How in attempting to achieve equality for all people we have let our decision-making processes develope in to a situation where all opinions are equal, conspiracy theorists are accorded the same standing as educated professionals, and emotions reign supreme while fact is despised and treated with derision.ĭ’Ancona lays out clearly why in this new reality fact-based arguments are dismissed and why arguments based on science, fact and rationalism are so ineffectual a response. He shows how, as with so many disasters, it started with good intention, the attempt to include minorities and alternative points of view. He explains how Trump and Brexit have brought the phenomenon into focus but that they are the symptoms not the cause. I received this book from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest reviewĪs we find ourselves knee-deep in the troubling reality of the post truth era d’Ancona’s book clearly and concisely relates how we came from the rationalism of the Enlightenment to our present parlous state of affairs. TinyLetter | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr Overall, a good summary whose flaws don't stop it from being informative and useful – but if you've read a handful of longform pieces on this topic, I don't think you need to buy it. Towards the end it briefly goes off on a tangent in the vein of 'well if everyone would just get off their smartphones and social media and engage with their communities.' – surely harking back to the same imaginary idyllic past that d'Ancona's main objects of criticism have so successfully invoked. It's a decent introduction to a thorny subject, even if there are some dubious points: for example, I'm leery of the way the book lays the blame for the current political climate at the door of postmodernism. Instead, he sees the 'shock' triumph of both campaigns as the natural result of an underlying trend involving the collapse of trust in authority, rejection of scientific evidence, the spread of conspiracy theories and a tendency to prioritise emotion above truth. Inevitably, d'Ancona talks a lot about 2016, the year post-truth exploded, and its two political juggernauts – Trump and Brexit – but the main thrust of his argument, frequently reinforced, is that while it may be tempting to believe the post-truth/'fake news' era will die whenever Trump leaves office, such an assumption is dangerously reductive. This concise and straightforward primer on post-truth politics and culture is basically an essay organised into five chapters (the paperback is a pleasingly compact, pocket-sized book). In our modern world - a world where 'fake news' is rife online, where politicians appeal to feelings and emotions, rather than sticking to the facts - it's a thought-provoking, highly relevant read. It's a relatively short book, but not a word is out of place. Worrying, damning stuff - and also vitally important to think about. Intriguingly enough, it's nothing new! It also highlights the dangers of apathy - how lies can flourish with the assistance widespread, weary acceptance. It explores the rise of post-truth, how society paved the path to let it become 'a thing', and also, its history. This book explores the subject in depth, from the Brexit vote in Britain to Trump's victory in the US. It all sounded horribly 'double-speak' to me - this notion that politicians and the media were no longer constrained by the obligation to be truthful - they could simply repackage 'facts' to suit their purpose. I received a copy of this book from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.Ī vital read if you're concerned about the way the world is going.įor a while now, I (like many people), have been worried about this notion of post-truth, or as Kellyanne Conway so succinctly put it - alternative facts. Now, one of the UK’s most respected political journalists, Matthew d’Ancona investigates how we got here, why quiet resignation is not an option and how we can and must fight back. Where trust has evaporated, conspiracy theories thrive, the authority of the media wilt and emotions matter more than facts. What is new is not the mendacity of politicians but the public’s response to it and the ability of new technologies and social media to manipulate, polarise and entrench opinion. In this eye-opening and timely book, Post-Truth is distinguished from a long tradition of political lies, exaggeration and spin. So what does it all mean and how can we champion truth in in a time of lies and ‘alternative facts’? The Brexit vote Donald Trump’s victory the rejection of climate change science the vilification of immigrants all have been based on the power to evoke feelings and not facts. Welcome to the Post-Truth era- a time in which the art of the lie is shaking the very foundations of democracy and the world as we know it.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |