Hedges titles Chapter 1 “The Illusion of Literacy” yet focuses primarily on the effects of celebrity culture. What relationship is there between literacy and celebrity culture?

Empire of Illusion ends with a brief note about love’s ability to overcome evil. In what ways does Hedges hint throughout the book that love might reverse the effects of corporate control and abuse?

Along with being a writer, professor, and journalist, Hedges is also a Presbyterian minister. In what ways do you think being a clergyman affects Hedges’ choice of topics and the way he writes about those topics?