Jerry Mander (1936–2023)

There are books that are outdated yet still relevant; Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television, however, isn't one of them. The author can't be blamed for a book about technology becoming outdated after 35 years, but by founding a significant part of his argument on the then-present state of television technology, it is for no better reason than his own shortsightedness that his book is now irrelevant. Add to this a curious mixture of pseudoscience and anti-scientific sentiment show more (except where science seems to confirm the author's theory, of course), a touch of emotive hyperbole (television = political autocracy); and some particularly fine examples of both erroneous reasoning and intellectual dishonesty, and you have a book that not only misleads but annoys as well.

I really do try to keep my reviews balanced, but I have very little to add to the 'positive' side of the scales here. If I were to summarise my thoughts in one point, it would be that one gets the impression that the argument is very much a product of the conclusion. I don't doubt the sincerity of the author's belief, but the validity of the argument is questionable to say the least. show less

As I've written elsewhere, probably in the Cognitive Dissidents Group, I put off reading this for 30 yrs. It came out in 1978 & I'd already stopped watching TV in 1969 or 1970 - one of the best decisions I ever made in my life, if I do say! Of course, saying that I "stopped watching TV" is, sadly, not as true as I'd like it to be given that there's usually a TV on in whatever laundromat I go to, in the bars I go to, etc.. There was even talk for a while of putting TVs on buses here in show more Pittsburgh. THANK GOODNESS THEY DIDN'T DO THAT!!

ANYWAY, I probably didn't read it when it came out b/c I'd already stopped watching TV long since & figured that I already knew most of Mander's arguments - having made them myself. AND I was right. Much of what Mander writes is what I'd already observed too.. BUT he articulates it so well, so thoroughly, that I'd recommend this bk to everyone as much as possible (w/o being a proselytizer, ie). I even loved this as much as I loved "The Politics of Heroin in Southeast Asia"! & that's saying alot!

During the mnths that I've been intermittently reading this, I've quoted from it extensively on various Cognitive Dissidents posts:

The 4th & 5th messages to the "Robopaths" topic:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/19326-robopaths

The 5th, 6th, & 7th messages to the "Propaganda" topic:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/178790-propaganda

PLUS, I'm working toward making a movie called "Robopaths" that I've been selecting Mander quotes for.

B/c of the space limitations of this review, I'll confine myself to just quoting 2 ending paragraphs here:

"Television technology is inherently antidemocratic. Because of its cost, the limited kind of information it can disseminate, the way it transforms the people who use it, and the fact that a few speak while millions absorb, television is suitable for use only by the most powerful corporate interests in the country. They inevitably use it to redesign human minds into a channeled, artificial, commercial form, that nicely fits the commercial environment. Television freewayizes, suburbanizes, and commoditizes human beings, who are then easier to control. Meanwhile, those who control television consolidate their power." - p349

"We believe ourselves to be living in a democracy because from time to time we get to vote on candidates for public office. Yet our vote for congressperson or president means very little in the light of our lack of power over technological inventions that affect the nature of our existence more than any individual leader has ever done. Without our gaining control over technology, all notions of democracy are a farce. If we cannot even think of abandoning a technology, or thinking of it, affect the ban, then we are trapped in a state of passivity and impotence hardly to be distinguished from living under a dictatorship. What is confusing is that our dictator is not a person. Though a handful of people most certainly benefit from and harness to their purposes these pervasive technologies, the true dictators are the technologies themselves." - p352 show less

When I think of my favorite books, this book instantly comes to mind. It covers the main reasons why television is the main problem in our society and why it's elimination is essential to our survival. It is from the 90s so it deserves a revisit to see if things are still holding true, but this book resonated so well with me when I read it. It felt like the author was expressing the idea more thoughtfully than I could with my own words and reinforcing my ideas with new ideas. I highly show more recommend this book!

Edit to add... This book was published in 1978! show less

If I could give this book more than five stars, I would! It is truly one of the most influential books I've ever read, perhaps because I read it as a newborn progressive during my junior year of college. This treasure store of information will not be new to those who are savvy about economics, globalization, the problems created by mega-corporations, etc., but it is an excellent and comprehensive introduction or refresher course on these topics. Use "the big red book", as I fondly call it, show more as a jumping off point. Whether or not you agree with all its contentions and conclusions, you'll gain valuable context by reading it, and you'll know which topics you want to pursue further. And the format (many contributors on many different topics) makes it a valuable reference book as well. show less