Propaganda

There’s no magic wand, no defensive armor, vaccine, or potion that can inoculate people against the influence of propaganda. But learning about propaganda is essential for people of all ages who want to hold on to their democracy in the face of threats. What will surprise you when you read this classic work, written in 1928, is how timely it remains. Bernays anticipates the rise of influencers and memes because he knows that people rely on thought leaders for most of their opinions and beliefs about the world. But the most important feature of this book is what he has… show more.

To understand how we came to the brink of global environmental collapse while significant numbers of Americans were distracted enough to believe gay marriage or women’s sovereignty over their own reproductive systems were greater threats, read Bernays’s slim 1928 volume. Bernays, who was Sigmund Freud’s nephew, begins by referring to “The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses.” He goes on: “Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism…constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. We are governed, our minds molded, our tastes formed our ideas suggested…” Bernays new science… show more.