Author Description

Have you ever had that feeling that something is very wrong with the world, but haven't quite been able to put your finger on what it is? Perhaps you've thought that some of the stories you've heard from the TV news don't quite ring true? "The TV Delusion" explores the origins of these feelings of unease by tackling the questions that most of us tend to avoid: What makes us want to believe the stories we are told? Why is it that we tend to cling to beliefs in preference to making our own observations? And what are we all doing here anyway? It delves into a wealth of perplexing, and sometimes uncomfortable, topics in order to filter fact from fiction and arrive at a reality that's far closer to the truth than most of us will have ever seen before.Simon Day and Joanna van der Leer have been researching world events, both past and present, for more than five years, and the result is this roller-coaster ride through psychology, philosophy, religion, history, politics and logic. No stone has been left unturned in their efforts to reveal the truth, but rather than preaching a dogma, its themes are portrayed in a manner designed to encourage the reader to think critically and reach their own conclusions.Since its birth in the late 1920s, the TV's role has grown from that of mere entertainer to what, for many of us, is now our "window on the world" and the source of our cultural identity. With this evolution, it seems that the TV has become the font of many of our beliefs, and the single most effective instrument in history for shaping our reality. A central question is the extent to which traditional religion has been superseded by the TV and the implications this might have on our ability to maintain authority over our own thoughts.But it's not all doom and gloom, since half of the battle is accepting that there's a problem in the first place. "The TV Delusion" identifies the roots of our devotion to the TV, and so gives us the means to break free of its spell. In doing s