Everything Bad is Good for You

Steven Johnson draws on fields as diverse as neuroscience, economics, and media theory in this provocative, unfailingly intelligent, thoroughly researched, and surprisingly convincing big idea book to argue that the pop culture we consume every day—from Lord of the Rings to Grand Theft Auto to The Simpsons—has been growing more sophisticated with each passing year, and, far from rotting our brains, is actually posing new cognitive challenges that are actually making us smarter. You'll never look at the glow of a video game or television screen the same way after reading Everything Bad is Good for You.