For our last run of the Seekers Book Club by Maktaba Books in 2024, we mulled over Neil Postman’s ‘Amusing Ourselves to Death’ – which was held at the cosy and warm space of Wardah Books. Without further ado, let’s delve deeper into the book.
Amusing Ourselves to Death. What are your initial thoughts as you encounter the title of the book? Personally, it felt as if the author (at first instance) is revealing to us readers that the book is about to touch on a subject matter that is somewhat ominous. As we discussed the issues found within ‘Amusing Ourselves to Death’ – there was a lingering suspicion that the message was undoubtedly foreboding.
Discussion Starter: Television
During the earlier parts of our book club discussion, we were talking about Televisions (TVs). It is poignant to note that Postman (the author) spoke extensively about the ‘Age of Television’ back in 1984 as well.
Rewinding back to our current era, there is a tendency for the television (TV) to be placed in our living room area, which thus becomes the focal point of a house. One participant noted that there exists TVs that turn into an artwork when in idle mode too. This raises the question of whether having a TV is a necessary condition for each household, or if it is merely a habitual practice for us to own a TV at all.
During Eid, we practice a beautiful custom of visiting the houses of our beloved family members or dear friends, which is also known as ‘ziarah’. Naturally, one of the intentions when visiting our loved ones is to meet people and to deepen our ties of kinship. A way we do so is by conversing and catching up with one another. Often, we find ourselves and those around us glued to TV shows or handheld devices. This defeats the intention of ‘ziarah’ – as we fail to engage in meaningful conversations and instead remain distant despite being in the same physical space.
One participant highlighted a point by mentioning how the TV acts as a ‘babysitter’ for our children. Consequently, there is growing concern about our young ones being exposed to TVs and electronic devices from an early age.
The Muddling of Public Discourse
What happens when public discourse becomes muddled? This was one of our discussion topics, and we concluded that such muddling affects everyone. For instance, with the widespread use of social media, serious discourse can be completely disrupted or fragmented to become a meme. Social media usage is evolving beyond mere amusement – it is increasingly becoming a tool for ridicule.
Instantaneity is the core framework upon which our social media applications thrive. These applications enable users to switch effortlessly from one post to the next, allowing us to easily curate the content we consume according to our desires and whims. In contrast, reading requires more effort and is less instantaneous, as we engage with information in bite-sized pieces.
The use of social media has altered the way we receive information instantaneously, often leading to incoherent thoughts and an alarming lack of context. Without context, we tend to take information at surface value. Context is important because it provides a comprehensive understanding, preventing a fragmented point-of-view.
With social media, there is no pause – it’s one piece of content after another. Modern individuals are often found reacting to online content rather than taking the time to think and reflect. Without this time for reflection, we will inevitably be at a disadvantage, unable to fully utilise our intellect for personal and societal gain.
Regression of the Human Intellect
In the traditional or pre-modern era, the ability to retain a vast amount of information was highly valued. People of the past admired individuals who possessed extensive knowledge, inspiring laymen to strive for similar pursuits. However, in our modern age, this appreciation seems diminished, as we are ‘blessed’ with the aid of technology and often overwhelmed by information overload.
With technology, the rapid access to information and services often leads to complacency and a lack of patience in our daily lives. This phenomenon has reached a point where we might abandon the seeking of beneficial knowledge altogether. This state of being is extremely dangerous.
We discussed that learning is indeed a laborious pursuit, a fact that cannot be denied. An educational space is designed to be intellectually demanding and painstakingly slow, yet extremely rewarding. Schools are a dedicated space which molds and nurtures individuals.
A participant brought up an excellent discussion point. In Singapore, primary and secondary school students have a dedicated silent reading segment during their morning assemblies. Each student brings a book of their choice and sits at the parade square or hall to read in silence. This practice is an opportune moment to instill discipline and encourage reading among students. To read is to follow a line of thought. Where context is reaffirmed and bite-sized information is pieced together to create coherent understanding. This process forms the bedrock for our intellect to analyse and further reflect.
Another participant amusingly remarked that, just as students are encouraged to read, teachers and adults must also cultivate a love for reading. By doing so, we set an example for our students and young ones, inspiring them to develop a deep passion for reading. Indeed, reading is a strong form of resistance against the regression of the human intellect.
Shameless plug: we run a silent reading book club to encourage ourselves to read and invite others to join us. We have them every 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month. See here for the next session.
Let’s Conclude
Let’s conclude by revisiting the source material from our book club session. Specifically, let’s look back to the Foreword of ‘Amusing Ourselves to Death’, focusing on Postman’s summary of Aldous Huxley’s vision.
“… in Huxley’s vision, no Big Brother is required to deprive people of their autonomy, maturity and history. … people will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think.
What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. … Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared that the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture…
… In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us.” (Postman, 1984, p. xix to xx for the physical copy of the book and p. 23 for the ebook)
Isn’t it disturbingly eerie how close we are as a society to the vision that Huxley wrote about in his Brave New World? The idea of a society numbed by pleasure and distraction, prioritising instant gratification over deeper meaning and critical thought, mirrors many aspects of our current social and technological landscape. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving critical thinking and genuine human connection.
ٱقْرَأْ – Read. This is the first word revealed by Allah ﷻ our creator, reminding us of the importance to read. This in itself is enough of a motivator for us to read. There is immense and abundant wisdom in reading. Thus, reading becomes our strong form of resistance in the end of times.
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Written by Sitti Hatta
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