Propaganda

By: Edward Bernays, Mark Crispin Miller - introduction

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 4 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

"The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country." (Edward Bernays)

A seminal and controversial figure in the history of political thought and public relations, Edward Bernays pioneered the scientific technique of shaping and manipulating public opinion, which he famously dubbed the "engineering of consent". During World War I, he was an integral part of the US Committee on Public Information, or CPI, a powerful propaganda apparatus that was mobilized to package, advertise, and sell the war to the American people as one that would "Make the World Safe for Democracy". The CPI became the blueprint for the marketing strategies of future wars.

Bernays applied the techniques he had learned in the CPI and, incorporating some of the ideas of Walter Lipmann, became an outspoken proponent of propaganda as a tool for democratic and corporate manipulation of the population. His 1928 bombshell, Propaganda, lays out his eerily prescient vision for using propaganda to regiment the collective mind in a variety of areas, including government, politics, art, science, and education. To listen to this book today is to frightfully comprehend what our contemporary institutions of government and business have become in regard to the organized manipulation of the masses.

©1928 Edward Bernays (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

This Classic is still very relevant.

Learning how Propaganda works is so important for dealing with all the information being thrown at us today. This book will help you understand and manage it very well.

Very basic for experienced readers

If you are active in the field of advertising or PR, you may find this book very elementary.
Yet, if you’re looking for the general understanding of “What is propaganda” (not “how to”), this book will deliver.

Mostly Common Knowledge by Now: Still a few Gems

The knowledge in this book is over-indexed and overused. Nevertheless, it is a good place to start

Propaganda about Propaganda

This book is brilliant. It’s like a car commercial on steroids. It’s literally propaganda for the art of propaganda and public relations.

Outdated but insightful

The stories and references are outdated but the techniques are not and are valuable to persons who have a small business and have to develop strategies for public engagement.

Solid read

It is a very direct observation of what propaganda his hand what it could mean to our modern society

The narrator did the content justice!

Excellently narrated. The book is a must-experience for anyone interested in marketing, advertising or public relations.

Not what I expected; ironically

Truthfully, I only listened to the first half and I’m guilty of judging a book by its cover and being a willing victim of the propaganda of that cover. It’s an older book that seems to be discussing propaganda (not surprisingly) and modern day marketing and advertising methods and their history. I assumed incorrectly that it might also deal with the modern propaganda moment of the BLM movement and the effect of the new would be tyrants of our age clothed in the vestiges of virtue signaling. Unfortunately, its a less dynamic book than that. My bad

Great book!.. (even though it's a wee bit dated)

yup, old and good. "radio is taking over the newspaper" hmmm.. yup. but the principles are undeniable.

Intriguing book, written almost 100 years ago yet relevant for our day.

I found the theory to be relevant and not nefarious in any way. Bernays had a keen understanding of herd mentality. He sees the obvious role of propaganda in the natural world, and peels back the vail of propaganda. I also found it interesting that the first use of propaganda, was by a violent sectarian organization in the early 1600’s. He revealed the inevitability of propaganda in society and argued its virtue is not in question, but how it’s used should be. Narrator was great and easy to listen to. Influence is a powerful thing... be careful of who you give it to.