By victor mickunas

February 26, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this

All good points, Page Turner. Don’t rely on the anecdotal, if you really want to form an opinion of the book I think the most logical approach might be to read it.Don’t rely on Amazon reviewers or even the author in an interview to make your decision. The proof is in the publishing. Those pages are crying out for your perusal.

By Page Turner

February 26, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

If an author is going to expound upon the topic of “Unreason,” the least she can do is offer a logical — “reasonable” — argument for her thesis. Opinion is not enough. “Rationality and evidence” (her words) are required. Ms. Jacoby opened Vick’s interview by mentioning that when she stepped into a bar in NYC on her way home after the 9/11 attacks she overheard two chumps who didn’t know the significance of Pearl Harbor. Astounded by what she calls “the general state of [lack of] knowledge of guys with expensive briefcases who look like they probably went to expensive college,” she was motivated to write the book. She went on to offer a lot of opinion about the sad state of overall intelligence in the United States today, but she failed to buttress her opinions with evidence. Among the very few supporting “facts” she offered during the interview was this mangled comment: “Nearly half of all Americans under the age of four do not read a single book, fiction or non-fiction, in a year.” Commenters on Amazon (who presumably have read the book), aside from those with uncritical five star recommendations, also noted the lack of evidence presented to support her personal observations. To quote from Wikipedia, “Anecdotal evidence is not necessarily typical; statistical evidence can more accurately determine how typical something is.” The piling of anecdotes, no matter how high, even comments by the allegedly elected leader of a nation, does not add up to anything more than a heap of anecdotes.

By victor mickunas

February 26, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

When I take action, I’m not going to fire a 2 million dollar missile at a 10 dollar empty tent and hit a camel in the butt. It’s going to be decisive. (George W. Bush— Newsweek, Sep 24, 2001)

By victor mickunas

February 25, 2008 11:05 PM | Link to this

Interviewer: ‘Can you name the President of Chechnya?’ Bush: ‘No. Can you?’ Interviewer: ‘Prime Minister of India?’ Bush: ‘Er…The new Prime Minister of India is…er…No.’ … Bush: ‘The new Pakistani General, he’s just been elected…He appears he’ll bring stability to the country.’ Interviewer: ‘And can you name him?’ Bush: ‘General, I can Name the General.’ Interviewer: ‘And it’s…?’ Bush: ‘General’

By victor mickunas

February 25, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this

“You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.” George W. Bush (on Education reform, Feb 21, 2001)

By Blowfly

February 25, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this

We aint no dummer than usual, just axe my girlfren … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww She hot!

By victor mickunas

February 25, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this

OK, I looked at those customer reviews over at Amazon-a small sample, less than 10 reviews posted and by a slim majority, more favorable than not. A number of 5 star ratings and no 1 star ratings. Aside from the one reviewer who has the most customer votes, the reviews tend to agree with the book. Amazon is known for their range of customer reviews and this book seems to be right in the middle; more positive than negative with a couple of your stereotypical frustrated academic nitpickers weighing in with their “expertise.”

By tbill

February 25, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this

Giving a retard a book won’t make him into Steve Jobs. Over-mediated? Books are media, too, you know. There’s such a thing as print media.

By tbill

February 25, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

Hey Vic and others, look here: http://www.amazon.com/review/product/0375423745/ref=cmcrdpallsummary?%5Fencoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending Quite a few readers don’t agree with the author. FYI

By Mary

February 25, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this

This is a topic that interests me. Genetics alone could be a factor. Supposedly smart women were discouraged from marrying and bearing children in the 1920s. Look around you and observe who is having all the babies. Before someone accuses me of pushing eugenics and being uppity, I should point out I am one of ten children and realize the dangers of programs selecting the gene pool. Our culture and education system is also dumbing people down.

By Page Turner

February 24, 2008 8:10 PM | Link to this

I heartily concur with her opinion, which you elicited clearly in the interview, that Americans (self included) are over-mediated. That also applies to the much of the grid-connected world. I’m not sure that equates to Americans getting dumber. That’s a gross generalization and, while I haven’t read the book, she didn’t support it in your interview other than anecdotally. People are free to use the various media however they wish. Some choose to enhance their knowledge and some are looking for entertainment. The ever expanding capability for media users/consumers to choose content rather than sitting captive to a couple of channels, as in the early days of television, means that those who choose to enhance their knowledge have many more opportunities to do so. Those who choose entertainment over information have a cornucopia of opportunities as well. Regarding blogs in particular, some are good and most are useless (or at least appeal to other people ;-), just like television shows, movies, popular songs and books, even. Since this is a blog about books, it supplements rather than replaces our literary experiences. I also concur with her that the prevalence of information technology is causing a certain social retardation. However, I’m glad we can have this conversation on the Internet if not in person.

By victor mickunas

February 24, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this

So Page Turner, I take it that you agree with Ms. Jacoby? If you listened to the interview you heard her views on the internet. She thinks it is one of the thing that is contributing to our intellectual malaise. Since all blogs are internet creatures then I suppose this blog could make you smarter, better informed (I hope) but she feels the internet (blogs,etc) in general do not enhance our intellects the way that books do. Or good conversation, or reading in general (without using a computer to do it).

By Page Turner

February 24, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

Some are. Some, such as readers of this blog, are getting smarter! Some of the statistics you cited from this book in your December 4 blog seem highly suspect. For example, the notion that the average American parent reads to their children for 40 minutes each day is laughable. If that were true, Americans would definitely be getting smarter!