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How PowerPoint Makes You Stupid: The Faulty Causality, Sloppy Logic, Decontextualized Data, and Seductive Showmanship That Have Taken Over Our Thinking
With over 500 million users worldwide, Microsoft’s PowerPoint software has become the ubiquitous tool for nearly all forms of public presentation—in schools, government agencies, the military, and, of course, offices everywhere. In this revealing and powerfully argued book, author Franck Frommer shows us that PowerPoint’s celebrated ease and efficiency actually mask a profoundly disturbing but little-understood transformation in human communication.
Using fascinating examples (including the most famous PowerPoint presentation of all: Colin Powell’s indictment of Iraq before the United Nations), Frommer systematically deconstructs the slides, bulleted lists, and flashy graphics we all now take for granted. He shows how PowerPoint has promoted a new, slippery “grammar,” where faulty causality, sloppy logic, decontextualized data, and seductive showmanship have replaced the traditional tools of persuasion and argument.
How PowerPoint Makes You Stupid includes a fascinating mini-history of PowerPoint’s emergence, as well as a sobering and surprising account of its reach into the most unsuspecting nooks of work, life, and education. For anyone concerned with the corruption of language, the dumbing-down of society, or the unchecked expansion of “efficiency” in our culture, here is a book that will become a rallying cry for turning the tide.
Using fascinating examples (including the most famous PowerPoint presentation of all: Colin Powell’s indictment of Iraq before the United Nations), Frommer systematically deconstructs the slides, bulleted lists, and flashy graphics we all now take for granted. He shows how PowerPoint has promoted a new, slippery “grammar,” where faulty causality, sloppy logic, decontextualized data, and seductive showmanship have replaced the traditional tools of persuasion and argument.
How PowerPoint Makes You Stupid includes a fascinating mini-history of PowerPoint’s emergence, as well as a sobering and surprising account of its reach into the most unsuspecting nooks of work, life, and education. For anyone concerned with the corruption of language, the dumbing-down of society, or the unchecked expansion of “efficiency” in our culture, here is a book that will become a rallying cry for turning the tide.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 30, 2016
Not a bad argument, although I'm admittedly navel-gazing, as I loathe PowerPoint. The book does a good job of articulating my problem with it re: meaningless bullet-point language, gratuitous graphics, obfuscating lack of actual content/insight, the passive behavior and soporific effect engendered, etc. The first 4-5 chapters are the strongest and I appreciate the examples given - there are certainly ridiculous slides out there, though I'm somehow still surprised at the lack of professionalism in the ones included (no doubt cherrypicked). The ideas become a bit redundant after the first several chapters, however.
Overall, the book can sometimes be a bit pompous and dramatic, as is evident in the attention-grabbing title, which the author contradicts (sorry for spoilers!) in admitting that "[PowerPoint] may not make us stupid" (228). Claims are not always substantiated, ironically enough (e.g., referring to the hierarchical directory structure of 'Windows Explorer' (which is really about the operating system and isn't only limited to Windows, but I digress): "All consultants agree that this kind of formatting of thinking is a natural tool" (135)). Upon rereading these few paragraphs in particular, not only do I not see much of a connection between this logical structure and consultants' need to summarize information, this bold statement apparently encompasses "all consultants" without referencing any sources. Whole block quotes are subject to similar treatment.
There are also some points at which it seemed a bit outdated (e.g., when mentioning the growing importance of MS Office), though it was only published six years ago.
For all his criticism, the author doesn't give recommendations or alternatives, ending on a dismal note calling PowerPoint users "children" (thanks from the entire world that's subject to it, I guess). While I'm certainly still not a fan of PowerPoint/presentation software after reading this, I'm also not entirely sold on the argument, which sometimes goes too far in vilifying the software. As the author himself suggests that the underlying problem is not with the medium itself but with the careless way it tends to be used, he might have spent more time discussing how to prevent or combat the issues (though what did I expect from a book with this title, I guess).
Overall, the book can sometimes be a bit pompous and dramatic, as is evident in the attention-grabbing title, which the author contradicts (sorry for spoilers!) in admitting that "[PowerPoint] may not make us stupid" (228). Claims are not always substantiated, ironically enough (e.g., referring to the hierarchical directory structure of 'Windows Explorer' (which is really about the operating system and isn't only limited to Windows, but I digress): "All consultants agree that this kind of formatting of thinking is a natural tool" (135)). Upon rereading these few paragraphs in particular, not only do I not see much of a connection between this logical structure and consultants' need to summarize information, this bold statement apparently encompasses "all consultants" without referencing any sources. Whole block quotes are subject to similar treatment.
There are also some points at which it seemed a bit outdated (e.g., when mentioning the growing importance of MS Office), though it was only published six years ago.
For all his criticism, the author doesn't give recommendations or alternatives, ending on a dismal note calling PowerPoint users "children" (thanks from the entire world that's subject to it, I guess). While I'm certainly still not a fan of PowerPoint/presentation software after reading this, I'm also not entirely sold on the argument, which sometimes goes too far in vilifying the software. As the author himself suggests that the underlying problem is not with the medium itself but with the careless way it tends to be used, he might have spent more time discussing how to prevent or combat the issues (though what did I expect from a book with this title, I guess).
July 14, 2012
Bombastic rant with very little in the way of constructive solutions.
February 5, 2018
An interesting study. Not terrifically flowing prose, but it gets the job done. The Chapters specifically about education and training jibe with a lot of what I see in student writing these days.
April 3, 2013
Quite an eye opening book. It seems to be a strong case that PowerPoint has enabled anybody to create powerful compelling presentations that at the same time generally fail to convey any actual information, and certainly kill an interactive learning process completely. By bulletpointing everything (de-contextualizing the data) and emphasising the form and medium over the information, PowerPoint has enabled shallow and faulty presentations to lend the air of authority.
Truly frightening is the total dependence of the US Military on PowerPoint. Rumsfeld's single slide simplifying the entire occupation plan of Iraq into a few arrows and bullet points would be screamingly funny if the outcome hadn't been so terribly tragic.
What I wonder though is if PowerPoint is the cause (the author's belief) or the enabler of information-free yet slick presentations (probably more my view). Colin Powell's slides justifying the Iraq invasion (and the aforementioned Rumsfeld plan) are dissected in the book as examples. Are these outputs shaping shallow thinking and planning or they just the product of shallow thinking and planning (and in Powell's case, outright deception).
Where political races have largely become a shallow focus on a few hot-button issues in a very small number of marginal seats trying to sway a tiny number of undecided voters, has PowerPoint become the perfect tool to enable this? Has the reduction of complex issues to a smattering of causes and solutions in contemporary society been caused by PowerPoint or society itself.
Still, the book raises lots of interesting issues and makes you think hard about your own use of PowerPoint.
Truly frightening is the total dependence of the US Military on PowerPoint. Rumsfeld's single slide simplifying the entire occupation plan of Iraq into a few arrows and bullet points would be screamingly funny if the outcome hadn't been so terribly tragic.
What I wonder though is if PowerPoint is the cause (the author's belief) or the enabler of information-free yet slick presentations (probably more my view). Colin Powell's slides justifying the Iraq invasion (and the aforementioned Rumsfeld plan) are dissected in the book as examples. Are these outputs shaping shallow thinking and planning or they just the product of shallow thinking and planning (and in Powell's case, outright deception).
Where political races have largely become a shallow focus on a few hot-button issues in a very small number of marginal seats trying to sway a tiny number of undecided voters, has PowerPoint become the perfect tool to enable this? Has the reduction of complex issues to a smattering of causes and solutions in contemporary society been caused by PowerPoint or society itself.
Still, the book raises lots of interesting issues and makes you think hard about your own use of PowerPoint.
October 5, 2012
Having experienced PowerPoint torture in many forms, I did enjoy the book. I work in a school, so I see lots of new technology used in old ways; PowerPoint used like an old filmstrip, ELMO cameras used in the manner of the venerable opaque projector, and so on. As for me--I'm guilty of many of the PowerPoint sins, but in the past few years I have mended my ways.
December 31, 2017
Spoiler: PowerPoint does really make you stupid, It's not only a catchy book title! Very well documented, useful and entertaining especially for those who work in the Linguistics-Communications field. And for anyone else, this book will help you detect every time an employee, co-worker or supplier is trying to sell you empty words and air.
July 2, 2021
Good Chronicle of the Rise of PowerPoint Thinking - I prefers the French title "le powerpoint pense" or "PowerPoint thinking" to the one given for the English title as it seems more apt for the book. (Some other aspects of the translation entail some language and French sources which offer contrasts to an American view).
None the less, Frommer truly does provide a good chronicle of the emergence and spread of this Microsoft application and the mindset it imbues. Moreover, he details the adoption of the graphics presentation for business starting from as early as Willard Brinson's 1914 book and the DuPont Company Executive Committee chart viewing room dating from the 1920's. He takes the reader through artist prepared representations to transparencies and overhead projectors to the ubiquitous PowerPoint projections in recent times.
In addition to the technical means and visual media used, he deals with the increasing prevalence and dominance of business models and logic. Among the highlights for this reviewer are Frommer's treatments of:
* Increasing use of information technology, competitiveness in commercial markets, shift from more hierarchical formal organizations to projects, supported by an expanding army of consultants (this reviewer among them);
* Heritage contributions such those by Barbara Minto and McKinsey, emergence of circles and flow charts vs. logic trees, expanded application of 2x2 Matrices by Igor Ansoff and Boston Consulting, then the cultivation of analogical reasoning;
* Utilization of PowerPoint's persuasive power, ease of use, beneficial features, and widespread popularity (despite occasional cynicism it also tends to engender);
His argument of its flaws and dangers are less easy to follow, but become clearer during his recap of Colin Powel's (2002) PowerPoint presentation to the United Nations to garner support for the USA War in Iraq and then his attention to its use in schools. Revealing points include:
* Ready embrace by the military, economists and scientists vs. resistance by those in the humanities (that seems to parallel the Health brothers' "Made to Stick" explanation of dealing with presentation shortcomings with memorable story telling and rhetoric);
* Views of the school as a business "training ground" (which bring to mind Walter Ong's book, "Ramus, Method, and the Decay of Dialogue: From the Art of Discourse to the Art of Reason," about 16th century educator, who's use of logic trees as a pedagogical tool went viral and may be seen as the PowerPoint of those times).
As some other reviewers have criticized, Frommer does not explicitly call-out solutions or antidotes to PowerPoint thinking (see books like "No Project Management by PowerPoint" for suggestions). However, some clues are implicit in his discussion of PowerPoint use in training and education as well as in his conclusions. Specific examples include allusions to:
* Trainer use of flip charts and interaction along with his reference to Marshall McLuhan (who's analysis of Poe's The Maelstrom) provide avenues for further exploration;
* Ways that some educators overcome screen numbing and dumbing down related to IWB's---interactive white boards (which are complemented in a "New Tech City" podcast by Manoush Zomorodi, from around time of this writing, concerning "screen" vs. book reading as more of a scanning vs. intellectual concentration; her discussion with scholar Maryanne Wolf, author of "Proust and the Squid" and more recent work, deals with the need to develop both types of brain activity).
With such thoughts in mind, build on "How PowerPoint Makes You Stupid" in efforts to begin getting smarter.
None the less, Frommer truly does provide a good chronicle of the emergence and spread of this Microsoft application and the mindset it imbues. Moreover, he details the adoption of the graphics presentation for business starting from as early as Willard Brinson's 1914 book and the DuPont Company Executive Committee chart viewing room dating from the 1920's. He takes the reader through artist prepared representations to transparencies and overhead projectors to the ubiquitous PowerPoint projections in recent times.
In addition to the technical means and visual media used, he deals with the increasing prevalence and dominance of business models and logic. Among the highlights for this reviewer are Frommer's treatments of:
* Increasing use of information technology, competitiveness in commercial markets, shift from more hierarchical formal organizations to projects, supported by an expanding army of consultants (this reviewer among them);
* Heritage contributions such those by Barbara Minto and McKinsey, emergence of circles and flow charts vs. logic trees, expanded application of 2x2 Matrices by Igor Ansoff and Boston Consulting, then the cultivation of analogical reasoning;
* Utilization of PowerPoint's persuasive power, ease of use, beneficial features, and widespread popularity (despite occasional cynicism it also tends to engender);
His argument of its flaws and dangers are less easy to follow, but become clearer during his recap of Colin Powel's (2002) PowerPoint presentation to the United Nations to garner support for the USA War in Iraq and then his attention to its use in schools. Revealing points include:
* Ready embrace by the military, economists and scientists vs. resistance by those in the humanities (that seems to parallel the Health brothers' "Made to Stick" explanation of dealing with presentation shortcomings with memorable story telling and rhetoric);
* Views of the school as a business "training ground" (which bring to mind Walter Ong's book, "Ramus, Method, and the Decay of Dialogue: From the Art of Discourse to the Art of Reason," about 16th century educator, who's use of logic trees as a pedagogical tool went viral and may be seen as the PowerPoint of those times).
As some other reviewers have criticized, Frommer does not explicitly call-out solutions or antidotes to PowerPoint thinking (see books like "No Project Management by PowerPoint" for suggestions). However, some clues are implicit in his discussion of PowerPoint use in training and education as well as in his conclusions. Specific examples include allusions to:
* Trainer use of flip charts and interaction along with his reference to Marshall McLuhan (who's analysis of Poe's The Maelstrom) provide avenues for further exploration;
* Ways that some educators overcome screen numbing and dumbing down related to IWB's---interactive white boards (which are complemented in a "New Tech City" podcast by Manoush Zomorodi, from around time of this writing, concerning "screen" vs. book reading as more of a scanning vs. intellectual concentration; her discussion with scholar Maryanne Wolf, author of "Proust and the Squid" and more recent work, deals with the need to develop both types of brain activity).
With such thoughts in mind, build on "How PowerPoint Makes You Stupid" in efforts to begin getting smarter.
August 6, 2012
I guess I see PowerPoint in a completely different light than the author, since I work in it on a daily basis. You get out of it what you put into it. As a graphic designer helping to create presentations for project managers, I am constantly challenged by both the limitations and the limitlessness of the form. I also see the ingenuity in sparks in my engineer co-workers. It's an amazing, if sometimes frustrating program. I prefer to work with Adobe products. Those are truly limitless and fascinating.
July 12, 2012
Thought-provoking, but at times it reads like a parody of better writers like Baudrillard and Derrida.
September 9, 2012
Some interesting observations and insights but the book does not to live up to the provocative title nor is the author all that persuasive. At least it was a quick, relatively short read.
August 22, 2015
Excellent translation from the original French.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews