangers with a culture optimized for engagement, with a medium designed for lack of context, with an inclination to judge others by their looks instead of ideas, among others. As Postman puts it, the medium through which we communicate shapes our culture and minds -- the way we think and communicate. What first convinced me to read this book was essentially the prologue that some people included in their book reviews: > We were keeping our eye on 1984. When the year came and the prophecy didn't, thoughtful Americans sang softly in praise of themselves. The roots of liberal democracy had held. Wherever else the terror had happened, we, at least, had not been visited by Orwellian nightmares. But we had forgotten that alongside Orwell's dark vision, there was another - slightly older, slightly less well known, equally chilling: Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. > > \[...] Orwell warns that we will be overcome by an externally imposed oppression. But in Huxley's vision, no Big Brother is required to deprive people of their autonomy, maturity and history. As he saw it, people will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think. What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. > > \[...] In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us. This book is about the possibility that Huxley, not Orwell, was right. It pretty much sums up the direction in which the book is headed. I wouldn't say I agree with all the points brought forth, but it prompted me to take a step back and question a lot of things. As with any technological/cultural transition, there are certainly reasons that could justify their emergence. Otherwise, they would not gain traction. I personally think there are some merits to television and the reigning social media these days. Video-sharing platforms like YouTube have probably become like a second school to me, and various social media have allowed me to discover things happening around me. But I think it's also worth thinking about what we don't want to sacrifice so that we don't end up being consumed by them, dragged into a mindless pursuit of engagement. After all, they are simply tools whose effects vary depending on how we use them. I was quite surprised upon seeing that this book was written in 1985. Many points mentioned in the book are so relatable even to the current time -- try replace television with social media. Well, the current situation is probably not _that_ bad, but I hope we will never cross the line. This book serves as a reminder.