The book-burning, as it turns out, is just half of Bradbury's bleak future. In place of thought and learning, the citizens are, instead, entertaining themselves to death. Entire walls of people's home are floor-to-ceiling televisions, a steady stream of reality shows and serving as an interactive 24/7 link with the ever-watchful authorities. So between all of that, and copious psychotropic drugs, the population has been numbed into submission.