Propaganda

De: Edward Bernays, Mark Crispin Miller - introduction

Narrado por: Grover Gardner

"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.

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

Dr. They

Well devised, written and executed book. Narration fit the subject matter and flowed smoothly. Definitely worth a listen.

Dayed

As a historical perspective of the topic of “propaganda”it was interesting. And many of his thoughts are still valid today, but at the same time it was interesting to note how much our view have changed in 90 years.

Propaganda is here to stay

Well if that doesn’t explain the past 3 years we lived through and the monumental profits produced by those who comprehend the techniques within this book.

Propaganda for all!

Exceptional read. Eye opening. The elements and content within this piece still resonate today. A blueprint to public persuasion.