The Bias of Communication

By Harold A. Innis and Innis Ha

Book Overview

The Bias of Communication, first published in 1951, is a foundational work in media theory that explores how the materials and technologies of communication shape human thought, culture, and history. Innis argues that every medium carries a bias toward time or space, which in turn influences the structure of societies and empires.

The book redefines the study of media by showing that the form of communication is as consequential as its content. Through a series of incisive historical essays, Innis demonstrates how empires rise when they master space-biased media for expansion, yet collapse when they neglect time-biased traditions that ensure cultural continuity. From ancient Egypt's use of papyrus for imperial control and the oral traditions that sustained Greek philosophy, to the history of printing in England and communication in the United States, Innis traces how the balance between time- and space-oriented media determines the fate of civilizations.

The Bias of Communication is a profound study that remains essential for anyone seeking to understand the deep historical currents beneath today's media-saturated world.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0645594857
• ISBN13: 9780645594850
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Spinebill Press
• Length: 324 Pages
• Weight: 0.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.3" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Innis is a powerful experience

I find everything I read by Harold Innis deeply thought provoking. Even when he quotes what I feel are wrong headed observations by Marcel Granet or Winston Churchill on character based langauges where I feel his conjectures reflect the fact he had never experienced learning such a language or thinking in one [instead of encouraging mental inflexibility, I would say, the contrary is true - 'lateral thinking' represented a concept I would never had had to introduce for any of my Chinese students], he feels so honest and so undogmatic, he is stimulating rather than irritating. [The passage occurs in 'A Plea For Time', one of the interesting essays in this book.]He does not dogmatise but stimulates. He does not seek to preach but to help us participate in an ongoing process. In a way, he makes me feel, reading him, as I think a young Greek might have felt who had had the chance to spend time listening to Socrates.I am very enthusiastic about this book and treasure my copy. I have become deeply interested in everything by Innis I can find.

keys to understanding the phases of human/media development

This book and its ideas have stayed with me over 15 years since university : Innis (who influenced Mcluhan) discusses the effect of changes in media on the history of civilization : ex. the invention of papyrus. sometimes obscure, but always a paradigm-shifter