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Non-things

Upheaval in the Lifeworld
3.83 goodreads logo

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( 3,705 ratings, 542 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Non-things by Byung-Chul Han explores how digital technology and the prevalence of intangible information overload have reshaped our experience of reality, shifting from a world of tangible things to one dominated by fleeting data and transient objects. Han philosophically examines the consequences of this shift on culture, society, and our mental well-being, urging readers to consider the deeper implications of living in a digitised era.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by modern life and the impact of digital technology on human existence. It explores the shift from tangible objects to digital information, offering insights on how this transformation affects our perception of reality and relationships. Ideal for readers interested in introspective philosophical writing with a psychological twist.

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"Originally published in German as Undinge: Umbrèuche der Lebenswelt à by Ullstein Buchverlage GmbH, Berlin. Published in 2021 by Ullstein Verlag"--Title page verso.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

We no longer inhabit earth and dwell under the sky: these are being replaced by Google Earth and the Cloud. The terrestrial order is giving way to a digital order, the world of things is being replaced by a world of non-things – a constantly expanding ‘infosphere’ of information and communication which displaces objects and obliterates any stillness and calmness in our lives.

Byung-Chul Han’s critique of the infosphere highlights the price we are paying for our growing preoccupation with information and communication. Today we search for more information without gaining any real knowledge. We communicate constantly without participating in a community. We save masses of data without keeping track of our memories. We accumulate friends and followers without encountering other people. This is how information develops a form of life that has no stability or duration. And as we become increasingly absorbed in the infosphere, we lose touch with the magic of things which provide a stable environment for dwelling and give continuity to human life. The infosphere may seem to grant us new freedoms but it creates new forms of control too, and it cuts us off from the kind of freedom that is tied to acting in the world.

This new book by one of the most creative cultural theorists writing today will be of interest to a wide readership.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Non-things by Byung-Chul Han explores the societal shift from a tangible, terrestrial reality to an increasingly dominant digital order. Critics like Matthew Olemesky highlight Han's alarm about this transition, suggesting it marks a more sinister stage in societal evolution. The book delves into the consequences of digital proliferation on human experience and existential understanding, offering a compelling critique of modern digital life.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781509551705

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 20 May 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Polity Press

Contributors:

  • Translated by Daniel Steuer

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 10.0mm

Width: 137.0mm

Height: 203.0mm

Weight: 159g

Pages: 110

About the Author

Byung-Chul Han is the author of more than twenty books including The Burnout SocietySaving Beauty and The Scent of Time.

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