Empire of Illusion - bookrastinating.com

audio cd

Published April 10, 2018 by Tantor Audio.

ISBN:: 978-1-9773-5913-1

Pulitzer prize–winner Chris Hedges charts the dramatic and disturbing rise of a post-literate society that craves fantasy, ecstasy and illusion. Chris Hedges argues that we now live in two societies: One, the minority, functions in a print-based, literate world, that can cope with complexity and can separate illusion from truth. The other, a growing majority, is retreating from a reality-based world into one of false certainty and magic. In this "other society," serious film and theatre, as well as newspapers and books, are being pushed to the margins. In the tradition of Christopher Lasch's The Culture of Narcissism and Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death, Hedges navigates this culture — attending WWF contests as well as Ivy League graduation ceremonies — exposing an age of terrifying decline and heightened self-delusion. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title

8 editions

uhhpink reviewed Empire of illusion by Chris Hedges

Review of 'Empire of illusion' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Overall a really concise breakdown of the issues surrounding the modern, corporatized America. Despite being released almost 12 years ago, everything in this book is still so, so potent. I do wish Hedges would've deconstructed some things a little further for those who are not necessarily already questioning the foundation of America, but I understand that these people are not who the book is written for. Also, the ending surrounding the power of love feels a bit forced, but also it is also very much needed after trudging through some of the shittiest parts of corporatism, celebrity culture, pornography, imperialism, etc. While this ending does not provide some kind of solution to solve all of these problems discussed (which isn't something that should be expected from just one person anyways), it does provide a future outlook that, despite these deeply rooted issues, these elite will eventually fall, and I do …

Overall a really concise breakdown of the issues surrounding the modern, corporatized America. Despite being released almost 12 years ago, everything in this book is still so, so potent. I do wish Hedges would've deconstructed some things a little further for those who are not necessarily already questioning the foundation of America, but I understand that these people are not who the book is written for. Also, the ending surrounding the power of love feels a bit forced, but also it is also very much needed after trudging through some of the shittiest parts of corporatism, celebrity culture, pornography, imperialism, etc. While this ending does not provide some kind of solution to solve all of these problems discussed (which isn't something that should be expected from just one person anyways), it does provide a future outlook that, despite these deeply rooted issues, these elite will eventually fall, and I do find that is a fairly powerful way to leave off.

Overall, I really liked this book and would definitely recommend it.