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Everything Bad is Good for You
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 306.0973
EAN: 9781594481949
ISBN: 1594481946
Label: Riverhead Trade
Manufacturer: Riverhead Trade
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 272
Publication Date: May 02, 2006
Publisher: Riverhead Trade
Studio: Riverhead Trade
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Editorial Review:
In his fourth book, Everything Bad Is Good for You, iconoclastic science writer Steven Johnson (who used himself as a test subject for the latest neurological technology in his last book, Mind Wide Open) takes on one of the most widely held preconceptions of the postmodern world--the belief that video games, television shows, and other forms of popular entertainment are detrimental to Americans' cognitive and moral development. Everything Good builds a case to the contrary that is engaging, thorough, and ultimately convincing.
The heart of Johnson's argument is something called the Sleeper Curve--a universe of popular entertainment that trends, intellectually speaking, ever upward, so that today's pop-culture consumer has to do more "cognitive work"--making snap decisions and coming up with long-term strategies in role-playing video games, for example, or mastering new virtual environments on the Internet-- than ever before. Johnson makes a compelling case that even today's least nutritional TV junk food-the Joe Millionaires and Survivors so commonly derided as evidence of America's cultural decline--is more complex and stimulating, in terms of plot complexity and the amount of external information viewers need to understand them, than the Love Boats and I Love Lucys that preceded it. When it comes to television, even (perhaps especially) crappy television, Johnson argues, "the content is less interesting than the cognitive work the show elicits from your mind."
Johnson's work has been controversial, as befits a writer willing to challenge wisdom so conventional it has ossified into accepted truth. But even the most skeptical readers should be captivated by the intriguing questions Johnson raises, whether or not they choose to accept his answers. --Erica C. Barnett
Forget everything you've read about the age of dumbed-down, instant-gratification culture. In this provocative, intelligent, and convincing endorsement of today's mass entertainment, national bestselling author Steven Johnson argues that the pop culture we soak in every day-from The Lord of the Rings to Grand Theft Auto to The Simpsons-has been growing more and more sophisticated and, far from rotting our brains, is actually posing new cognitive challenges that are making our minds measurably sharper. You will never regard the glow of the video game or television screen the same way again.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Elitism Rules! OK?
This is a provocative book which warrants serious consideration. The author postulates that through the device of the sleeper curve, the various technological developments which pervade popular culture are not dumbing down America, but rather leading to development of a broader range of skills than credited by academic experts.
He sets out his view in sections devoted to video games, film, and very briefly, the internet, and explores the differing skills which are exercised during their ... Read More
Rating:  - BECAUSE I COULDN'T GIVE ZERO STARS
This is just a feel good book for the people who do not pursue any worthwhile intellectual pursuits. Arguments are weak, and to even suggest that reality shows show a rise in culture is ludicrous, in my opinion. Those who watch reality shows basically are sitting around, watching strangers on television, and in the process not doing anything with their own lives.
My theory and my opinion is that this author may know his arguments are invalid, but he knows that so many people want justification ... Read More
Rating: - Define "good"
The author made a pretty good case that some pop culture is not bad, but he does not make a strong argument it is good. I didn't read the notes section but I felt that there was a lack of supporting data in the main text for many of his statements and arguments (though he mentions a few times that "studies should be done"). He dismisses counter arguments with a few sentences: Yes, test scores in academic subjects are down, but problem solving ability is up! Yes, the content may be violent, but problem solving ... Read More
Rating: - Interesting but choppy
Interesting, food for thought, hard to get into and not so convincing after all. Could be a much shorter book.
Rating:  - "Everything Bad" is Pretty Good!
Video games that actually improve our decision-making skills and not just give our thumbs a workout? TV shows that give our brains exercise, not just develop our zoning out skills? Is it possible? In today's society, the typical American watches over four hours of television a day (NielsonMedia.com), surfs the Internet around 14 hours a week (MediaLifeMagazine.com), and gives the software/gaming industry upwards of $30 billion a year in revenues (FOXNews.com). With all of this media surrounding us, how ... Read More
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