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Here’s what I think about propaganda. There’s information and persuasion. Disseminating false information is disinformation. Hiding true information is a cover-up. A monopoly on information is required for both disinformation and cover-up. Using disinformation, cover-up, logical fallacies or unspecified axioms to persuade people is what is commonly known as propaganda. All else is journalism, scholarship, advocacy, advertising, etc.
Does propaganda work? I’m not aware of a scientific proof, but disinformation is blamed for the popular support for World War I. Does propaganda based on logical fallacies work? The proof of this would require many cases of people behaving counter to their desires, interests and values after being presented with logical fallacies. Propaganda can’t be a threat if there’s no monopoly on information and we stay strong.
You won’t get any of this from Bernays. He was an ad man and public relations counsel, so he’s good on public relations, especially the value of giving away free stuff and developing a high-toned image to soothe muckrakers and investors. He's good at reminding us that the word propaganda didn't always have negative connotations. Otherwise, he’s a lightweight.
To him, propaganda is “propagating a doctrine or system” or “establishing the reciprocal understanding between an individual and a group”. The rest of us call this advocacy, dialogue, gossip, etc. He does say that good propaganda must be correct information. But he modifies this by saying that good propaganda must be in the service of a good cause, a potential justification for a cover-up.
I found five authorities Bernays cites: Gustav Le Bon (probably for his THE CROWD: A STUDY OF THE POPULAR MIND (1895)), Graham Wallas (probably for his HUMAN NATURE IN POLITICS (1908)), Wilfred Trotter (probably for his THE INSTINCTS OF THE HERD IN PEACE AND WAR (1908)), Walter Lippmann (probably for his PUBLIC OPINION (1922)), and his own uncle, Sigmund Freud.
Based on synopses of these writers, they saw average people, especially in crowds, as barely above livestock. They advocated the same “propaganda managed democracy” that Bernays advocates.
But Western civilization advanced dramatically at the end of the middle ages, and it was decentralized middle-class progress. Was that the work of livestock? Sufficiently motivated, the average individual learns critical thinking so that he may profit from his own good decisions. Bernays states, “Men are rarely aware of the real reasons which motivate their actions.” When his uncle Sigmund escaped Nazism, was he doing it to save his own life or to seek status by impressing all his friends with his escaping skills? When the stakes get high, frivolous decisions decrease.
Deceptive persuasion will become dangerous when the number of pensioned and alienated people reaches critical mass.
We need a better book on this subject. Maybe it’s time to look into Alinsky’s RULES FOR RADICALS and PROPAGANDA BLITZ by Edwards and Cromwell.
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I learned that Kindles have a highlight limit as part of their Digital Rights Management restriction for properties that aren’t in the public domain. Your e-book will retain the highlight, but when you hit the limit, the Kindle will stop writing highlights to your MY CLIPPINGS.TXT file, writing “<You have reached the clipping limit for this item>” instead. The highlight limit for this book was 24,576 characters. Your notes, however, will continue to be written to your MY CLIPPINGS.TXT file.
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Propaganda Paperback – September 1, 2004
by
Edward Bernays
(Author),
Mark Crispin Miller
(Introduction)
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Print length175 pages
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LanguageEnglish
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PublisherIg Publishing
-
Publication dateSeptember 1, 2004
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Dimensions5 x 0.3 x 7.7 inches
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ISBN-109780970312594
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ISBN-13978-0970312594
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Product details
- ASIN : 0970312598
- Publisher : Ig Publishing; 1st Edition (September 1, 2004)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 175 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9780970312594
- ISBN-13 : 978-0970312594
- Item Weight : 4.8 ounces
- Dimensions : 5 x 0.3 x 7.7 inches
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4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
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Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2019
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Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2020
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Edward Bernays was a brilliant propagandist who wielded tremendous amounts of power over public influence. Read a little about him and you will find he has been responsible for everything from the popularization of cigarettes to the CIA coup in 1950's Guatemala. He holds a tremendous amount of knowledge and manipulative ability in regards to propaganda; unfortunately, this book is not where he shares that information.
Had this book been a strategy manual of Bernays', or a memoir of his greatest manipulations it would surely be a classic. Unfortunately this book was written mainly as a moral defense of propaganda itself. Instead of branding propaganda as a devious dark art of mass mind control, Bernays paints it as somewhat positive if not innocuous. He is intentionally withholding of information in an attempt to cast propaganda in a positive light. The end result is an experience like dipping ones foot into a puddle instead of a deep swim. Boring.
Had this book been a strategy manual of Bernays', or a memoir of his greatest manipulations it would surely be a classic. Unfortunately this book was written mainly as a moral defense of propaganda itself. Instead of branding propaganda as a devious dark art of mass mind control, Bernays paints it as somewhat positive if not innocuous. He is intentionally withholding of information in an attempt to cast propaganda in a positive light. The end result is an experience like dipping ones foot into a puddle instead of a deep swim. Boring.
32 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2017
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'Propaganda' should be taught at schools, making a new generation aware of how we human beings have become a danger to each other. Nothing is as it seems, and the populations in the West loosing Knowledge, which is forgotten, deleted and denied. New narratives are spun, and what was initially just a smart political maneuver had entered history, replacing 'that, which is', a reality, which doesn't need to be believed because it just is. How quickly have these narratives entered our schools and universities, and they are taught, and they are believed, and we can't understand when there are people who try to challenge the illusions we call our political reality. Our time has become too dangerous as we blindly stumble into wars which are sold to us as necessary to achieve peace. So, let us look back when Mr. Freud made his first crude attempts to open our mind, so we could learn who we are... that of course didn't happen, because people saw 'opportunities', and Edward Bernays gave us the formula, by which to follow. Please, this book is a must.
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Mr Parker
5.0 out of 5 stars
Needs to be read by the masses
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 1, 2017Verified Purchase
Now more than ever we need to read this book. Our own media channels constantly bombard us with the"russian propaganda" story, whilst claiming their unbiased, objective stance.
Once you read this book, you will see who is telling the truth and who is in control of propaganda.
Once you read this book, you will see who is telling the truth and who is in control of propaganda.
24 people found this helpful
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Alan the Kaz
4.0 out of 5 stars
A crucial insight into how society functions
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 22, 2013Verified Purchase
This is one of those books that I've wanted to read for years, as a primary reference to understand how the world really operates. It's great to read books and to watch documentaries which talk about these things, but you can only truly appreciate what's going on around you when you go straight to the source. And Edward Bernays, the early 20th century propagandist who used the psychological insights of his uncle, Sigmund Freud, to transform the propaganda industry into what we now call "public relations", is one of the most crucial primary sources. Interest on his life and work have been reinvigorated within recent years, due to activists such as Noam Chomsky citing him as a pivotal spearhead of the Big Brother society, and an award winning BBC documentary by Adam Curtis, `Century of the Self'.
This short book, `Propaganda', is essentially propaganda for propaganda. By the 1920s, the once neutral word "propaganda" had been tainted with the same connotations it still has until now. Bernays, a professional propagandist, tasked himself with the mission of giving acceptability back to what he considered a legitimate advertising technique. This was back before he would realise that the word would never become fashionable again, replacing it with "public relations", or P.R.(opaganda). And, so, this short book acts essentially as an advertisement for "educated Americans", to teach them of the value of propaganda. The first half of the book is basically an apology for propaganda, and the wise men behind the scenes that we have "consented" to employ it for "our own good", to sway our opinions into the right direction and to prevent chaos from ensuing as a result of having no wise guidance in our lives. The second half is more of a practical manual of how propaganda can be successfully utilised in areas of business, politics, education, and others. While I found the first half more interesting, the second half is surprisingly relevant to today's seemingly far removed world from the 1920s, when this book was written.
In many ways, Edward Bernays' `Propaganda' is not as sinister as I had expected it to be. Bernays seems convinced that propaganda is a natural and unavoidable part of life, and he makes many convincing arguments to back up this assertion (though he is a master propagandist, so it's no surprise that his outlook seems convincing). Furthermore, he continually reminds his readers of their ethical duty to tell the truth and to not mislead the people whose thoughts they wish to sway to their cause. Nor did Bernays, like the propagandists who would come after him, seem to believe that the masses are brainless idiots (or, if he did believe this to be so, he didn't even so much as allude to that opinion within these pages). Bernays, it seems, dreamed of a world in which an unseen group of benevolent wise men would guide mankind, through propaganda, into making rational choices for the good of society. However, the role of today's advertising and P.R. world, which Bernays breathed into existence, is (as Noam Chomsky explains) to hurl the masses into making irrational decisions, the complete opposite of what Bernays seemed to have stood for.
Edward Bernays' `Propaganda' offers a valuable insight into how our collective minds function, and the mentality of those who are really pulling the strings in society (the advertisers, big business leaders, as well as prominent politicians) think of us. To fully appreciate this book, read it in conjunction with some of Noam Chomsky's numerous works on media manipulation, and watch Adam Curtis's `Century of the Self'.
This short book, `Propaganda', is essentially propaganda for propaganda. By the 1920s, the once neutral word "propaganda" had been tainted with the same connotations it still has until now. Bernays, a professional propagandist, tasked himself with the mission of giving acceptability back to what he considered a legitimate advertising technique. This was back before he would realise that the word would never become fashionable again, replacing it with "public relations", or P.R.(opaganda). And, so, this short book acts essentially as an advertisement for "educated Americans", to teach them of the value of propaganda. The first half of the book is basically an apology for propaganda, and the wise men behind the scenes that we have "consented" to employ it for "our own good", to sway our opinions into the right direction and to prevent chaos from ensuing as a result of having no wise guidance in our lives. The second half is more of a practical manual of how propaganda can be successfully utilised in areas of business, politics, education, and others. While I found the first half more interesting, the second half is surprisingly relevant to today's seemingly far removed world from the 1920s, when this book was written.
In many ways, Edward Bernays' `Propaganda' is not as sinister as I had expected it to be. Bernays seems convinced that propaganda is a natural and unavoidable part of life, and he makes many convincing arguments to back up this assertion (though he is a master propagandist, so it's no surprise that his outlook seems convincing). Furthermore, he continually reminds his readers of their ethical duty to tell the truth and to not mislead the people whose thoughts they wish to sway to their cause. Nor did Bernays, like the propagandists who would come after him, seem to believe that the masses are brainless idiots (or, if he did believe this to be so, he didn't even so much as allude to that opinion within these pages). Bernays, it seems, dreamed of a world in which an unseen group of benevolent wise men would guide mankind, through propaganda, into making rational choices for the good of society. However, the role of today's advertising and P.R. world, which Bernays breathed into existence, is (as Noam Chomsky explains) to hurl the masses into making irrational decisions, the complete opposite of what Bernays seemed to have stood for.
Edward Bernays' `Propaganda' offers a valuable insight into how our collective minds function, and the mentality of those who are really pulling the strings in society (the advertisers, big business leaders, as well as prominent politicians) think of us. To fully appreciate this book, read it in conjunction with some of Noam Chomsky's numerous works on media manipulation, and watch Adam Curtis's `Century of the Self'.
40 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Propagate and take root
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 1, 2016Verified Purchase
Judging by the title of the book and it's reviews I was expecting to read a concise instructional work on how to emit and broadcast propaganda for your own ends. The author is well received by a lot of marketing professionals and I because of it's utilitarian cover I was expecting something like a training guide but it's not, I found it a little long winded, obfusc and self indulgent, but in some was its generality works in a way that involves the whole of humanity not just people who think they want to launch a propaganda campaigns. Instead of a flatpack with easy to assemble instructions I got a packet of seeds, easy to throw away and might take a little nurturing, but no doubt it will be enjoyable to watch them grow, and now for some light relief
Last Seen in Bangkok
4 people found this helpful
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Kelvin Beukes
5.0 out of 5 stars
The title says it all...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 16, 2014Verified Purchase
This book, despite being a slim volume, is THE text on marketing techniques, written by the grand-master of the field. From making smoking socially acceptable and an 'image' (See Marlborough Man etc.) to selling Bacon (formerly a nearly unsellable stew dish the US meat industry had a problem with) as a breakfast mainstay, Bernays took all that he had discerned; acquired and formulated it all in to a Stratagem which is either quoted or simply Plagiarised with spangly bits on top.
Though structured as part historical dialogue, leading into discourse of situation - solution, Bernays never leaves sight of the amalgamation of social sciences; psychology/psychiatry and geo-political nuances and ideologies; mythologies all tightly combined into an easy to read treatise on 'Deliver the goods and more'.
It is little wonder why this work resides on nearly every book shelf of the global elite.
Though structured as part historical dialogue, leading into discourse of situation - solution, Bernays never leaves sight of the amalgamation of social sciences; psychology/psychiatry and geo-political nuances and ideologies; mythologies all tightly combined into an easy to read treatise on 'Deliver the goods and more'.
It is little wonder why this work resides on nearly every book shelf of the global elite.
6 people found this helpful
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karl bone
2.0 out of 5 stars
historically interesting
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 23, 2014Verified Purchase
Bernays is clearly using this book to further the aims of himself and the industry he represents. It is however an interesting historical document showing the genesis of modern US style propaganda-that which we now term 'marketing' 'image making' and 'public relations'. The book displays little of the authors own personality, but it's amusing to notice how he has been propagandised into believing that a scientific solution to everything. His world seems black and white and filled with the naivety of American idealism, but that may well be just part of the propaganda he wants to push. Perhaps he doesn't want to reveal too much which might distract from the message and therefore remains aligned with the general public mood of the time.
It's a way marker of its time-just as Bill Gates created an idea in the minds of the public about the potential of personal computing-so Bernays lays out the value of propaganda in the 20th century. Several times in the book he warns of the potential 'misuse' of propaganda, but he probably couldn't have imagined just how much the American ideal would be changed by the very propaganda he was promoting.
It's a way marker of its time-just as Bill Gates created an idea in the minds of the public about the potential of personal computing-so Bernays lays out the value of propaganda in the 20th century. Several times in the book he warns of the potential 'misuse' of propaganda, but he probably couldn't have imagined just how much the American ideal would be changed by the very propaganda he was promoting.
2 people found this helpful
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