What will I learn about: how visionary writers like George Orwell and Philip Roth predicted the dangers of our current 'post-truth' era of fake news?

Discover how visionary writers like George Orwell and Philip Roth predicted the dangers of our current 'post-truth' era of fake news.

What will I learn about: how modern political extremism traces its roots back to historical anti-progress movements like the 1850s Know Nothing Party?

Understand how modern political extremism traces its roots back to historical anti-progress movements like the 1850s Know Nothing Party.

What will I learn about: Learn how the internet and partisan media networks exploit confirmation bias to trap citizens inside dangerous, highly polarized ideological tribes?

Learn how the internet and partisan media networks exploit confirmation bias to trap citizens inside dangerous, highly polarized ideological tribes.

What will I learn about: how the postmodern concept of 'subjective reality' has been weaponized by politicians to debate objective facts and dismiss scientific evidence?

Find out how the postmodern concept of 'subjective reality' has been weaponized by politicians to debate objective facts and dismiss scientific evidence.

What will I learn about: See how those in power deliberately use falsehoods and alternative narratives to stoke working-class fears and scapegoat marginalized groups?

See how those in power deliberately use falsehoods and alternative narratives to stoke working-class fears and scapegoat marginalized groups.

The Death of Truth

Notes on Falsehood in the Age of Trump

Michiko Kakutani

★ 3.5 / 5(55 ratings)

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Categories:

Society & Culture Politics

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡How did the core tenets of postmodernism, originally embraced to expose government lies during Watergate, end up being weaponized to destroy objective truth in modern politics?
💡In what surprising ways does the anti-immigrant and anti-reason platform of the 1855 Know Nothing Party mirror the populist movements of today?
💡How do modern partisan media silos use confirmation bias to isolate their audiences, utilizing psychological tactics that closely resemble those of extremist networks?

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Key Takeaways from The Death of Truth

✓Discover how visionary writers like George Orwell and Philip Roth predicted the dangers of our current 'post-truth' era of fake news.
✓Understand how modern political extremism traces its roots back to historical anti-progress movements like the 1850s Know Nothing Party.
✓Learn how the internet and partisan media networks exploit confirmation bias to trap citizens inside dangerous, highly polarized ideological tribes.
✓Find out how the postmodern concept of 'subjective reality' has been weaponized by politicians to debate objective facts and dismiss scientific evidence.
✓See how those in power deliberately use falsehoods and alternative narratives to stoke working-class fears and scapegoat marginalized groups.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from The Death of Truth

Mind Map

The Death of Truth

Historical Opposition to Reason+

Media Landscape & Partisan Silos+

Weaponized Postmodernism+

Fake News & Digital Propaganda+

Trolling & Nihilistic Leadership+

Distraction & The New Nihilism+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 10

What historical political entity is cited as an early example of an organized movement against reason and progress in the United States?

A. The Whig Party
B. The Know Nothing Party
C. The Anti-Masonic Party
D. The Populist Party

Question 2 of 10

According to the book, how do contemporary movements opposing reason and progress compare to the supporters of the 1855 Know Nothing Party?

A. They are largely driven by wealthy elites seeking systemic tax cuts.
B. They consist primarily of young voters rejecting traditional religious institutions.
C. They advocate for a massive expansion of environmental and regulatory protections.
D. They are rooted in a working class that feels marginalized and dispossessed of agency.

Question 3 of 10

What extreme analogy does the author use to describe the intense isolation and polarization of modern ideological online tribes?

A. They operate similarly to rival sports fan bases.
B. They function like historical medieval guilds protecting their specialized trades.
C. They operate not unlike terrorist networks by cutting off recruits from outside influence.
D. They resemble corporate marketing departments fiercely competing for demographic attention.

Question 4 of 10

What historical events initially caused the American public to embrace the postmodern concept that truth and reality could be subjective?

A. The rapid expansion of the internet and social media platforms in the early 2000s.
B. The public's desire for alternative narratives following government deception during the Vietnam War and Watergate.
C. The decline of the manufacturing sector and the sudden rise of the modern service economy.
D. The widespread influence of European Enlightenment philosophy returning to American universities.

Question 5 of 10

Which influential thinker noted that the ideal foundation for totalitarian rule is a population that can no longer distinguish between fact and fiction?

A. Hannah Arendt
B. David Foster Wallace
C. Philip Roth
D. Thomas Pynchon

Question 6 of 10

What emotional triggers were recognized as being highly effective for making content go viral, setting the stage for the spread of fake news?

A. Inspiration, empathy, and joy.
B. Awe, anxiety, and outrage.
C. Confusion, curiosity, and surprise.
D. Nostalgia, pride, and vindication.

Question 7 of 10

How did the Russian Internet Research Agency primarily operate to disrupt the US political landscape prior to the 2016 election?

A. By hacking electronic voting machines in key swing states to alter vote tallies.
B. By bribing mainstream media outlets to publish covertly pro-Russian opinion pieces.
C. By writing fake blog posts on one floor and operating fake American accounts to share them on another.
D. By illegally funding traditional television advertising campaigns for the Trump campaign.

Question 8 of 10

How have leaders in countries like Syria and Myanmar internationally leveraged President Trump's rhetoric?

A. They adopted his 'America First' economic protectionist policies to boost domestic industries.
B. They mirrored his abrasive strategies for negotiating global trade deals.
C. They used his catchphrase 'fake news' to dismiss accusations of mass murder and human rights violations.
D. They copied his use of Twitter to bypass state-run media and communicate directly with their citizens.

Question 9 of 10

What relevant warning did Neil Postman give in his 1985 book, 'Amusing Ourselves to Death'?

A. He predicted the rise of an interconnected global computer network as a tool for political radicalization.
B. He warned that a population narcotized by mindless entertainment would willingly disengage from politics.
C. He suggested that postmodernist philosophy would eventually lead to the collapse of the American education system.
D. He warned that news media would eventually become entirely controlled by a few massive international corporations.

Question 10 of 10

According to a study by researchers Alice Marwick and Rebecca Lewis, what is a dangerous consequence of using racial slurs 'ironically' in online spaces?

A. It usually triggers automatic bans from major social media platforms, pushing users to the dark web.
B. It slowly dilutes the historical meaning of the words, inadvertently making them socially acceptable.
C. It can make internet trolls significantly more receptive to serious white supremacist claims after just a few months.
D. It generates algorithms that flood a user's feed exclusively with foreign propaganda.

The Death of Truth — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
2Opposition to reason and progress has always existed, but it went mainstream in 2017.
3Despite the rise in information sources, the internet has built dangerous filters, silos and tribes.
4Postmodern theory and subjectivity are being used to fuel division and a self-serving agenda.
5Fake news is now a propaganda weapon, especially for Russian agents bent on disruption.
6Trump’s nihilistic, troll-like behavior, together with his lies and abuse of language, has dangerous effects.
7A new variety of nihilism is erupting across the United States.

The Death of Truth Summary & Overview

The Death of Truth (2018) offers an informative look at the current political climate in the United States, and the many developments in the past that have brought us to this divisive time. With over 30 years’ experience as a respected literary critic, Michiko Kakutani uses her expertise in modern literature to show how authors of the past worried about many of the same concerns we’re facing today.

Who Should Listen to The Death of Truth?

Supporters of democracy
News and political junkies
Book lovers concerned about current affairs

About the Author: Michiko Kakutani

Michiko Kakutani received her bachelor's degree in English from Yale University in 1976, after which she became a reporter for Time magazine and the Washington Post. In 1983, she became a book critic for the New York Times and held that job until her retirement in 2017. Vanity Fair once called her “the most powerful book critic in the English-speaking world."

The Death of Truth

If You're Curious About These Questions...

Listen to The Death of Truth — Free Audiobook

Key Takeaways from The Death of Truth

Learning Tools

Mind Map

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

The Death of Truth — Full Chapter Overview

The Death of Truth Summary & Overview

Who Should Listen to The Death of Truth?

About the Author: Michiko Kakutani

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