Any Fans of Chris Hedges' Empire of Illusion here? My question is...

[Mike_03]

I absolutely love Chris Hedges' most recent book EMPIRE OF ILLUSION: THE END OF LITERACY AND THE TRIUMPH OF SPECTACLE, and his conclusions are dire, even though he seems sympathetic to our causes.

But I don't glean any hope from what he is saying. Does anyone comprehend what if anything he suggests we do about our situation?

Do we become survivalists?

Do we step out of our isolation and do everything we can to give, educate and make the world a better place?

His writing is brilliant, as it Chomsky's, but it seems to have a dual message.

I would love to hear the opinions of others who have read and understand Mr. Hedges's ideas and can explain what we might do to turn around his vision of our future according to his latest work, which is mind-shattering and brilliant.

Thanks in advance.

PS, This is the first I ever heard of Chris Hedges, and the only book by him that I have read.

[jwirr]

1. .

[Enthusiast]

2. What do you mean, jwirr?

Just wondering.

[jwirr]

6. Interested in the answers you will get. Sorry.

[Enthusiast]

3. I just hope like hell

that the future is not as dire as Chris Hedges predicts. But he sure does have some valid points.

[bonnieS]

4. other work

Read "American Fascists: the Christian Right and the War on America" by Hedges.

Of late, Hedges has become justifiably depressed and angry. He is not telling us what to do, he is just the Paul Revere of the day, riding to warn us of the dire circumstances we are in/facing and to give cogent analyses of how we got here. For hopeful action read David Swanson. Another hopeful writer was Howard Zinn, who always said that it was up to us to do whatever we can to right the wrongs. I think Hedges wants us to do the same, but does not give us a prescription. His writings are all over the place on line, and are always worth reading.

[Odin2005]

5. Hedges equating social networking with the boob tube = EPIC FAIL.

I agree with his general premise, but some parts read like stereotyped "technology is rotting your brain!!!" nonsense.