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samyinbookworld's review against another edition
2.0
What I did not like about this book is that Bernays sees the majority of people as subject who are not competent to decide about the state. He claims that people should subordinate to their leader and that the true leader is a dictator.
No wonder that Mussolini had a copy of Propaganda on his night stand by the bed.
I suggest to everyone to read this book to learn how propaganda constructs our society. We have to learn how to see through manipulation, until then democracy is mere fiction.
No wonder that Mussolini had a copy of Propaganda on his night stand by the bed.
I suggest to everyone to read this book to learn how propaganda constructs our society. We have to learn how to see through manipulation, until then democracy is mere fiction.
bumblebeaa's review against another edition
2.0
2,5
Libricino interessante quanto basta tenendo conto che sull’argomento sia assolutamente obsoleto. Bernays è stato uomo chiave nella propaganda americana di inizio ‘900 e qui espone le proprie idee su come la propaganda si intrecci alla vita quotidiana in modo inevitabile. Ho trovato che dopo un po’ il libro diventava ridondante con tutti gli esempi riportati che alla fine producevano tutti lo stesso effetto. Inoltre bernays ha teso fin troppe lodi alla propaganda facendo dunque propaganda alla stessa. Interessante più di tutto il capitolo finale che riporta una breve biografia di bernays (il quale per quanto proclamasse che la propaganda andasse unicamente usata a fin di bene e professando il vero, alla fine ha ceduto al lato oscuro mentendo spudoratamente per raggiungere i propri scopi, ma c’era da aspettarselo).
Libricino interessante quanto basta tenendo conto che sull’argomento sia assolutamente obsoleto. Bernays è stato uomo chiave nella propaganda americana di inizio ‘900 e qui espone le proprie idee su come la propaganda si intrecci alla vita quotidiana in modo inevitabile. Ho trovato che dopo un po’ il libro diventava ridondante con tutti gli esempi riportati che alla fine producevano tutti lo stesso effetto. Inoltre bernays ha teso fin troppe lodi alla propaganda facendo dunque propaganda alla stessa. Interessante più di tutto il capitolo finale che riporta una breve biografia di bernays (il quale per quanto proclamasse che la propaganda andasse unicamente usata a fin di bene e professando il vero, alla fine ha ceduto al lato oscuro mentendo spudoratamente per raggiungere i propri scopi, ma c’era da aspettarselo).
aniket144's review against another edition
4.0
A book that makes you more aware of the type of society you are living in. It also explains how the opinion of masses are made and how their desire is manipulated.
cuboids's review against another edition
4.0
Very clear, very relevant. The scale on which the patricians manipulate the plebs is staggering and horrifying.
notwaverly's review
4.0
Very interesting, mostly in historical context. If you’ve done any modern reading on the subject at all this is not new info, and most books on the subject reference Bernays at least a little bit. For me, it was the differences I can see from when he’s talking about it and now— how much stronger and subtler the propaganda in government has become, how integral advertising for businesses has become, and how far (some of) the public has come in recognizing it. Influencer culture, pop politicians, the rise of social media and “invisible” advertising, none of this goes against Bernays’ assertions in the books, but I found it a little bit hard to remember the historical context when trying to parse out parts of it. For example, I would love an update on how the government propaganda machine has changed since it was written (even the 2005 intro was outdated on this). I’ll probably look for a more recently-written follow up. But I did appreciate how straightforward the subject is presented. I agree— propaganda isn’t “good” or “bad” it’s a tool, and one that everyone needs to understand bc everyone comes into contact with it.
jennifer_vars's review against another edition
dark
informative
fast-paced
3.5
"That propaganda easily seduces even those whom it most horrifies is a paradox that Bernays grasped completely; and it is one that we must try at last to understand, if we want to change the world that Edward Bernays, among others, made for us".
There is so much anxiety in the world. We are inundated with information about COVID, discrimination, food shortages and now a major war in Europe. In the midst of all of this, society just expects everyone to go about life like business as usual.
The psyche can only take so much.
Well-meaning people are checking out. They feel like there is nothing they can do or their mental state doesn't allow them to follow the news on a regular basis.
It's important that we don't check out because there is something important that we can do. We can recognize and call out misinformation when we see it, from wherever it is coming from. We can be careful about what posts we like and what things we share.
There is a real war with real people losing their homes and lives in Europe, so let's not be so quick to only talk about gas prices going up.
Pay attention to the manufacturing of outrage by special interests in the US. Is it really about the social and cultural war issues or could it be something else? Don't ever think that things can't get worse. Don't ever think that an authoritarian regime like we see in Russia can't happen in America.
Both of these tragedies are fueled by influential people using their power and knowledge of human psychology and propaganda for evil means.
The author of this book was a propagandist himself, considered the father of propaganda and public relations. Interestingly enough, he argues that propaganda is not innately bad-but it must be done with integrity and virtue. In modern times, how can it be kept from abuse?
It's important to note too that it was written in 1928. It's not just the tools used that are important (newspaper, radio, television, Facebook, YouTube, etc). It's the desires, habits and emotions of humans.
Propaganda will never die out. We can try though to be cognizant when it's being used for ill purposes to spread disinformation and do our best to choose not to amplify it.
There is so much anxiety in the world. We are inundated with information about COVID, discrimination, food shortages and now a major war in Europe. In the midst of all of this, society just expects everyone to go about life like business as usual.
The psyche can only take so much.
Well-meaning people are checking out. They feel like there is nothing they can do or their mental state doesn't allow them to follow the news on a regular basis.
It's important that we don't check out because there is something important that we can do. We can recognize and call out misinformation when we see it, from wherever it is coming from. We can be careful about what posts we like and what things we share.
There is a real war with real people losing their homes and lives in Europe, so let's not be so quick to only talk about gas prices going up.
Pay attention to the manufacturing of outrage by special interests in the US. Is it really about the social and cultural war issues or could it be something else? Don't ever think that things can't get worse. Don't ever think that an authoritarian regime like we see in Russia can't happen in America.
Both of these tragedies are fueled by influential people using their power and knowledge of human psychology and propaganda for evil means.
The author of this book was a propagandist himself, considered the father of propaganda and public relations. Interestingly enough, he argues that propaganda is not innately bad-but it must be done with integrity and virtue. In modern times, how can it be kept from abuse?
It's important to note too that it was written in 1928. It's not just the tools used that are important (newspaper, radio, television, Facebook, YouTube, etc). It's the desires, habits and emotions of humans.
Propaganda will never die out. We can try though to be cognizant when it's being used for ill purposes to spread disinformation and do our best to choose not to amplify it.