[Wombat101]

I would add Daniel Boorstein to the list (although I must admit to not knowing if he's still alive, and being too lazy to make the effort to find out).

[omega4412]

Daniel Boorstin, 1914-2004. Certainly a sane academic. His book from 1961, The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America is still right on target today, and his series of books on American history cover culture, society, technology, and business, not just politics and wars.

Another departed sane academic is Neil Postman (1931-2003), who wrote Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business (1985).

Edward Tufte is still among us and writing brilliant books on visual communication. How to convey information effectively and how graphics are used to mislead.