Review of Chris Hedges' book, "Empire of Illusion".

Pop culture has become our sedative, or in some cases, our collective laxative, helping to flush out toxic reality with all the motive force of a good enema. In his book, "Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle," author Chris Hedges does a marvelous job of analyzing those omnipresent icons of modern American popular culture--WWE wrestling, Survivor, The Swan, and Jerry Springer--to reveal a sad
truth: that Americans care more about their celebrities than the truly important issues that affect their daily lives. Although the "end of literacy" may seem somewhat inaccurate, despite our growing illiteracy rate, it is apparent that we are more devoted to our spectacles than our books.

It is in this landscape of corporate-driven entertainment that the lines between fantasy and reality are blurred. People learn to emulate and celebrate their celebrity gods, the heady narcotic of hero worship offering a potent hedge to any notion of the truth. Hedges tells us that we are manipulated by television, celebrity culture, the adult industry, and universities to think and act in ways that serve the needs of the corporate entities that control us. And this is often done in subtle ways that would seem to defy introspection.

The author bemoans the fact that while trillions of dollars are spent on weapons and foreign occupations, our health care costs have spiraled out of control. He warns that if the working class people of America do not wake up to these realities, we will be doomed to end our lives as slaves to the oligarchy that rules this country. In spite of this, he does offer some hope that enlightened human beings can band together to confront our growing corporate tyranny and sow the seeds of a coming Renaissance. But, he promises, it will be an uphill battle all the way.