40 pages • 1 hour read
Neil PostmanTechnopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1992A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Technopoly by Neil Postman, a 1992 nonfiction book, examines the pervasive and unquestioned influence of technology on society, tracing cultural history from tool-using cultures to a Technopoly where technology dominates. Focusing on the United States, Postman discusses how technology's dominance shapes culture, highlighting medical technology and the rise of computers. He explores "invisible technologies" like statistics, critiques "Scientism," and offers an educational curriculum as a means to critically examine technology's role.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Neil Postman's Technopoly is praised for its incisive critique of society's overreliance on technology and the erosion of cultural values. Critics commend its thought-provoking analysis, though some find it overly deterministic and nostalgic. While the book provides valuable insights, occasionally its arguments lack nuance and depth.
Who Should Read Technopoly?
Readers of Technopoly by Neil Postman are intellectually curious about the impact of technology on society and culture. They likely appreciate works like Amusing Ourselves to Death by the same author or The Shallows by Nicholas Carr. Ideal for those critical of technological determinism and interested in media ecology, similar to Marshall McLuhan's audience.