"Technopoly" by Neil Postman

I found this book to be extremely enjoyable.  The beginning chapter "The Judgment of Thamus" raised some very good points based on Socrates' story.  Since writing is the basis of our culture, I never considered how it might have been viewed when it was first introduced into the world and I found this perspective to be very interesting.  In the same sense, I began to look at technology in a different way than I have in the past.  Postman best explains this when he talks of Thamus' one error being his "believing that writing will be a burden to society and nothing but a burden." (pg. 4) and not considering the benefits.  Although there are many benefits to technology, I don't know how I am going to feel as it begins to change our society more and more as time goes on.  Postman asks: "...in what ways [computers are] altering our conception of learning, and how, in conjunction with television, it undermines the old idea of school" (19) which in my opinion is a very important question.  Although there are many benefits to technology, one also needs to consider what is being lost/given up in return.  The chapter on Technocracy was also very intriguing to me, the way that Postman explains society as being run by an "unseen hand".  This idea seems to hold true the more dependent on technology the world becomes because everything (records, money, notes, etc.) exists in documents and digitally...the world is losing substance.  I understand that in many ways this use of technology is more efficient and effective, but there is something about relying on computers so heavily that does not sit well in my stomach.  The scariest part about reading the chapter "From Technocracy to Technopoly" was one of the last points Postman makes.  "To every Old World belief, habit, or tradition, there was and still is a technological alternative" (54).  He goes on to explain alternatives for sin, medicine, church, reading, restraint, etc.  Based on the first chapter of the book, I understand that maybe I'm too attached to an older way of life and there is a huge possibility that I can't see the benefits because I am biased against change.