Manufacturing Consent

The Political Economy of the Mass Media

By: Edward S. Herman, Noam Chomsky

Narrated by: John Pruden

Length: 15 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

In this pathbreaking work, now with a new introduction, Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky show that, contrary to the usual image of the news media as cantankerous, obstinate, and ubiquitous in their search for truth and defense of justice, in their actual practice they defend the economic, social, and political agendas of the privileged groups that dominate domestic society, the state, and the global order.

Based on a series of case studies - including the media's dichotomous treatment of "worthy" versus "unworthy" victims, "legitimizing" and "meaningless" Third World elections, and devastating critiques of media coverage of the US wars against Indochina - Herman and Chomsky draw on decades of criticism and research to propose a Propaganda Model to explain the media's behavior and performance. Their new introduction updates the Propaganda Model and the earlier case studies, and it discusses several other applications.

©2002 Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"[A] compelling indictment of the news media's role in covering up errors and deceptions in American foreign policy of the past quarter century." ( New York Times)

Important “Classic” Text For Media Literacy

It doesn’t really matter if you consider yourself leftist, a liberal centrist, or some kind of rightist: the theory argued in this book is an important part of developing a serious, skeptical media analysis (as opposed to an unserious “skepticism” of mere contrarianism).

Yes, it’s authors are left wing, but at no point in the text are they trying to sell you on their politics, change your politics, etc, nor are they even arguing from a necessarily left perspective. They’re merely pointing out the biases of the modern mass media, why it has those biases, and how it’s function, even in non “totalitarian” states, serves to propagandize the general public with the “truths” of the state’s point of view, per its interests.

Is it the only text necessary to develop a very solid understanding of mass media? No, but I’d absolutely call it an essential building block for that task, if it’s of any value to you. If gaining such a media literacy is not of interest or value to you, read it anyway, and hopefully you’ll change your mind on the importance of such an understanding.

No greater tool for the modern person.

There's no greater tool for understanding How we came to be in this post truth era. decades of lies by the mainstream media has brought us to where we are. But it's our responsibility to get ourselves out. Start with this book.

Disturbing view

A well reasoned argument for the argument for a very obedient media and how they help mold public opinion to government ends.

Actions of our Government Agencies in foreign land

Insightful reading, gained a better understanding of how MSM can promote or deny the actions of our Government Agencies and senior leaders in foreign and domestic actions against the people.

Good But Difficult

The content of the book is excellent but it's simply far too much significant information to passively listen to. The narrator is unfortunately emotionally detached and thus makes listening to the book feel more like a chore.

The book itself is an amazing compilation of how the media has always been pro-war in favor of the US and its allies citing numerous examples of which unfortunately most people nowadays (young and old) either know nothing about or have a very distorted view of.

I recommend this book (read or listen) only to those whom really have an interest in learning about the propaganda machine. Otherwise it is very difficult to stay completely focused on it (at least in audio form).

What an eye-opener. Fake news, indeed!

As at least one other reviewer has noted this is a tough book to read, not because it uses big words or complicated ideas (it doesn't). It's tough because it's so shocking to hear the evidence and then realise you've been lied to by the media you trusted your whole life (until now).

**Everyone** should read this book - from young people to seniors.

A must read

Provides great insights and a corporate media. Once you learn about the propaganda model you won’t be able to help but see it’s impact on most news channels. And important for anybody watching the news

Eye opening and thorough

Couldn't ask for more. These issues with the media remain today in different forms. We the public must be ever vigilant in our consumption of these media and this book serves as a stark reminder.

Classic Must Read

This was one of the first public works of dissecting the propaganda model that has been in place in the Western establishment for nearly a century now. No matter your political beliefs, Manufacturing Consent is one of the true keys to understanding the power of the media to control the narrative in favor of government or corporate misdeeds. I wish an updated version of this would be written, to include the Gulf Wars, Afghanistan, Syria and other recent crimes by the control machine.

Needs to be widely understood

The fact that the middle class is so oblivious to this information is probably the main reason our political system is a nice little sham.