Douglas Rushkoff

Douglas Rushkoff is an award-winning author, media theorist, and lecturer who focuses on modern digital culture and how it affects individuals, businesses, and society. With degrees from Princeton, Rutgers and New York University, Rushkoff has taught at The New School, NYU, and Eugene Lang College since 1991. Throughout his career, Rushkoff has written more than 15 books and had numerous articles published in national publications.

He is best known for his work in media literacy, media psychology, and consumerism and has been featured on shows like Real Time with Bill Maher, PBS Frontline, National Geographic, and BBC Horizon. He is also a regular guest on the BBC's Talk About Money.

Rushkoff's first book, “Media Virus: Hidden Agendas in Popular Culture” (1994), examined how media can influence public opinion and behavior and set in motion an ongoing theme in his work: media and technology that shape our culture and our lives. His best-known work, “Coercion: Why We Listen to What "They" Say” (1999), won the Marshall McLuhan Award for the Outstanding Book on Media and the Culture.

Other books by Rushkoff include “Nothing Sacred: The Truth About Judaism” (2001), which examines the implications and tensions between Orthodox, Conservative and Reform traditions, and three popular books of social commentary: “Life, Inc.: How the World Became a Corporation and How to Take It Back” (2009), “Programm or Be Programmed: Ten Commands for a Digital Age” (2010), and “Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus: How Growth Became the Enemy of Prosperity” (2016).

His most recent book, “Team Human” (2019), focuses on the need for human connection, trust and empathy in order to stay afloat amidst the continuous wave of technological advancement. For example, Rushkoff points out that many people do not even realize how much of their lives now revolve around corporate control, from people's data to their free time being used for advertisements to virtual interaction being regulated by algorithms.

In order to combat the increasing disconnect from humanity rushed by technology and bureaucracy, Rushkoff suggests building community at a local level. By encouraging dialogue, connection and understanding, Rushkoff argues, people can reclaim the power that technology has taken away.

Rushkoff has been featured on numerous popular podcasts, such as “The Joe Rogan Experience,” “The Tim Ferriss Show,” and “The Valerie de Terhal Show”. Rushkoff is also the host of his own podcast, titled “Team Human,” which focuses on media, business, and technology news as well as personal stories related to these topics. On the show, Rushkoff interviews guests from all different walks of life, such as Elon Musk, Sherry Turkle, and Sebastian Junger, to discuss media and technology.

As an author, thinker, and public speaker, Douglas Rushkoff has been widely influential in the way we think about contemporary media, technology and society. He has a unique perspective when it comes to the societal implications of media and technology, challenging people to think more deeply about the implications of the technologies and media that are being pervasive in our lives. He encourages individuals to reconnect with the world and each other in a way that is informed by technology, but also enables us to live more meaningful lives. His books, articles, and talks have been influential to many and have enabled people to become more aware and conscious of their actions and how they are affecting their world.