The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter

Passion is what fuels the analog revolution. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the most interesting chapters of this book are those in which the author is personally invested. It is clear that reporter Sax (The Tastemakers) loves vinyl, bookstores, and writing on paper. His descriptions of searching the bargain bins at his local record store or getting the perfect recommendation from the staff at a favorite bookstore demonstrate that Sax is not only reporting this movement, he's part of it. Even some of the areas he's less expert in, such as film manufacturing, reveal a lively interest and keen understanding of analog enthusiasts. However, in the chapters "Revenge of Work" and "Revenge of School," the benefits of analog are clear, but the evidence is shaky. When talking about work, Sax seems oddly blind to the utter lack of sustainability. On schools, he identifies many failures of educational technology (such as smart boards) yet offers none of the enthusiasm for analog found in the earlier sections.