The Bias of Communication

by Harold A. Innis

One of the most influential books ever published in Canada, "The Bias of Communication" has played a major part in reshaping our understanding of what constitutes history. It is a collection of essays by one of Canada's greatest historians, on a subject that opened broad new avenues of thought on the role of media in the creation of history. Marshall McLuhan, deeply influenced by these essays, led North America to a new awareness of the role of media in contemporary culture. The works of Harold Innis are seminal in the study of Canadian history; the essays in this volume continue to generate intense dabate among historians, communications scholars, and media theorists.

Genres: Philosophy, History, Sociology, Nonfiction, Communication, Psychology, Theory

226 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 1964

Reviews

[Szplug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough sledding at times—and if Innis hadn't passed away shortly after this book saw publication, I believe he would have further fleshed out his thoughts herein—but brimming with brilliance and relevance. Sad to say, I splayed another motherfucking shotgun blast of coffee all over page fifty-three—Monopolies of Knowledge, aye—at which point my shoulders drooped sufficient to chat with my knees and I could acutely visualize the noose dangling from the bedroom ceiling.

[Adelaide]

i’ve heard this is seminal and groundbreaking and I think that’s all true and it did genuinely possess me to underline multiple lines of a borrowed library book but boy what a slog for the most part

[Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changed my perception of the world, especially in regards to opening my eyes wide to how differently history can be 'read'. Agree or disagree with Innes's ideas, this will challenge what you think you know about how the 'truth' of not just history, but of a society's perception of itself in the here and now. A must read for those questioning the meaning of society.

[Jamie Coles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not an easy book - nor entertaining - but possibly one of the most interesting and informative books I've read.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based in his own right but also helps to contextualize Marshall McLuhan

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was turned on to "The Bias of Communication" after seeing it referenced multiple times by high-caliber innovators on my Twitter feed. In the book, Innis redefines the classification of Empires (like Egypt, Byzantium, the 20th century US) by categorizing the way in which they harness technology to create a media network of information used to influence people and spread ideas. Innis focuses on the effects which the specific form of the media has and how it effects time, space, knowledge, and organized force.

In 'Minerva's Owl', Innis aptly states, "Enormous improvements in communication have made understanding more difficult". Mechanized communication (starting with the printing press, extending into the internet) divided reason from emotion and thus has allowed "word-coiners" to gain 'cultural monopolies' on communication.

For example, Innis claims that empires use their media (whether its papyrus or the radio) toward a bias of either time (through durable media like stone, clay, parchment) or space (through non-durable media like papyrus, paper, electronic. He makes insightful claims like "Religion and Oral tradition created a lasting tradition of society outside of a living leader" (p.43) as well as more radical claims like "the rise of Hitler was enabled by a monopoly of the ear by radio" (p. 81).

The book itself is rather dense at times – but is important because of its influence on key Canadian information/communications theorists such as Marshall McLuhan (author of "The Medium is the Message"). Innis had his background in the economics of the Canadian fur trade and also explicates on ideas like 'Monopolies of Knowledge' and Monopolies of Force' in the text. This contributes to an understanding of the timelessness of economic phenomena – like "the business cycle is as old as the Nile River".

Innis takes a rather dismal view of the current state of the communicatory empire and repeatedly recites quotes from Nietzsche in the text (oftentimes contributing to this bleak tone). However, if you can make it through the book – you'll find deep insights into the way our modern communication system (aka – The Internet) functions and become more keen to the biases which result from its monopoly on space. As the cycle begins anew – it would appear that the next empire lies in the blockchain and its ability to create a new monopoly in time (based on characteristics like immutability and its ability to timestamp). If you find the book slowing down, jump to the final chapter, "A Critical Review" for an ultimate synthesis of Innis's ideas – which were completely groundbreaking and paradigm-shifting at the time of publication.

[SAIFUL ISLAM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harold Innis' book "The Bias of Communication" is a seminal work in the field of media studies and communication theory. In this book, Innis explores the ways in which communication technologies shape and influence our societies and cultures, and argues that different communication technologies have different biases that affect the way we think and communicate.
One of the key themes of the book is the idea that different communication technologies have different effects on the way we perceive and understand the world around us. Innis identifies two main types of communication technologies: time-biased and space-biased. Time-biased technologies, such as stone tablets and manuscripts, are durable and long-lasting, but are difficult to disseminate widely. Space-biased technologies, such as radio and television, are lightweight and easily transportable, but are less durable.
Innis argues that the dominance of space-biased communication technologies in modern societies has led to a bias towards instantaneity and the present moment, at the expense of historical perspective and long-term thinking. He also argues that space-biased technologies tend to favor centralized, top-down forms of communication and control, which can stifle diversity and creativity.
"The Bias of Communication" is a deeply insightful and thought-provoking exploration of the role of communication technologies in shaping our societies and cultures. Innis' analysis provides a valuable framework for understanding the ways in which different communication technologies have shaped our past and continue to shape our present and future. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and theory of communication and media studies.

[Zachary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Towards the end of this collection things really started to make a lot more sense. Innis and his examination of technologies is well-known, but what I didn't expect in this and his other work "Empire and Communications" was a style of argument that felt, strangely, nonexistent. Both books cover the fact that as he wrote these books Innis was nearing the end of his life, and so in lieu of developing more of his own prose into the projects he adopted a telegraphic style that leaned into a maximum of citations with a minimum of his own commentary. But what results is essays that just read like bullet pointed lists of facts about the development of civilizations, with the main focus of particular media and artifacts somehow lost along the way, only to occasionally resurface in transitioning to another list for another civilization. After a while (and essays where similar facts are repeated) patterns begin to emerge, but it takes some time and, honestly, can be a bit frustrating. In this particular book/collection there are other, contextualizing essays that help, and a couple that focus on specific technologies to help elaborate on their consequences for society and individuals, but until that point is reached much of Innis's specific elaborations in this and "Empire" is obtuse enough to be frustrating rather than enlightening.

[George Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Innis was the teacher of Marshall McLuhan and you will begin to understand how McLuhan's ideas evelved by reading Innis. The notes for this book are available at the Fisher Rare book library here in Toronto. The Bias of Communication is considered one of the most influential books ever published in this country, this text played a major part in reshaping our understanding of history, communication, and media theory.

[Robert James Cross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I can see where McLuhan got a lot of his ideas. Innis' argument about space/time bias in media format is echoed in McLuhan's argument that media influenced ideology. Same idea, different approach.

[grace choi · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a student of the University of Toronto, I am almost embarassed that I didn't know about Harold Innis, the man who both taught at the university and had a college named after him, teaching in the department of Political Economy decades before me.

I had to read this book for my Canadian Culture & Media class, but it was a fascinating viewpoint about written and oral mediums, that I hadn't thought about before. The book was very dense, but I overall enjoyed the content of it, and despite Innis's bias towards the oral medium for communication (which as a student whose degree is built on reading, I had a hard time grappling at times), he did raise solid points about why written mediums are not the best mode of communication at times.

[path · Rating 4 out of 5]

A challenging book to read with few footholds for readers to pause and take stock of the argument Innis is offering. It is best to approach the historical overview chapters as evidence of how political, religious, economic, and other interests are reinforced in the development and proliferation of media through which those interests are communicated and entrenched. It is social construction with an outsized role for media technology.

[Cioran · Rating 5 out of 5]

McLuhan and so on is the Disney version of this original fairytale. Mordor in the Lord of the Rings and this book have a thing in common, they were both formed in the crucible of the trenches of the Great War. Innis shows no mercy on humanity's infatuation with media and the price we have to pay, and it must be paid in blood.

[Hooper Bring]

McLuhan cites this in “Joyce, Mallarme and the Press” as showing that the printed word has been a major cause of international disturbance and misunderstanding since the sixteenth century.

[Marty Heath · Rating 2 out of 5]

No shade to the actual ideas. Just a rough read for me b/c of the structure. I'd probably be happiest if I only read chapter 2 or something?

[John]

nonfiction,criticism,communication

[Uwmcdm]

Evolution and Trends in Digital Media :: Winter 2011

[Steven Felicelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Guns, Germs, and Steal of information networks - essentially one (cogent) point endlessly reiterated