Everything Bad is Good for You by
Steven Johnson
A Must-Read For Anyone Interested In Learning And Teaching.
In his fourth book, Everything Bad Is Good for You, iconoclastic science
writer Steven Johnson (who used himself as a test subject for the latest
neurological technology in his last book, Mind Wide Open) takes on one of
the most widely held preconceptions of the postmodern world--the belief
that video games, television shows, and other forms of popular
entertainment are detrimental to Americans cognitive and moral
development. Everything Good builds a case to the contrary that is
engaging, thorough, and ultimately convincing. The heart of Johnsons
argument is something called the Sleeper Curve--a universe of popular
entertainment that trends, intellectually speaking, ever upward, so that
todays pop-culture consumer has to do more cognitive work--making snap
decisions and coming up with long-term strategies in role-playing video
games, for example, or mastering new virtual environments on the
Internet-- than ever before. Johnson makes a compelling case that even
todays least nutritional TV junk food–the Joe Millionaires and Survivors so

commonly derided as evidence of Americas cultural decline--is more
complex and stimulating, in terms of plot complexity and the amount of
external information viewers need to understand them, than the Love
Boats and I Love Lucys that preceded it. When it comes to television, even
(perhaps especially) crappy television, Johnson argues, the content is less
interesting than the cognitive work the show elicits from your mind.
Johnsons work has been controversial, as befits a writer willing to
challenge wisdom so conventional it has ossified into accepted truth. But
even the most skeptical readers should be captivated by the intriguing
questions Johnson raises, whether or not they choose to accept his
answers. --Erica C. Barnett
Personal Review: Everything Bad is Good for You by Steven
Johnson
It has been typical of the mainstream (read "old guard") to look down upon
new popular entertainment technologies. Movies, TV, video games, the
Internet--all have received criticism about how they ruin the mind unlike,
say, more classic entertainments like reading. While Mr. Johnson
acknowledges various weaknesses of these media, his thesis is that they
are not the mindless (bread and) circuses of the modern age. In fact,
these entertainments are making us smarter.
In his section on video and computer games, for example, he notes some
of the same results that Marc Prensky covers in more depth in his book,
Don't Bother Me, Mom. I'm Learning. Namely, that for a game to be
successful, it must stimulate the brain's learning response by keeping the
challenge slightly above the ability of the user and provide help along the
way when necessary. It is the complexity of the modern game with it's
intricacy, embedded problems, and cooperative aspects that keep a gamer
interested, not the supposed appeal of flashy graphics, speed, and puerile
story lines.
In the section on TV, Johnson illustrates how the complexity of story lines
has increased a hundred-fold since the beginnings of the medium. He
points out that the most popular shows of today do things that older shows
would never do: assume background knowledge of the audience, leave out
crucial pieces of information to be discovered later (or forever left
unanswered), follow a huge cast of characters through multiple intersecting
plot lines that arc over an entire season (or more) as opposed to a single
episode. (Compare Dragnet to Starsky & Hutch to Hill Street Blues to The
Sopranos.)
He completes his argument by noting that modern technologies are
rewiring the brain and, in many cases, that's a positive thing. Most
everyone's basic abilities in things like pattern recognition and problem-
solving have been increasing steadily for the past century. Many school-
taught abilities may be stagnant, but many underlying fundamentals are
improving, thanks to the challenges of modern media.

Of course, like anything, too much technology use can be a bad thing. So
can too much reading, as my parents constantly reminded me when I was
a kid, devouring books when they would have rather me be outside
playing. The point is, instead of highlighting the worst of today with the
best of the past--why is it that no one ever compares The Sopranos to the
thousands of forgotten novels of the 19th century?--we should compare
apples to apples. Not only, as Mr. Johnson points out, our best to their
best, but also our worst to their worst. Modern technology still comes out
ahead. When I see my mother downloading digital pictures of her
grandchildren, when I see the positive social networking with distant
friends and relatives I've done through Facebook, when I see the things
that can be learned from 500 cable channels, I can't help but agree.
For More 5 Star Customer Reviews and Lowest Price:
Everything Bad is Good for You by Steven Johnson 5 Star Customer Reviews and
Lowest Price!