World as Laboratory

By Rebecca Lemov,

Book cover of World as Laboratory: Experiments with Mice, Mazes, and Men

Book description



Deeply researched, World as Laboratory tells a secret history that’s not really a secret. The fruits of human engineering are all around us: advertising, polls, focus groups, the ubiquitous habit of “spin” practiced by marketers and politicians. What Rebecca Lemov cleverly traces for the first time is how the absurd,…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked World as Laboratory as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Harvard historian of science professor Lemov’s account of the history of behavioral science includes a chapter analyzing the work of three of the central figures in MKUltra, the CIA’s decade-long program of classified research into “mind control.”

Excellent on the scientific context out of which that research arose.

From Andreas' list on the history of torture.

Want books like World as Laboratory?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 92 books like World as Laboratory.

Browse books like World as Laboratory

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in torture, the history of science, and brainwashing?

Torture 41 books
Brainwashing 14 books