Good read. If I hadn't already taken a look at nihilism and sociology years before, this book might've been too much of a read for me. I agree with all of what was covered. If it's a bit too "crazy" for you, try not to approach this book with your socialface on. Save that face for when you're with your friends, at work, or with family.
If you must read it, borrow not buy. Although this is a very original work I cannot help to think that maybe it would of been better as a single short essay, and not some elaborate spiel hoping to convince the reader of his correctness. Maybe much of the thesis is lost in translation, maybe not and it is an uninteresting read.
Granted simulation is often accepted as THE reality by much of the masses, worldly prose is not the solution. Philosophy should be something everyone (with a 11th grade public education) can understand, appreciate, and apply to their own lives. This book, although initially provoking becomes trivial, it writes itself out of its own existence. The only reason why the book will endure is it has much originality but overall I agree with the reviewer who stated that a person would be better off reading "green eggs and ham"...
Caveat emptor(s): 1. The first two chapters are more or less verbatim permutations of his 'Simulations', which this reviewer finds more substantial, though this book contains a few elaborations that are left aching for in Simulations. In every other respect, the first two chapters say little that Baudrillard had not already accomplished in previous publications in greater depth. The possible advantage herein could be lie in that the less extensive use of Semiotical and Marxist concepts may make this more accessible. But this assumes the utility of accessibility. Elsewise, the Semiotext(e) translation of 'Simulations' was more than adequate, you may just want to start there.
2. This text will likely be indecipherable jabberwocky to anyone not acquainted with Semiology and economics. Furthermore, if these thing bore or otherwise hold no relevance to one, there is no real point in reading any of Baudrillard unless one is in possession of a patience willing to wade through some genre specific terminology and verbiage to get some cultural and social analysis out of it; those critiques stand on their own for the most part.
3. The Matrix: low relevance to the film, his earlier writings are more radical.
4. Baudrillard has little reverence for the institutions of Socialism and Democracy, reading this may infuriate or otherwise cause a lapse of faith in those deus ex machinas.
surprising Fell into this straight away, Used to reading similar but find it hard to read heavy theory, this was surprisingly easy to read, although some of the ideas are extreme, a lot can be taken from them and i look forward to reading every last word. truly tasty
Thought provoking but intense. A thought provoking book. Do not be shocked however if you find yourself reading it extremely slowly. The text is wordy and thick at best but often times necessarily to bring its points across. If you are not an avid reader, enjoy abstract thinking, or want to learn more about the differences between Simulacrum and Simulations avoid this book.
This is still a great read although convoluted at times so all others should enjoy. But those who are not well read have been warned.
Then again if you looked for this book odds are you are ready for this. I only wanted to warn those with out college education or advanced vocabulary to so that they wont lose their appetite for knowledge from heavy text, such an event would be regrettable.
The text is heavy, full of valuable info on what it pertains and much like this review it sometimes seems to repeat facts redundantly. Did I mention it was a hard read? (just kidding. lol)
Anything Goes Trivia
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