The Image

The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America by Daniel J. Boorstin Vintage (1 September 1992) Amazon One of the best books I've read on media, ever. The Image examines how modern life became dominated by manufactured realities. Events, people, and experiences are created to be reported, promoted, and consumed. Author Daniel Boorstin argues that … Continue reading The Image →

Technopoly

Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology by Neil Postman Knopf (1 June 1993) Amazon First published in 1992, Technopoly is an essential text on media, describing a society in which technology is deified. That is, "the culture seeks its authorisation in technology, finds its satisfactions in technology, and takes its orders from technology." Prior … Continue reading Technopoly →

The Filter Bubble

The Filter Bubble: What the Internet Is Hiding from You by Eli Pariser Penguin (16 April 2012) Amazon The Filter Bubble explores how personalisation algorithms shape what information we see online. All the major tech companies do this -- Google, Facebook, Amazon. Author Eli Pariser argues that while personalisation can make user experiences more convenient, … Continue reading The Filter Bubble →

You Are Not a Gadget

You Are Not a Gadget: A Manifesto by Jaron Lanier Vintage (8 February 2011) Amazon First published in 2010, You Are Not a Gadget is not only one of the best books on media in existence, but also one of my favourite books in general. Like, if I ever had a top one-hundred, this would … Continue reading You Are Not a Gadget →

The Gawker Guide to Conquering All Media

The Gawker Guide to Conquering All Media by Gawker Media Atria Books (2 October 2007) Amazon Gawker Media was an independent media company and blog network, spanning several sites. Founded in 2002, it was the largest independent media organisation in the world, prior to its bankruptcy in 2016. The Gawker Guide to Conquering All Media … Continue reading The Gawker Guide to Conquering All Media →