Empire of Illusion Audiobook By Chris Hedges cover art

Empire of Illusion

The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle

 Preview
Get this deal Try for $0.00
Offer ends January 29, 2026 11:59pm PT
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Just $0.99/mo for your first 3 months of Audible Premium Plus.
1 audiobook per month of your choice from our unparalleled catalog.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, and Originals.
Auto-renews at $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Unlimited access to our all-you-can listen catalog of 150K+ audiobooks and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Empire of Illusion

By: Chris Hedges
Narrated by: Jonathan Yen
Get this deal Try for $0.00

$14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime. Offer ends January 21, 2026 11:59pm PT.

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.56

Buy for $20.56

LIMITED TIME OFFER | Get 3 months for $0.99 a month

$14.95/mo thereafter-terms apply.

We now live in two Americas. One - now the minority - functions in a print-based, literate world that can cope with complexity and can separate illusion from truth. The other - the majority - is retreating from a reality-based world into one of false certainty and magic. To this majority - which crosses social class lines, though the poor are overwhelmingly affected-presidential debate and political rhetoric is pitched at a sixth-grade level.

In this "other America", serious film and theater, as well as newspapers and books, are being pushed to the margins of society. In the tradition of Christopher Lasch's The Culture of Narcissism and Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death, Pulitzer Prize winner Chris Hedges navigates this culture - attending WWF contests, the Adult Video News Awards in Las Vegas, and Ivy League graduation ceremonies - to expose an age of terrifying decline and heightened self-delusion.

©2009 Chris Hedges (P)2018 Tantor Communication & Social Skills Media Studies Personal Development Politics & Government Popular Culture Social Sciences Sociology Words, Language & Grammar Capitalism Socialism Thought-Provoking
Thought-provoking Analysis • Coherent Diagnostic Narrative • Great Audio Performance • Impeccable Research

Highly rated for:

All stars
Most relevant
Sounds like the previous reviewer was upset this book wasn’t what he wanted it to be. The author honestly lays out dire the situation we, as Americans, are in. I’m sorry they didn’t find the hope they were looking for.

Honest

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It's a very interesting and worthwhile book. Chris Hedges gives a lot to think about and for such a small volume, it's quite packed. Listening to this now halfway through the Trump presidency is interesting, a lot of what's theorized as possible futures are currently unfolding before us and Hedges makes an interesting case for how our sysytems of news, entertainment, and politics are set up to ultimately fail us as they don't really work for our benefit but despite it. The audio performance of the audiobook was great.

Prophetic. A lot of it is currently playing out in America now.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Well, as I sit listening to this at 1am, in light of the current events, this is downright prophetic.

sigh

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
While depressing this book is a must read given the current state of affairs. Must purchase

Amazing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
interesting insight and almost crystal balling life in 2021. Went a bit overboard with the porn stories, but was still a great listen.

Great listen, but not when the kids are in the car

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews