The Information Diet, by Clay Johnson is a new book that examines media saturation, and offers some ideas on how to decrease the quantity, and improve the quality of the information we intake.
I first heard about this on "Q"– a great interview program on CBC radio. Thoughtful discussions of current events, books, music, and culture–
http://www.cbc.ca/q/
Information Diet Website–
http://www.informationdiet.com/
Article on NPR–
http://www.npr.org/books/titles/145103496/the-information-diet-a-case-for-conscious-consumption?tab=excerpt#excerpt
A review on Forbes website–
http://www.forbes.com/sites/bruceupbin/2011/12/22/the-information-diet-resolved-for-2012/
Viewing your attention as currency, I really like this. That nugget alone was worth the 15min I gave the interview. His process is really one of old fashion critical thinking; truly a lost art. The assertion that people tune in for “affirmation rather than information” is spot on.
ReplyDeleteI laughed out loud at how many times (in framing a question) the interviewer proved the very points that the author was trying to make. I think he (the interviewer) was completely oblivious. The author was polite but I think was very aware of the irony. The Daily Show as news; that was funny. Sticking with the food metaphor, I would say that The Daily Show would be akin to Cool Ranch Doritos or maybe fried dough.
I’ll check out the other links.
Good post!
Unfortunately the usual Q host was on vacation during the week this appeared– Jian Gomeshi is a much better interviewer. As far as I'm concerned he and Terry Gross on Fresh Air (NPR) are the best in the business. I think the Q interview is the best quick look at the idea, short of reading the book– although the Info Diet website is interesting too.
DeleteI think The Daily Show is more of a dessert, or maybe a wafer thin after-dinner mint
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