The Revenge of Analog

Real Things and Why They Matter

By: David Sax

Narrated by: David Sax

Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

One of Michiko Kakutani's (New York Times) top 10 books of 2016.

A funny thing happened on the way to the digital utopia. We've begun to fall back in love with the very analog goods and ideas the tech gurus insisted that we no longer needed. Businesses that once looked outdated, from film photography to brick-and-mortar retail, are now springing with new life. Notebooks, records, and stationery have become cool again. Behold the Revenge of Analog. David Sax has uncovered story after story of entrepreneurs, small business owners, and even big corporations who've found a market selling not apps or virtual solutions but real, tangible things. As e-books are supposedly remaking reading, independent bookstores have sprouted up across the country. As music allegedly migrates to the cloud, vinyl record sales have grown more than 10 times over the past decade. Even the offices of tech giants like Google and Facebook increasingly rely on pen and paper to drive their brightest ideas.

Sax's work reveals a deep truth about how humans shop, interact, and even think. Blending psychology and observant wit with first-rate reportage, Sax shows the limited appeal of the purely digital life-and the robust future of the real world outside it.

©2016 David Sax (P)2016 Hachette Audio

Late to the party and heavily padded.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No. This is a very interesting topic, and Sax chooses some interesting examples, but it would be much better as a relatively short article without the excessive padding. Some examples are really driven into the ground.

Would you be willing to try another book from David Sax? Why or why not?

Not only "no," "heck no."

What didn’t you like about David Sax’s performance?

Better to have another reader. Sax's reedy voice becomes grating after a short time.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No.

Any additional comments?

Great topic, but way late to the party. Francis Fukuyama's Op-Ed piece in the February 26, 2011 Wall Street Journal, "All Hail...Analog?" covers this topic more rigorously and fluently in twelve paragraphs. Read that, and don't bother with this windy book. Just the opinion of a lonely naval officer.

Needed palliative

Any additional comments?

This book says things that I had suspected but never articulated. The best things that I like, mechanical watches, LP records (even CD's), film cameras (I never threw mine away), stick shifts, and writing notes in lectures, are now explained by one who has actually thought about, studied and researched, so that now I do not feel countercultural, but rather an archetype of all humanity who can enjoy the analog world and its attractions without fear of being anachronisms.

Excellent Listen for Digital Devices.

Interesting story. Well researched and thought provoking. The best thing is that it is read by the author and the author has a great reading voice. I could listen to this guy read a phone book and I would be enthralled. That would be an analog example, a phone book.

A good story suffered from poor production

I enjoyed this book’s content, especially its case studies. However the audiobook suffers greatly from many poorly produced edits that don’t match the main recording sonically or in level, and sometimes are edited sloppily so words are repeated before and after edits. This is very distracting and disappointing. Additionally the entire audiobook is mastered to a very low level, requiring the headphones, speaker, or car you’re listening on to be turned nearly or all the way up.

An excellent and thoughtful creation

Though I confess I just completed "The Revenge of Analog" as an audio book, I truly believe that consuming it has made me more mindful of the balance between digital technologies and analog pursuits. As someone who has been influenced by the Reboot organization, and a participant in the unplugging culture, I highly recommend this book. I must admit that as a senior executive in a technology company, I've raised more than a few eyebrows when I tell people what audiobook I am listening to. I'm buying the book, and plan to prominently display it on my desk.

Insightful and Fun

This book articulates everything you've been thinking for the past 25 years -- give us back the real because we are tired of the fake. David Sax reads his own book with conviction here and his premise is compelling. Give this a listen.

fantastic

I've worked in tech my whole career. The chapters on ed tech and mediation will help me inform my colleagues. Overall, it provided conversation fodder and personal reflection. Thanks!

Really enjoyable

I found myself nodding along to everything in this book. The digital world promised so much but delivered little (except audiobooks ;) )

Booooring

Nothing new, very simplistic and inaccurate descriptions and concepts. As an engineer, the way the author describes digital vs analog as concepts are just not correct. Like saying the incandescent lightbulb is the happy hot light and the LED lights are the sad cold lights, it’s all subjective, biased and really not worth the time and brain space. Do you want vinyl records? Fine, just get them and tell all your friends you are cool.

Nothing really new

The return of film, books, handwriting, vinyl are all well known. There was not much new here.
The above topics were beat to death (though I did love all the technical stuff about photo film).
I would have likes to see more about the analog-digital divide and the places and reasons that analogue is so much better for people.
There was really no Ergonomics or Human Factors Discussed.
Even simple things like buttons and dials coming back in automotives was skipped.
Not the book for deep thinkers about the topic.