Do we, the American public, have a pernicious tendency to escape into illusionary activities when the going gets rough? Do we have an unhealthy obsession with perfection, reality tv, and all other forms of fatuous entertainment? Are we consuming too much and spending way too much money, that we possibly don't have, in light of our grim economic situation? Are our academic institutions loosing there moral integrity and their drive for truth and intellectual knowledge through corporate takeovers? Do mega corporations have our best interests in mind? Has our current form of capitalism failed?
These questions, and many more, are the ones raised in the new book, by author/journalist Chris Hedges, Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle. Many many questions, but Hedges goes on to give us what he sees as the answers.
This book is also a warning to its readers and the American people in general. It's a very grim read. But maybe perhaps the author felt this tone was needed in order to slap us back into reality. His reality, at least.
I've been able to read a few other books by Hedges, War Is A Force That Gives Us Meaning and I Don't Believe in Atheists, which are cautionary works to the people also, and while I don't agree with everything the man says I still find his works intriguing. Very intriguing. Perhaps you can as well. Empire of Illusion is out to buy now!