Episode · No Stupid Questions · 2023-06-05
Books mentioned on Do You Savor or Gobble? | No Stupid Questions | Episode 91 (Replay)
Stephen Dubner discussed Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman. Also mentioned: Anarchy, State, and Utopia by Robert Nozick.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Amusing Ourselves to Death
Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman is a media critique arguing that the shift from a print-based culture to a television-dominated society has degraded public discourse by reducing serious political and intellectual ideas into mere entertainment.
Discussed“if you want to be depressed about our ability to succumb to that I think of a book from maybe 30 Years Ago by Neil Postman called amusing ourselves to death”
Where to get it
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Anarchy, State, and Utopia
Anarchy, State, and Utopia by Robert Nozick is a foundational 1974 political philosophy book that defends libertarianism and introduces famous thought experiments like the pleasure machine.
Discussed“Angela was likely thinking of the thought experiment described by American philosopher Robert nozick in his 1974 book Anarchy State and Utopia”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Passing Amusing Ourselves to Death
“If you want to be depressed about our ability to succumb to that, I think of a book from maybe thirty years ago by Neil Postman called Amusing Ourselves to Death, which wasn't about binge-watching because it didn't exist, but it was about an engagement with media or entertainment.”
Passing Anarchy, State, and Utopia
“Finally, Angela describes the 'philosophical problem' of being plugged into a pleasure machine; there are several canonical references that fit this description, but Angela was likely thinking of the thought experiment described by American philosopher Robert Nozick in his 1974 book Anarchy, State, and Utopia.”