Amusing Ourselves to Death Analysis

Amusing Ourselves to Death, by Neil Postman, is a well-written book with a very convincing argument. Through the use of rhetorical devices, Postman presents his prediction about the effect of television on our culture, especially in terms of public discourse and it's decline in the “Age of Show Business”.

One of the most common rhetorical devices Postman uses is simile. The comparison between two seemingly unalike things or ideas is present throughout the book. For example, when he says “changes in the symbolic environment are like changes in the natural environment...” and then goes on to describe how the pollution of a river is similar to the way television pollutes public discourse, Postman is using simile. He also uses a metaphor by saying that television's fragmented, illogical, “anticommunication,” is known as Dadaism in art, nihilism in philosophy, schizophrenia in psychiatry, and vaudeville in theater. This comparison helps readers understand the random nature of TV.

Postman also uses rhetorical questions throughout the book in order to get his point across. For example, he asks “What steps do you plan to take to reduce the conflict in the Middle East? Or the rates of inflation, crime and unemployment? What are your plans for preserving the environment or reducing the risk of nuclear war?..” in order to show that the news provides people with various information, some of it entirely irrelevant, and about which they can do nothing.

The purpose of this book is to inform readers of the dangers associated with moving from a literary based society to a picture based society, and what the effect may be on our culture and society if television becomes the basis for news, politics, education, religion, etc. The book is mostly directed towards an audience who are critical of American culture and interested in Postman's take on the cons of television. By using a well-structured argument with many examples and comparisons, Postman is able to convey his opinions in a way that is easy to follow and makes sense.

The book definitely contains validity and accuracy, mainly through Postman's use of statistics and examples. Also, by describing how public discourse has changed throughout history, from oral, to typographical, then to telegraphic and photographic, the author was able to show the reality of how the way information is relayed changes the way we think and learn. For example, during the “Age of Exposition,” when people would think about others (politicians, scientists, lawyers, etc.), they would think about what that person had written, such as their arguments and beliefs, whereas nowadays, a picture of the person would come to most peoples' minds.

In conclusion, Amusing Ourselves to Death in a thoroughly convincing book on the dangers television presents by turning everything (even politics, education, and religion) into entertainment. By making the news into a joke, TV has caused information to become irrelevant and unimportant, which, as Neil Postman points out, is even more dangerous than if the government were censoring and controlling the media. Our only hope is for individuals to become aware of the dangers of treating important matters as if they were show business, which can only be done through education.