Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle,   ISBN:9781568584379

Customer Rating: 

While this book is not as great as Chris Hedges' previous "War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning," he has his finger on the same pulse that other contemporary writers have identified. We prefer our illusions to the reality that is so visible. It appears that Hedges' seminary training has contributed to a sensitivity to what is missing in our culture, our pursuits, and our education. Even our best universities educate for the business world and do not emphasize the humanities. We have become one-dimensional. Meanwhile, our sensitivities have been dulled. Hedges gives examples of the fan base for professional wrestling and the envy/resentment demographic it is designed for. He documents the proliferation of porn and how it plays to men who have been denied by women. This book is worth reading.

Customer Rating: 

I strongly agree with the premise of this interesting little book, but find it superficial and incomplete.

Hedges describes in lurid detail some of the more disgusting and abusive forms of pornography, but fails to consider the more benign. He slams the country's "antiquated and inefficient rail system" (the same one into which Warren Buffett just invested another $26 billion). And he exposes the real Berkeley. But Illiberal Education by Dinesh D'Souza provided a much more comprehensive investigation into the corruption of American higher ed.

Finally, Hedges omits the most obvious chapter, "The Illusion of Religion." Perhaps this Harvard Divinity grad should look in the mirror.

Customer Rating: 

Mr. Hedges is clearly an educated observer whose insights deserve attention and reward study. However, he seems to have lost faith and given up; he has abandoned the battlefield. One must credit him for honesty, for after disparaging the Ivy League education as shallow and increasingly without value, he admits to springing for a $7,000 Princeton Review course for his own child--thereby admitting that he does not have the strength to do for his own children what he advocates for his reader and highlighting the most telling aspect of his cautionary tale. We (speaking generally here) identify what is wrong with our society but rather than engage in making it better we are content to merely follow, like sheep; frozen, we are unable to get off of the train that is speeding in the wrong direction.

The author's loss of faith was evident in the hiding of the real answer until the bitter end of the book. The answer is tossed out at the end as if he was embarrassed to say it. Surely someone can just stand up and admit that society has abandoned religion at a staggering cost. We no longer preach the value of true neighborly love and concern--excepting on the battlefield, we no longer admire and reward bravery and sacrifice but instead look to our government to shoulder the load. Instead of teaching our children to love one another and seek a perfectly just society we teach them to tolerate alternative mindsets even if offensive and indecent. Diversity becomes a goal in itself to the very destruction of the one truth that will save us all--which, quite independently of any flavor of religion, is simply to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Mr. Hedges finds his answer and makes a fine argument but fails to demonstrate the bravery necessary to name evil as such. In fact, much of his exposition was clearly designed to shock (this is NOT a book for children) and offend, a tactic that has merit but only if the shock is used to produce an equal but opposite result. He is not talking about "illusion" so much as he is talking about evil.

Yes, I understand that the entire book is an exercise in naming evil--but it is couched in the cautious and politically-correct jargon of our jaded age. Mr. Hedges assumes the position of the wry and knowledgeable spectator instead of taking the field and fighting for truth.

However, Mr. Hedges is to be commended for making the argument. My quibbles about how he chooses to do so are quibbles. He speaks a truth that needs to be heard--a society in search of illusion will lose the very meaning of reality. The wise and educated need to teach the simple and foolish the error of their ways or else history will yet again cycle through our wasted civilization as it has through others so many times over the course of time. I shall search out and read more of his work.

Customer Rating: 

Does for porn what slaughterhouse videos do for meat eating---you'll never look at the world the same way again, and will never look at some things again, period.

Customer Rating: 

The author has the ability to write very concise and too the point, no wordy filler reading. Hard hitting and lots of credible footnotes. If you are interested in the future of the USA, this book is a must read. One of the best sociology books ever.