Black FridayDealsBuying guidesBrandsStoresTermsPrivacydeal.ai apps

© Deal.ai Inc.

Deal.ai
F
Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television

Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television

Best price now

$9.39at AmazonObserved at 12:56 PM

Compared across 2 stores. Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

Visit Amazon

Ask our agent about this product

It checks today's price at every store, compares the alternatives and answers in about a minute.

Enter to send, Shift+Enter for a new line

Our take on the Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television

Jerry Mander's 1978 polemic argues that television is not a neutral tool but a medium that shapes perception, isolates viewers and serves corporate power. The book grew out of Mander's years in advertising and is a staple of media-studies and sociology reading lists. The 371-page William Morrow paperback is the standard edition. At $9.39 at Amazon as of November 4, 2026, it sits at the low end of its usual new-copy range.

Best for
Media-studies and sociology students
Readers of media criticism and tech skepticism
Book clubs that want an argument starter
Anyone cutting back on screen time
Pros
  • Four clear, separate arguments rather than one long rant
  • Written by a former advertising executive who knows the industry from inside
  • Short chapters and plain prose make it quick to read
  • A classic reference point in media criticism
  • Cheap paperback that holds up to annotation
Cons
  • Published in 1978; predates cable, the internet and streaming
  • Polemical tone and sweeping claims will put off some readers
  • Little engagement with counterarguments
  • Some passages feel dated to modern media

Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television prices at every store

  • Microcosm Publishing & DistributionNew

    In stock

    $13.95+ $5.36 shippingObserved at 12:56 PM
    Visit store
  • AmazonNew

    Availability unknown

    As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

    $9.39Observed at 12:56 PM
    Visit store

Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television price history

Lowest price we've seen: $9.39 on Nov 4 at Amazon. Tracked across 2 stores since Nov 4.

What reviewers say

Readers treat it as a provocative classic of media criticism. Many say the arguments still land decades later, even where the technology has changed. Others find the thesis overstated and the evidence thin.

Pros
  • Arguments about attention and perception still feel relevant
  • Readable and well organized
  • Useful starting point for discussions about media
Cons
  • Dated examples and no coverage of digital media
  • Repetitive and one-sided in places
  • Some claims are asserted rather than proven

Specifications

Author Name
Jerry Mander
Binding Type
Paperback
Educational Subject
Sociology
Book Format Type
Paperback
Main Genre
Non-fiction
Subgenre
Social Theory
Book Author
Jerry Mander
Book Title
Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television
Book Language
English
Book Publisher
William Morrow Paperbacks
Book Dimensions
13.97 x 2.16 x 20.96 cm
Book Weight
294 g
Page Count
371
Chapters
Yes
Original Language
English
Translated Language
No
Publisher
William Morrow Paperbacks
Target Audience
Adults
Cover Type
Paperback
Typical Users
UNISEX

Questions and answers

Is it still worth reading now that television has changed?
Yes, if you read it as media criticism rather than a current policy proposal. Its points about attention, advertising and centralized control carry over to streaming and social media, but the specific examples are from the 1970s.
Is this book against all screens?
It targets television specifically, arguing the medium itself shapes behavior regardless of content. Mander does not extend the argument to computers or phones, which barely existed when he wrote it.
How long does it take to read?
It runs 371 pages in paperback. Most readers finish it in a week or two; the chapters are short and the prose is plain.
Is this the original edition or a newer one?
The William Morrow paperback (ISBN 9780688082741) is the widely sold edition of the 1978 text. It is not an updated or revised version.
When is the best time to buy it?
At $9.39 at Amazon as of November 4, 2026, it is already near the bottom of its recent range. Academic titles like this rarely drop much further; used copies are the main cheaper option.
Where is the Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television cheapest?
At Amazon, for $9.39, as of our latest check.
Where can I buy the Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television?
2 stores we checked sell it, including Microcosm Publishing & Distribution, Amazon.