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The braindead megaphone : essays

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By Will Blythe

• Oct. 7, 2007

The short-story writer George Saunders apparently has a Thing for Capital Letters. His first collection of nonfiction is Chock Full of Them — phrases like “Men Who Fish” and “Big Naïve Philosophical Realizations” and “American Male Opinionated Chatterbox” and “Appallingly Porous Border Syndrome,” to name but a few. These locutions resonate with Wiseguy Knowingness and serve as the literary equivalent of People Making Quote Marks With Their Fingers.

They’re kind of flirtatious, too. Saunders invites a conspiratorial intimacy between writer and reader with the Capitalized Phrases, offering entry into an Exclusive Club for People Who Get It. In the process, he simultaneously billboards the Notion-at-Hand while suggesting that he won’t be caught Taking His Own Thought Too Seriously. By such turns are Heaviness and Lightness balanced. And maybe, as a Chicago-raised guy, he goofs on himself to show he’s not some East Coast Intellectual Twit. One suspects that the irony of this maneuver is there to protect the very Midwestern Sweetness of the Author’s Soul.

For George Saunders has a Very Sweet Soul indeed.

Take this example from a report on his trip to the surreal city of Dubai. Instead of a Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, we have a Midwestern Liberal in a Middle-Eastern Theme Park. At an amusement park reminiscent of a setting from his fiction, Saunders watches “the Glowering Muttering Arabs” and 15 members of the United States Navy go down a waterslide in quick succession. By the end of the ride, everybody is in high spirits. This leads Saunders to speculate that fun might be the basis for universal brotherhood. “Given enough time,” he writes, “we will all be brothers. ... The old dividers — nation, race, religion — will be overpowered by crossbreeding and by our mass media, our world Culture o’ Enjoyment.”

Later in the same trip, he shows up at the “Arabian Ice City,” where Arab children slip and slide on artificial snow (or “Snow,” as Saunders likes to put it), with their parents proudly recording the moment with video cameras. “This is sweet,” he scribbles in his notebook. His eyes “well up with tears.” His view of the “Arab street” is complicated by all of these Arabs in the Snow. “If everybody in America could see this, our foreign policy would change,” he writes.

Readers daunted by the complexities of actual history, however, might be pardoned for wondering whether Saunders’s interpretation of this Snow Globe of Brotherhood represents more than Wishful Thinking. To put it another way, the Fake Snow of Artificial Heaven doth fall on Jews and Jew-haters alike, on Infidels and Believers, on Virtuous Muslims and Great Satans. But such divisions are not addressed. If only Saunders’s Soft Heart were accompanied by a Hard Head, then this report might tend more toward the Tragic than the Platitudinous.

Similarly, in the title essay, a blast against the media, Saunders proposes that “our venture in Iraq was a literary failure,” meaning a failure of the imagination. If you want to look at it that way, our failure to discover cold fusion or build safe bridges are all literary failures: we’ve failed to imagine our way to successful outcomes. This view is akin to a hydrologist suggesting that our failure in Iraq is largely a matter of irrigation, or a doctor attributing it to a problem of diagnosis. The sentiments are noble, the analysis solipsistic. Saunders, the imaginative artist, has failed to imagine other reasons for the catastrophe in Iraq besides the failure to imagine.

The Willful Innocence that mars several of the political pieces might have been predicted from Saunders’s often brilliant short stories, which generally feature hapless, good-hearted yobs as protagonists. He uses what I’ll call the Apparent Doofus Technique, whereby an author invents a seemingly innocent character who will become illuminated in the course of the action and come to Greater Moral Understanding. The problem with this is that at the very appearance of the Apparent Doofus, readers know what is on the way — not an education, but a Life-Enhancing Epiphany. In the dazzling “CivilWarLand in Bad Decline,” for instance, the narrator, while being stabbed to death by a crazy Vietnam vet, envisions “the man I could have been, and the man I was.” He sees into his killer’s past: his rough childhood, his brutal mother. “And then,” says the narrator, “everything is bright and new and keen with love.” At the heart of this heartless world beats Something Suspiciously Like Sentimentality. As a fiction writer, Saunders was born to forgive.

And yet, the Tireless American Good Will of this son of Chicago tends to wear down a Reader’s Resistance, not to mention — even more impressively — his Recalcitrant Subjects. In the best of the dispatches in “The Braindead Megaphone,” he travels along the Mexican-American border between Brownsville, Tex., and San Diego. In Texas, he goes on patrol with the Minutemen, vigilantes intent on stopping illegal immigration. Clearly aware of his tendencies, Saunders tells himself: “Stop trying so hard to be Johnny Compassion.” He and the Minutemen get lost in the brush, pick each other up, then spend a night chatting about ballet and Renaissance fairs while guarding the border with an impressive arsenal. Though he may be a Liberal and they Gun-Toting Right-Wingers, Saunders detects “the ornery-eye-twinkle-of-possible-friendship.” He astutely surmises that some people, “imagining the great What Is Out There, imagine it intends doom for them; others imagine there is something out there that may be suffering and in need of their help.”

When it comes to writing about literature, however, all of the Seeming Naïveté that sometimes mars the political pieces falls away. What remains is a sophisticate’s bright wonder. Saunders delivers canny insights only afforded a writer who himself has been lost in the Impenetrable Jungles of Narrative and has hacked his way out week by despairing week. By itself, the essay on Donald Barthelme’s short story “The School” constitutes an entire M.F.A. program in 11 pages, and — please note, aspiring writers — it’s thousands of dollars cheaper. Saunders describes how Barthelme constructs the story as a series of deaths ranging from pets to classmates. Such a faithfully followed, even inventive pattern is not enough, however. If that’s all a writer contrives, he’s “treating you like a dumb beast, endlessly fascinated by a swinging weight on a cord.”

The gift for sympathy Saunders exercises to uneven effect in the reported pieces finds apt outlet in a superb essay about “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” He appears to inhabit Mark Twain’s head, so astute is his sense of how the narrative must have evolved. Saunders argues that Twain’s comic novel was “doing things a comic novel was not supposed to do, and yet he sort of liked it.” He regards the book’s disastrous ending as the unsatisfactory resolution of a split within Twain, between the revolutionary who believed that blacks were full-fledged humans and the reactionary who wasn’t sure.

In an essay about Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse Five,” Saunders gives an account of his own evolution as a writer. Under the influence of Hemingway, he’d been under the impression that “great writing required a Terrible Event One Had Witnessed.” Saunders traveled the globe in search of Said Event but as he disarmingly puts it, he was “too cautious to be blown up or see anything horrific.” Vonnegut’s novel, which he read at 23 while on a seismic crew in Sumatra, liberated him from being a “control freak” of a writer. “Slaughterhouse Five” “felt like an ode to the abandonment of control, a disavowal of mastery.” These are still good words for a writer again rounding the globe to live by, even A Kind-Hearted One.

THE BRAINDEAD MEGAPHONE

By George Saunders.

257 pp. Riverhead Books. Paper, $14.

Will Blythe is the author of “To Hate Like This Is to Be Happy Forever.”

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THE BRAINDEAD MEGAPHONE

by George Saunders ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 4, 2007

Much smarter and more stimulating than the typical author’s clean-out-the-closet collection.

This provocatively engaging collection illuminates the thought processes of one of America’s masters of literary gamesmanship.

Though the magazine pieces that Saunders (In Persuasion Nation, 2006, etc.) has written for the likes of the New Yorker, Harper’s and GQ provide an inviting introduction to the unique stylist, devoted fans of his fiction will find their appreciation (and understanding) deepened as the author analyzes the effects that the writing of others has had on him. Not surprisingly, the Chicago-raised writer turned “Eastern liberal” (his description) expresses affinity and affection for such native Midwestern humorists as Kurt Vonnegut (whom he celebrates as a seminal influence) and Mark Twain, while his geometric analysis of a short story by fellow experimentalist Donald Barthelme provides insight into both Barthelme and Saunders. Especially revelatory is “Thank You, Esther Forbes,” in which Saunders details how his childhood reading of that author’s award-winning Johnny Tremain showed him how and why sentences matter. Yet things are never as straightforward as they seem with Saunders, and what this volume characterizes as “essays” is in fact a typically tricky mix from a writer who resists pigeonholing. Pieces such as “A Survey of the Literature,” “Ask the Optimist!,” “Woof: A Plea of Sorts” and the utopian closer, “Manifesto: A Press Release From PRKA” (kind of the prose equivalent of John Lennon’s “Imagine”), could have fit just as easily into one of his story collections. Longer, reported pieces such as “The Great Divider” (on border immigration issues) and “Buddha Boy” (on a seemingly miraculous meditator) display a profound empathy that resists knee-jerk response. Perhaps the most conventional essay here, and one of the most powerful, is the title piece that opens the collection. Saunders employs “The Braindead Megaphone” as a metaphor for mass media and shows how arguably talented, intelligent individuals have achieved a collective effect of dumbing down the national discourse.

Pub Date: Sept. 4, 2007

ISBN: 978-1-59448-256-4

Page Count: 272

Publisher: Riverhead

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2007

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by E.T.A. Hoffmann ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 28, 1996

This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)

Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996

ISBN: 0-15-100227-4

Page Count: 136

Publisher: Harcourt

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996

More by E.T.A. Hoffmann

by E.T.A. Hoffmann ; adapted by Natalie Andrewson ; illustrated by Natalie Andrewson

by E.T.A. Hoffmann & illustrated by Julie Paschkis

TO THE ONE I LOVE THE BEST

Episodes from the life of lady mendl (elsie de wolfe).

by Ludwig Bemelmans ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 23, 1955

An extravaganza in Bemelmans' inimitable vein, but written almost dead pan, with sly, amusing, sometimes biting undertones, breaking through. For Bemelmans was "the man who came to cocktails". And his hostess was Lady Mendl (Elsie de Wolfe), arbiter of American decorating taste over a generation. Lady Mendl was an incredible person,- self-made in proper American tradition on the one hand, for she had been haunted by the poverty of her childhood, and the years of struggle up from its ugliness,- until she became synonymous with the exotic, exquisite, worshipper at beauty's whrine. Bemelmans draws a portrait in extremes, through apt descriptions, through hilarious anecdote, through surprisingly sympathetic and understanding bits of appreciation. The scene shifts from Hollywood to the home she loved the best in Versailles. One meets in passing a vast roster of famous figures of the international and artistic set. And always one feels Bemelmans, slightly offstage, observing, recording, commenting, illustrated.

Pub Date: Feb. 23, 1955

ISBN: 0670717797

Page Count: -

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1955

More by Ludwig Bemelmans

developed by Ludwig Bemelmans ; illustrated by Steven Salerno

by Ludwig Bemelmans ; illustrated by Steven Salerno

by Ludwig Bemelmans

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George Saunders: The Braindead Megaphone

The title essay of George Saunders' non-fiction collection The Braindead Megaphone calmly and clearly rails against broadcast news' abject failure to keep the public properly informed. Much of what Saunders says—that news has become a business, and that in business, what sells trumps what's important—is fairly obvious, and has certainly been said before. But Saunders comes up with some colorful new metaphors to describe the danger in letting TV set the agenda for our national conversation, and he ends with a simple exhortation: "Every well-thought-out rebuttal to dogma, every scrap of intelligent logic, every absurdist reduction of some bullying stance, every request for clarification of the vague, every poke at smug banality, every pen stroke in a document under revision is the antidote."

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So consider Saunders' book one heavy dose of that antidote. Along with his essays on literature and politics, Saunders includes a handful of his satirical New Yorker "Shouts & Murmurs" pieces, all about the obfuscations of language in the popular media, as well as a handful of travelogues in which Saunders explores the intersection of nationalism and religious fervor in places like Dubai, Nepal, and the U.S./Mexico border. The connection between the humor pieces and the reportage might seem tenuous, but Saunders links them by detailing the gulf between opinions based on perception, and those based on first-hand experience. Saunders is as attentive to the Minutemen patrolling in Texas as he is to the immigrants hiding out in safehouses nearby, because while he knows what he believes, he strives not to be knee-jerk.

To that end, the book's key piece—besides "The Braindead Megaphone"—is Saunders' introduction to the Modern Library edition of Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn . "The United States Of Huck" considers the history of Mark Twain's seminal novel and its after-effects, and serves as a handy analysis of what the modern novel is designed to do, as well as a defense of all of Huck Finn 's failings, from its casual racism to its lazily populist ending. To Saunders, the mess Twain left behind is his real gift to American literature, because what defines America's personality better than its embrace of contradiction?

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The Power of the Megaphone: A Summary of George Saunders’ ‘The Braindead Megaphone’

• George Saunders

In his essay “The Braindead Megaphone,” George Saunders explores the power of media and how it can shape our perceptions of the world. Through various examples and anecdotes, Saunders argues that the media has become a “megaphone” that amplifies certain voices while drowning out others, leading to a distorted understanding of reality. This article provides a summary of Saunders’ essay and highlights its key themes and arguments.

The Power of the Megaphone: A Summary of George Saunders’ ‘The Braindead Megaphone’

In his essay “The Braindead Megaphone,” George Saunders explores the power of media and the impact it has on our society. He argues that the media has become a “megaphone” that amplifies certain voices and perspectives while drowning out others. This, in turn, has led to a homogenization of our culture and a loss of critical thinking skills.

Saunders uses the example of a news anchor who is more concerned with ratings than with presenting accurate information. He also discusses the rise of reality TV and how it has contributed to a culture of voyeurism and superficiality.

However, Saunders doesn’t just criticize the media. He also suggests that we have the power to change it. By being more discerning consumers of media and by actively seeking out diverse perspectives, we can counteract the homogenization of our culture.

Overall, “The Braindead Megaphone” is a thought-provoking essay that challenges us to think critically about the media we consume and the impact it has on our society.

What is ‘The Braindead Megaphone’?

“The Braindead Megaphone” is a collection of essays written by George Saunders, an American writer known for his satirical and humorous style. The title essay, “The Braindead Megaphone,” explores the idea of how the media and technology have transformed the way we communicate and how this has affected our ability to think critically. Saunders argues that the constant barrage of information and opinions from the media has created a “braindead megaphone” effect, where people are more likely to repeat what they hear without questioning its validity or considering alternative perspectives. Through his witty and insightful writing, Saunders encourages readers to be more mindful of the information they consume and to actively engage in critical thinking.

The Importance of Language

Language is a powerful tool that can be used to convey ideas, emotions, and beliefs. It is the foundation of communication and allows us to connect with others on a deeper level. In his essay “The Braindead Megaphone,” George Saunders emphasizes the importance of language and how it can be used to influence and manipulate people. He argues that the media, in particular, has a responsibility to use language in a responsible and ethical manner. Saunders believes that language has the power to shape our perceptions of the world and that we must be mindful of how it is used. Ultimately, language is a reflection of our values and beliefs, and we must use it wisely to create a better world.

The Role of the Media

The media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and influencing societal norms. In his essay “The Braindead Megaphone,” George Saunders argues that the media has a responsibility to provide accurate and thoughtful information to the public. However, he also acknowledges that the media often prioritizes sensationalism and entertainment over substance. This can lead to a “dumbing down” of public discourse and a lack of critical thinking. Saunders calls on the media to take their role seriously and to use their platform to promote thoughtful and nuanced discussions. Ultimately, the media has the power to shape the way we see the world and it is important that they use that power responsibly.

The Danger of Simplification

In his essay “The Braindead Megaphone,” George Saunders warns against the danger of oversimplification in media and public discourse. He argues that the megaphone of mass media has the power to amplify simplistic messages and drown out more nuanced perspectives. This can lead to a dangerous oversimplification of complex issues, which can have serious consequences for society. Saunders urges us to be more critical of the messages we receive and to seek out diverse perspectives in order to avoid falling prey to the dangers of oversimplification.

How the Megaphone Affects Perception

The megaphone is a powerful tool that can greatly affect perception. In George Saunders’ essay “The Braindead Megaphone,” he explores how the megaphone can distort and manipulate information, leading to a skewed understanding of reality. Saunders argues that the megaphone amplifies certain voices while silencing others, creating a hierarchy of importance and influence. This can lead to a dangerous situation where those with the loudest voices are able to control the narrative and shape public opinion. Additionally, the megaphone can create a sense of distance between the speaker and the audience, making it easier to dehumanize and demonize others. Overall, Saunders’ essay highlights the importance of being aware of the power dynamics at play when using a megaphone and the potential consequences of its misuse.

The Need for Critical Thinking

In today’s world, where information is readily available and easily accessible, it is more important than ever to develop critical thinking skills. George Saunders’ essay, “The Braindead Megaphone,” highlights the dangers of blindly accepting information without questioning its validity. He argues that the media, with its loud and sensationalized headlines, has become a megaphone that drowns out thoughtful discourse and encourages simplistic thinking. To combat this, Saunders suggests that we must actively engage with the information presented to us, question its sources, and consider multiple perspectives before forming our own opinions. In short, we must become critical thinkers. By doing so, we can avoid being manipulated by those who seek to control the narrative and make informed decisions that benefit ourselves and society as a whole.

The Impact of Technology

In George Saunders’ essay “The Braindead Megaphone,” he explores the impact of technology on our society and how it has changed the way we communicate. Saunders argues that technology has given us a megaphone, allowing us to amplify our voices and reach a wider audience than ever before. However, he also warns that this power can be dangerous if not used responsibly. With the rise of social media and the internet, anyone can become a “megaphone” and share their opinions with the world. This has led to a culture of noise, where everyone is shouting to be heard and no one is listening. Saunders suggests that we need to be more mindful of how we use our megaphones and strive to have meaningful conversations instead of just adding to the noise.

The Responsibility of the Speaker

In George Saunders’ essay “The Braindead Megaphone,” he discusses the responsibility of the speaker when using their platform to communicate with others. Saunders argues that the speaker has a duty to use their megaphone in a way that is both truthful and respectful to their audience. He believes that the speaker should not use their megaphone to spread lies or manipulate their listeners. Instead, the speaker should use their megaphone to inform and educate their audience. Additionally, Saunders emphasizes the importance of respecting the audience’s intelligence and not talking down to them. The speaker should strive to engage their audience in a meaningful conversation rather than simply talking at them. Overall, Saunders’ essay highlights the power and responsibility that comes with being a speaker and emphasizes the importance of using that power in a responsible and respectful way.

The Importance of Listening

In George Saunders’ essay “The Braindead Megaphone,” he emphasizes the importance of listening in our society. Saunders argues that we have become too focused on using our own voices to express our opinions and ideas, rather than taking the time to truly listen to others. He believes that this lack of listening has led to a culture of shouting and polarization, where people are more interested in being heard than in understanding each other. Saunders suggests that if we want to create a more empathetic and understanding society, we need to start by listening to each other with an open mind and a willingness to learn. By doing so, we can begin to bridge the gaps that divide us and work towards a more harmonious future.

The Power of Storytelling

In his essay “The Braindead Megaphone,” George Saunders explores the power of storytelling and how it can be used to shape our understanding of the world around us. He argues that the media, particularly the 24-hour news cycle, has become a “megaphone” that amplifies certain stories and perspectives while drowning out others. This, in turn, can lead to a distorted view of reality and a lack of empathy for those who are different from us. Saunders suggests that we need to be more mindful of the stories we consume and the stories we tell, and to seek out diverse perspectives in order to broaden our understanding of the world. By doing so, we can become more empathetic and compassionate individuals, and create a more just and equitable society.

The Connection between Megaphones and Politics

Megaphones have been used in politics for decades as a tool to amplify the voices of politicians and activists. In George Saunders’ essay “The Braindead Megaphone,” he explores the power dynamics at play when a person speaks through a megaphone. Saunders argues that the megaphone can be used to manipulate and control the audience, creating a one-sided conversation where the speaker dominates the narrative. This can be seen in political rallies and speeches, where the use of a megaphone can create a sense of urgency and importance around a particular message. However, Saunders also acknowledges that the megaphone can be used for good, as a tool to amplify the voices of marginalized communities and bring attention to important issues. Ultimately, the connection between megaphones and politics is complex and multifaceted, with the potential for both positive and negative outcomes.

The Influence of Pop Culture

Pop culture has a significant influence on society, shaping our beliefs, values, and behaviors. In his essay “The Braindead Megaphone,” George Saunders explores how the media and pop culture have become the dominant voices in our society, drowning out more nuanced and thoughtful perspectives. He argues that the megaphone of pop culture amplifies simplistic and sensationalized messages, leading to a culture of shallow thinking and conformity. Saunders suggests that we need to be more critical of the messages we consume and actively seek out diverse perspectives to counteract the homogenizing effects of pop culture. Ultimately, he believes that we have the power to reclaim our individual voices and create a more thoughtful and empathetic society.

The Role of Education

Education plays a crucial role in shaping our understanding of the world around us. In his essay “The Braindead Megaphone,” George Saunders emphasizes the importance of education in developing critical thinking skills and promoting empathy. He argues that the media, particularly the news, has become a “megaphone” that amplifies simplistic and often misleading messages, drowning out more nuanced perspectives. Saunders suggests that education can help us resist this trend by teaching us to question assumptions, seek out diverse viewpoints, and engage in thoughtful dialogue. Ultimately, he believes that education can help us become more informed and compassionate citizens, capable of navigating the complexities of our rapidly changing world.

The Need for Empathy

In his essay “The Braindead Megaphone,” George Saunders emphasizes the importance of empathy in communication. He argues that the megaphone, a metaphor for the media and those in positions of power, often amplifies simplistic and divisive messages that lack empathy. Saunders suggests that we need to cultivate empathy in order to truly understand and connect with others, especially those who are different from us. By doing so, we can create a more compassionate and just society.

The Importance of Diversity

Diversity is an essential aspect of society that should be celebrated and embraced. In his essay “The Braindead Megaphone,” George Saunders emphasizes the importance of diversity and how it can enrich our lives. Saunders argues that the media has a responsibility to promote diversity and provide a platform for diverse voices to be heard. He believes that by doing so, we can learn from each other and gain a better understanding of the world around us. Saunders also highlights the dangers of a lack of diversity, which can lead to a narrow-minded and limited perspective. Therefore, it is crucial to recognize and appreciate the value of diversity in all aspects of our lives.

The Impact of Social Media

Social media has revolutionized the way we communicate and interact with each other. With the click of a button, we can share our thoughts, opinions, and experiences with a global audience. However, this newfound power comes with a responsibility to use it wisely. In his essay “The Braindead Megaphone,” George Saunders argues that social media has created a culture of noise and distraction, where the loudest voices often drown out the most thoughtful ones. He warns that if we don’t learn to listen to each other and engage in meaningful dialogue, we risk becoming a society of braindead megaphones, shouting into the void without any real impact. Saunders’ message is a timely reminder that the power of social media comes not from the size of our audience, but from the quality of our message. As we navigate this new digital landscape, we must strive to use our megaphones wisely, amplifying voices that deserve to be heard and engaging in respectful, productive conversations that move us forward as a society.

The Need for Authenticity

In today’s world, where social media dominates our lives, the need for authenticity has become more important than ever. George Saunders, in his essay “The Braindead Megaphone,” highlights the dangers of the megaphone culture, where people are more concerned with being heard than with being authentic. He argues that the megaphone culture has led to a loss of nuance and complexity in our conversations, and has made it difficult for us to truly connect with one another. In order to combat this, Saunders suggests that we need to prioritize authenticity in our interactions with others. We need to be willing to listen to different perspectives, to engage in meaningful dialogue, and to be vulnerable and honest in our communication. Only then can we hope to build genuine connections and create a more compassionate and understanding society.

The Potential for Change

Saunders’ essay highlights the potential for change that comes with the use of the megaphone. He argues that the megaphone, as a symbol of mass media, has the power to shape public opinion and influence societal norms. However, he also acknowledges the danger of using the megaphone irresponsibly, as it can lead to the spread of misinformation and the reinforcement of harmful stereotypes. Saunders encourages individuals to use the megaphone wisely, to speak truthfully and with empathy, and to actively work towards creating a more just and equitable society. Ultimately, he believes that the megaphone can be a force for positive change, but only if we use it with intention and care.

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The Braindead Megaphone : Book summary and reviews of The Braindead Megaphone by George Saunders

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The Braindead Megaphone

by George Saunders

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Published Sep 2007 272 pages Genre: Essays Publication Information

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Book summary.

George Saunders's first foray into nonfiction is comprised of essays on literature, travel, and politics. At the core of this unique collection are Saunders's travel essays based on his trips to seek out the mysteries of the "Buddha Boy" of Nepal; to attempt to indulge in the extravagant pleasures of Dubai; and to join the exploits of the minutemen at the Mexican border. Saunders expertly navigates the works of Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, and Esther Forbes, and leads the reader across the rocky political landscape of modern America. Emblazoned with his trademark wit and singular vision, Saunders's endeavor into the art of the essay is testament to his exceptional range and ability as a writer and thinker.

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George Saunders Author Biography

Photo: Caitlin Saunders

George Saunders is the author of eleven books, including Lincoln in the Bardo , which won the 2017 Man Booker Prize for best work of fiction in English, and was a finalist for the Golden Man Booker, in which one Booker winner was selected to represent each decade, from the fifty years since the Prize's inception. The audiobook for Lincoln in the Bardo , which featured a cast of 166 actors, was the 2018 Audie Award for best audiobook. ­ His stories have appeared regularly in The New Yorker since 1992. The short story collection Tenth of December was a finalist for the National Book Award, and won the inaugural Folio Prize in 2013 (for the best work of fiction in English) and the Story Prize (best short story collection). He has received MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellowships, the PEN...

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The Braindead Megaphone

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I think that “The Braindead Megaphone” by George Saunders was very informative. Chapter 2 was that part that resonated with me because I’ve seen it happen before. Sometimes people at parties tend to follow a person or even in real life there is always that follower that does not think for themselves because of a person’s rhetoric. At times I tend to be convinced by someone’s rhetoric and not think for myself and then my opinion becomes meaningless. Media also tends to have rhetoric that can distort our thinking about a topic and makes us believe what they are conveying.

I’m the beginning of “the braindead microphone”, I had a strong gyst of the overall idea and I agree with what was happening. Usually, whenever the speaker at an event starts talking, everyone’s attention shifts. Their conversations die out and they lose their train of thought due to the speaker being on the stage giving some words. From there, I didn’t really see where this story was going since Saunders went on a bunch of tangents. Reading through it, I read all the different scenarios and in the end, I had a moment of epiphany when realizing what Saunders truly meant to say after giving these different stories. We are our own enemy and if we can’t see that, then we’re living in a world for others to please because it’s only about doing what you desire and aspire to be in this world.

<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Saunders’ “The Braindead Megaphone” discusses the idea of society being led by the news, or what’s exposed to them on a daily basis.  Throughout the article, the constant use of the “Megaphone Guy” at a party, serves as a metaphor to represent the ideas being put out there and becoming societies topics. The guy with the megaphone intends to distract people and make them talk about random topics that he keeps bringing up. Although, at some point his audience stops discussing what he is saying and he fades away into the background without being noticed as they lose interest in the topics. In the same way society today loses interest when they don’t seem interested in a topic. For the main role of “the Informant’s main job is to entertain and that, if he fails in this, he’s gone” (Saunders). Therefore, if society is not interested in what is being said we have to take it into our matters to use our voice to reflect our ideas clear, “precise, intelligent,  and humane as possible” in order for people to relate and make a change (Saunders).</span>

My thoughts on “The Braindead Megaphone” by George Saunders are quite simple. Saunders is basically talking mostly about the media and the fact that they are shouting senseless information at us to capture our attention and make money. Saunders compares this to the guy at the party with the megaphone. He describes this man as “not the smartest” person at the party and because he has a megaphone and he is been the loudest everyone listens to him. Everyone at the party will start subconsciously talking about what they are hearing and believe that man because he has taken the attention of everyone. Saunders says that this is what media is now days but they do this for a profit. They put different ideas into people’s head and make them believe its true for profit. As Saunders says, “Is some of our media very stupid? Hoo boy”.

I think “The Braindead   Megaphone” discusses about society feeding us stories, where some have the truth stretched. The biggest offender is the media, where, “In surrendering our mass storytelling functions to entities whose first priority is profit, we make a dangerous concession: “Tell us,” we say in effect, “as much truth as you can,  while still making money .” (Saunders) This is not the same as asking: “Tell us the truth.” What we read and listen to daily is us being fished into keeping our attention to the media. (This is probably why Trump hates the media with their ‘Alternative Facts’) With us listening to what the media feeds us, Saunders see us as becoming more braindead. An it does still happen, with some stories to capture audience, the media would twists some facts to get the article to dictate the overall perspective of the piece and possibly defame someone just for the overall money it racks in. In a sense; we will listen to anything that interests us: a guy with a megaphone or comedy for example.

When reading the analogy that the author had made toward a man in the 1200, I had already began to understand what the rest of the reading would be about. Given that the comparison between two different time frames  allows for an understanding of how different dialogue and communication could be when used in rhetorical situations. When given the example from the guy at the party he begins to describe how the guy uses a megaphone and instantly the audience stops what they are doing, and subconsciously start listening and mimicking whatever the guy is saying or doing. This subconscious attitude can be reflected in our society now and how many people follow whatever happens or is talked about in mass media.

In my opinion, I think “The Braindead Megaphone” by George Saunders was a very meaningful essay because George Saunders used many new different metaphors to describe some events. In his paper, based on what he saw and heard, he felt that we should turn that Megaphone down because it can distort some truths, and leads general public to believe something.

The book “The Braindead Megaphone” by George Saunders, I would say, is a really interesting piece of writing that really capture’s the way one’s mind thinks, behaves and reacts. As the writing suggests, a person with a very loud voice are likely to attract more attention than one with a low voice. Even if the person has no idea what they are talking about, just because they are loud. I found the writing to be a bit random, in which it went from talking about a Mr. or Mrs. 1200 and his thinking to a guy with a megaphone. But both had a general theme of volume attracting attention.

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The Braindead Megaphone Paperback – September 4, 2007

Purchase options and add-ons

• Print length 272 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Riverhead Books
• Publication date September 4, 2007
• Dimensions 5.23 x 0.73 x 7.91 inches
• ISBN-10 159448256X
• ISBN-13 978-1594482564
• See all details

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About the author, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Riverhead Books (September 4, 2007)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 159448256X
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1594482564
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.6 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.23 x 0.73 x 7.91 inches
• #794 in Humor Essays (Books)
• #2,926 in Fiction Satire
• #3,442 in Short Stories Anthologies

About the author

George saunders.

George Saunders is the author of nine books, including Tenth of December, which was a finalist for the National Book Award and won the inaugural Folio Prize (for the best work of fiction in English) and the Story Prize (best short-story collection). He has received MacArthur and Guggen-heim fellowships and the PEN/Malamud Prize for excellence in the short story, and was recently elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2013, he was named one of the world's 100 most influential people by Time magazine. He teaches in the creative writing program at Syracuse University.

georgesaundersbooks.com

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