The News
A User's Manual
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4.2 • 19 Ratings
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER
From one of our greatest voices in modern philosophy, author of The Course of Love, The Consolations of Philosophy, Religion for Atheists and The School of Life - an accessible and eye-opening exploration of our relationship with 'the news'
'His gift is to prompt us to think about how we live and how we might change things' The Times
'De Botton analyses modern society with great charm, learning and humour. His remedies come as a welcome relief' Daily Mail
'Like all classic de Botton, there are plenty of insightful observations here, peppered with some psychology, a dash of philosophy, a big dollop of commonsense' Scotsman
'The news' occupies a range of manic and peculiar positions in our lives. We invest it with an authority and importance which used to be the preserve of religion - but what does it do for us?
Mixing current affairs with philosophical reflections, de Botton offers a brilliant illustrated guide to the precautions we should take before venturing anywhere near the news and the 'noise' it generates. Witty and global in reach, The News will ensure you'll never look at reports of a celebrity story or political scandal in quite the same way again.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In his latest, de Botton places 25 types of news stories under the microscope in an attempt to gain an understanding of how the news affects our everyday lives. Narrator Bell delivers a solid performance, with delivery as professional and direct as that of the most seasoned news broadcaster. Bell's tone is ideally suited to de Botton's writing: matter of fact and heavily critical of the media. Bell's reading informs as much as it entertains, with listeners fully engaged from beginning to end. Studying the stories that dominate the headlines on any given day including political misdoings, questionable deaths, and celebrity gossip de Botton and Bell take listeners on a journey inside a world they think they know and explain why they've got it all wrong. A Pantheon hardcover.
Customer Reviews
The News: A User's Manual
This book should be compulsory reading for all budding journalists. Put it on the curriculum in universities around the globe. The world and many of its citizens would be better for it - both happier and importantly so much better informed. The authors conclusions just make sense.