The New Media Epidemic: The Undermining of Society, Family, and Our Own Soul

by Jean-Claude Larchet, Andrew Torrance (Translator)

Dr. Jean-Claude Larchet, renowned for his examinations of the causes and consequences of spiritual and physical illness, tackles the pressing question of the societal and personal effects of our societal use of new media. The definition of new media is broad—from radio to smart phones—and the analysis of their impact is honest and straightforward. His meticulous diagnosis of their effects concludes with a discussion of the ways individuals might limit and counteract the most deleterious effects of this new epidemic.

Genres: Politics, Psychology, Technology, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Theology, Religion

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2019

About the author

Jean-Claude Larchet, né le 9 août 1949 à Badonviller (Meurthe-et-Moselle), est un patrologue et théologien orthodoxe français.

Auteur de nombreux ouvrages publiés aux éditions du Cerf et traduits dans dix-neuf langues, il est notamment spécialiste de Maxime le Confesseur.

Reviews

[Robert Jinga · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the few books which approach the matter from a spiritual point of view without using an apocaliptic/conspirationist tone. Very well documented critical examination of the New Media influence on the Modern Man. Easy to understand yet profound philosophical and theological commentaries makes the reader relate more deeply with the issues described. Also, besides the critical analysis of the situation I appreciated the formulation of the solution in terms of easy to implement behavioral prescriptions.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly excellent book that's very well researched and really drives home the points of how the new media (TV, internet, and smartphone/tablets) are eroding away at society's identity, and in particular Christian identity. The author, an Orthodox Christian theologian and philosopher, also provides a chapter on prevention and treatment as well. Here are a couple of excerpts of note:

"Recollection is the stage of preparation for prayer that precedes concentration. But as we have seen, the new media push man's faculties in the opposite sense, always outwards toward the world. They are dispersed by a stream of discordant nagging that cuts the soul in pieces, and destroys the unity and identity of the inner man."

- pg. 151

"The new media, as we have seen, encourage generalized exhibitionism that takes root in the spiritual state of philautia (love of self). To oppose this, we must cultivate humility that dissolves the illusions and disappointments of vanity and pride. It truly builds us up in the love of God and our neighbor which it gives first place.

We must rediscover as well the virtues of silence and solitude that the spiritual tradition of the Christian East combine in the notion of hesychia. This includes both outer silence and the inner calm to which it gives rise.
...
By restricting conversations to the essential, by switching off the phone to provide long periods of silence, and by reserving times of solitude, modern man can rediscover himself. He can recover his inner life and re-forge himself in outer silence and inner peace. He can find once more the virtues of meditation, contemplation and prayer, and the riches of spiritual life, which his dispersion among the worldly cares has denied him."

- pg. 169

[Navel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye opening study of the costs and degradation that the modern media world has subjected modern man to.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Centuries ago one could get a simple bacterial infection. And that was a good opportunity for the witch doctors / priests to perform their magic and heal the soul. Some times is was a common cold and Behold! the prayer / spell has worked. Other times it was something deadly, also with the common cold signs, and the priest would start pointing fingers: the sins were too heavy, the deceased was needed in the other world, it was god's mercy because something bad was about to happen, the family was not pure enough, somebody among the relatives had impure thoughts, anything.

Today some people choose to live the intellectual lives of a 14th century peasant and Larchet is one of the witch doctors feeding on the fears of these ignoramuses. Today, the Media is another god, and this god has a problem with its soul. And it just happens that Larchet has some leeches and purgatives for the god's soul.

[octacore · Rating 5 out of 5]

O carte exceptionala despre impactul pe care il au noile media (termen generic care reuneste cam tot ce are un ecran: televizor, tableta, telefon, calculator) asupra fiintei umane, atat fizic (atribut care este complet ignorat de aceste noi media, in dauna sanatatii lui) cat si psihic. Daca sub aspect fizic apar mai devreme sau mai tarziu probleme de sanatate asociate unui stil de viata sedentar (cerinta obligatorie a utilizarii noilor media), problema majora este impactul asupra abilitatilor cognitive ale individului, asupra puterii de invatare, de concentrare, de deprindere a unei abilitati, a rabdarii si a memoriei pe termen lung, la copil prin blocarea formarii lor, iar la adult prin slabirea sau chiar distrugerea lor, in cazul unor dependente severe. De asemenea, se arata falsitatea si agresiunea lumii virtuale asupra celei reale, desfiintandu-se mitul "prieteniilor" pe retelele de socializare, al "satului planetar", al cartilor si documentelor electronice, in detrimentul formatului fizic si al mantuirii omului prin starea continua de "conectare". Dupa cum remarca autorul: "excesul de informatie ucide informatia". Bombardamentul de imagini, sunete, texte, link-uri face imposibil de distins absolutul de relativ, afecteaza grav capacitatea de abstractizare, de ierarhizare a informatiei, si organizarea ei intr-o structura coerenta, posibil de a fi stocata in memoria pe termen lung. Prin insusi definitia lui, internetul reprezinta un conglomerat eterogen de informatii diverse, haotice, o panza de fire nevazute de care se impedica bietii oameni cu atat mai tare, cu cat vor sa ajunga la capatul acesteia. Fie ca este vorba despre stimularea patimilor (lacomie, slava desarta, desfranare, mandrie, etc), despre distrugerea capacitatii de a rationa, de a medita si de a reflecta sau pur si simplu datorita atributului cronofag al noilor media, autorul demasca esenta acestor lucruri si ridica cititorului atent numeroase semne de intrebare.
Textul este usor de citit si inteles iar argumentele solide si variate. Cred ca fiecare om "digital" are ceva de invatat din lectura acestei carti, pe care o consider obligatorie si, alaturi de "Ortodoxia si religia viitorului" a parintelui Serafim Rose, o carte relevanta pentru sanatatea psihica a oricarui om.

[John Coatney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave four stars instead of five because what I was craving from Larchet - the inclusion of patristic analysis and therapeutic prescription - was not included to the extent that I was hoping/expecting. He references his other works (particularly his "Therapy of Spiritual Illness") in connection with the conclusions he draws in this book, but this book in and of itself does not include what appealed to me regarding Larchet's authorship of this work.

Most of the book is made up of Larchet's ominous analysis of the harm caused by "new media." Much of this analysis is found in other sources, confirming that Larchet is on to something. His warnings warrant hearing and careful consideration - especially for parents still raising children.

Larchet's assessment is so dire that he struggles to find any benefit to the technologies and media that he examines. He recognizes that these technologies are largely unavoidable, but he describes the benefits of the technology in very cynical terms.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually read books on the problems with modern media. I read this one because it was written by an renowned Orthodox Scholar, Dr Jean-Claude Larchet. The book is not too long but subtlety dense. The writers style may take a little time to get use to. He spends the first eleven chapters outlining the problem, and this is not whiteout tedium. Most of the problems are things that have been talked about over the course of the previous decades, as such they will not be a surprise to those who have been following the debate over the uses of the new media. The new media is mostly television, the internet, smartphones, and the like. The last two chapters of book talks about how these thing relate to the spiritual life in the Eastern Christian tradition and what to do about it. The last two chapters where like a light breeze after a period of stagnation. Not that the book is bad or without value, far from it the book contains much substantive value for folks who have not critically examined the topic. He pays special attention to the effects of new media on concentration and attention. The book is well sourced. Which really leads me to my only criticism of the book. It was too short. Not that I wanted to read more on the topic, but he would bring up points and then cite the source. He would then move on with his next point. I would have appreciated more elaboration of these points, as I have no desire to visit his sources. All and all a worthy read. It is a well reflected view on the topic.

[Joshua · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have had this book in my library for a while, got about 1/3 of the way through but never finished. Spent the past few days finishing up the book, and remember why I never finished. While this book is a rich compilation of reasons not to use the internet, it mainly draws from extensively quoting other sources (like Nicholas Carr's the Shallows), which I think is due for a re-read, and relating the said quotes in a pretty haphazard manner to scripture. Although I want to cut the author some slack because his native language is not English (he's a French Orthodox priest), the writing still was fragmentary, and the vocabulary choice was very strange. That said, the message was well received: stop using the Net so much: it's killing you physically, mentally, and spiritually!

How I will be changing my life as a result of this book: Just made my iPhone into a dumb phone by locking much of the functionality behind parental controls. Cold Turkey on laptop/desktop solves the problem there. Will keep you all updated.

[Ruth Eleona G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening study about technology and it’s effect on ourselves, our relationships and our life.

[Siddharth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Industrial revolutions and its consequences have been a disaster.

[Victoria A Basch · Rating 5 out of 5]

21st Century Media

Most highly recommended for anyone who is trying to make sense of the cacophony of media messages today. The effects of today’s media messages on you and those who you love and those behind the messages and their ultimate intent are all becoming manifest in the undermining of mental health and stability of societies.

[Julian David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy buen libro sobre el impacto de las nuevas formas de media, en la sociedad y la persona como tal, es muy curioso que despues del libro se desarrollara aun mas el contenido pasajero comos los shorts de tiktok o youtube, creo que eso tendria un efecto aun mayor que lo que muestra el libro.
Las partes religiosas fueron lo unico molesto y me lo salte por completo, podria facilmente ser un libro de caracter investigativo y mas centrado en el aspecto cientifico que abordar el tema desde una perspectiva tan subjetiva y poco relevante en la actualidad realmente como lo hizo con la religion. Fuera de eso muy completo, y llama totalmente a una reflexion profunda de nuestros habitos al consumir media ya sea desde el pc o el celular