ChiefNode

Everything Bad is Good for You

I just finished Steven Johnson's latest book Everything Bad is Good for You. He calls it an old fashioned bit of persuasion. At the heart is the Sleeper Curve, which he named after some movie I've never heard of. The core idea is that media is getting more complex, and allowing us to think in different ways than before. He says IQs are even increasing. The book could use a little bit more editing, IMHO, but the evidence is compelling. He does point out that shows like "Fear Factor" are not the cream of the crop, but shows like The Apprentice or Survivor have us tracking social networks, judging, and becoming more involved. A quick read, and worth checking out from the library.

posted by Dana Bostrom @ 18:20