Chris Hedges

*Most of my entries will not be this lengthy, serious or informative for that matter, I promise. The music and pics and restaurant reviews are on the way...

I just finished a book by Chris Hedges called "Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle". This is the first of Hedges books I have read, and am looking forward to the others. Now, before you think I have gone atheist on you, this is not the popular "neo-atheist" movement author Christopher Hitchens. In fact, he has had debates with Hitchens arguing against his anti religous viewpoints, and written a book entitled "I Don't Believe in Atheists". I have read some of Hitchens stuff, he has some valid points, but tends to drag them out using very antiquated language, and seems to enjoy hearing himself talk, or write or whatever.

Thank you to the dear friend that turned me on to this guy. The book was great, somewhat depressing, but in a "start ignoring the useless crap around you and pay attention" type of depressing. I've found myself disillusioned with popular culture and the 24 hour news/gossip shows for some time now. This book helped me understand why, and in doing so helped me to understand that it is fine to tune most of it out. Hedges isn't bringing a whole lot new to light, rather reaffirming what others in the past have warned us about, and applying it to present situations. I will give a big warning to those that read this book. He includes a section on the effect pornography has had on our culture, and it is very very graphic. I think part of the reason for him including this section is to give you an example of a very important point he makes throughout the book that this is not the utopian, "everything is peachy keen"(my quote) United States of America that many would have you believe. That being said, I'll give you some links to some very interesting lectures, news interviews, and I'll link to the aforementioned debate with Christopher Hitchens.

• Hour long speech outlining the points in the book here
• Debate with atheist Sam Harris over religious fundamentalism in Islam and Christianity here It's a nine part series, I've linked to the first.
• Recent interview about "inverted totalitarianism" here
• Part of the debate with Christopher Hitchens here