Add to book club
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club?
Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Flip to back
Flip to front
Follow the Author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
OK
Toxic Sludge is Good For You: Lies, Damn Lies and the Public Relations Industry Paperback – July 1, 2002
-
Print length224 pages
-
LanguageEnglish
-
PublisherCommon Courage Press
-
Publication dateJuly 1, 2002
-
Dimensions5 x 1.5 x 7.5 inches
-
ISBN-101567510604
-
ISBN-13978-1567510607
Books with Buzz
Discover the latest buzz-worthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and nonfiction. Explore more
Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
-
Apple
-
Android
-
Windows Phone
-
Android
|
Download to your computer
|
Kindle Cloud Reader
|
Frequently bought together
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Cruciferous Vegetables, Isothiocyanates and Indoles (IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention, 9)The International Agency for Research on CancerPaperback
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Sure, many of us in this modern world are cynical. The most cynical may even suspect that the news is manipulated and massaged by sponsors, that corporations act in their best interests, that political campaigns are determined not by votes, but by bucks, and that we don't get "all the news that's fit to print" but instead, "all the news that gets the ink". But even the most media-savvy amongst you will be awed by the behind-the-scenes descriptions of the Public Relations industry in action so masterfully described in this book. If you want your eyes to be opened, open them upon the pages of this book. (But remember: there are some very important people counting on you, and they really would prefer that you didn't ever hear about this book, much less buy it.)
From Publishers Weekly
Stauber and Rampton cite a classic example of image manipulation in this chilling analysis of the PR business. During the aftermath of the 1975 Three-Mile Island nuclear accident, a company spokesman said that a spark in the accumulated hydrogen bubble could result in a "spontaneous energetic disassembly"?otherwise known as an explosion. The authors trace certain specious practices of the $10 billion PR business to P.T. Barnum, who in 1836 wrote anonymous pro and con letters to editors about himself, generating heated interest. Modern public relations has evolved "crisis management" and "anti-" PR campaigns including sabotaging the tours of authors who challenge industry clients, for example, Jeremy Rifkin, author of Beyond Beef. The new euphemism for sewage sludge, "biosolids," is part of a campaign to convince the public that municipal sludge, replete with an astounding array of toxic substances, is good for farm soil. The authors point to Business for Social Responsibility, an organization that includes The Body Shop, Ben & Jerry's and others, as now containing "some of the most environmentally destructive corporations on the planet." Giant agencies extend their contracts to selling national policies, as Hill & Knowlton did in selling the Gulf war to the American public. Although most large news organizations at least rewrite PR materials, many smaller markets "rip and read" prepackaged video news releases. This is a cautionary reminder that much of the consumer and political world is created by for-hire mouthpieces in expensive neckties.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Tell the Publisher!
I'd like to read this book on Kindle
Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
I'd like to read this book on Kindle
Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Product details
- Publisher : Common Courage Press (July 1, 2002)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 224 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1567510604
- ISBN-13 : 978-1567510607
- Item Weight : 8.2 ounces
- Dimensions : 5 x 1.5 x 7.5 inches
-
Best Sellers Rank:
#574,443 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #94 in Environmental Pollution Engineering
- #307 in Public Relations (Books)
- #11,936 in Sociology (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
76 global ratings
How are ratings calculated?
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2019
Verified Purchase
This book came highly recommended and was perfect for a environmental fight in our town.In fact it was so helpful,we won our fight! But everyone should read this book,it will open your eyes to marketing techniques.This affects our everyday lives.
5 people found this helpful
Report abuse
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2019
Verified Purchase
Read this book and never believe anything you read as the Gospel forever more. This book makes you THINK about what you're reading, check out other perspectives, fact check, and re-evaluate statistics presented - I read it more than 20 years ago, and have been recommending it since.
3 people found this helpful
Report abuse
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2009
Verified Purchase
Over two hundred and ten pages of tantalizing and juicy behind-the-scenes info that most of the general public is either ignorant about or could care less. This book is broken down into twelve seperate chapters; each chapter covers an important area of PR manipulation. The chapters are as follows:
1] Burning Books Before They're Printed
2] The Art of the Hustle and the Science of Propaganda
3] Smokers' Hack
4] Spinning the Atom
5] Spies for Hire
6] Divide and Conquer
7] Poisoning the Grassroots
8] The Sludge Hits the Fan
9] Silencing Spring
10] The Torturers' Lobby
11] All the News That's Fit to Print
12] Taking Back Your Own Back Yard
While reading this book, I really get the impression that the PR specialist are "artist" in their own way. Using the art of subtle manipulation and various other sneaky methods, these "story-tellers" are painting a picture of reality that puts the most positive light on some crummy issue, or corporate entity. While I always hear someone say 'you can't always believe what you see or read', I can't help but wonder if these people really understand the extent of their spoken words. This book will help shed some light.
1] Burning Books Before They're Printed
2] The Art of the Hustle and the Science of Propaganda
3] Smokers' Hack
4] Spinning the Atom
5] Spies for Hire
6] Divide and Conquer
7] Poisoning the Grassroots
8] The Sludge Hits the Fan
9] Silencing Spring
10] The Torturers' Lobby
11] All the News That's Fit to Print
12] Taking Back Your Own Back Yard
While reading this book, I really get the impression that the PR specialist are "artist" in their own way. Using the art of subtle manipulation and various other sneaky methods, these "story-tellers" are painting a picture of reality that puts the most positive light on some crummy issue, or corporate entity. While I always hear someone say 'you can't always believe what you see or read', I can't help but wonder if these people really understand the extent of their spoken words. This book will help shed some light.
10 people found this helpful
Report abuse
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2020
Verified Purchase
This book will change the way you see the world and challenge how you think. It really goes into how the PR industry can twist and manipulate the truth to benefit a company, person, or agenda. Please read this to give you a better understanding of how our world REALLY works!
One person found this helpful
Report abuse
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2014
Verified Purchase
Want to know what is really going on behind closed doors? Want to know the ways in which the PR industry manipulates and lies to the public? Want to know who to trust? (Hint: Almost no one). This book really opened my eyes to the fact that we are manipulated by media from the moment we wake up until the moment we close our eyes at night. This was required reading for my Ethics in PR class in college. The book is somewhat dated, with most of the incidents taking place prior to the internet, but don't be fooled by online content either. The internet has only made it easier for the common person to be duped by big business.
3 people found this helpful
Report abuse
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2003
Verified Purchase
an enlightening collection of articles that expose the PR scandals and ongoing campaigns of misinformation that cover our brains like so much toxic slime.
The information is intelligently presented and serves as a primer on knowing exactly what is going on. Like the "War on Drugs," we unfortunately buy into way too much propaganda and yet we still call ourselves a "free" society.
Libertarians and Ralph Nader wannabes everywhere should seriously consider ordering and reading this thorough and strangely entertaining work of illumination.
It misses a point for being kinda pricey for its size (compare with "Everything You Know is Wrong.") Ironic - given its subject matter of being duped.
I'm glad I got it, though.
Just say Know!!!
The information is intelligently presented and serves as a primer on knowing exactly what is going on. Like the "War on Drugs," we unfortunately buy into way too much propaganda and yet we still call ourselves a "free" society.
Libertarians and Ralph Nader wannabes everywhere should seriously consider ordering and reading this thorough and strangely entertaining work of illumination.
It misses a point for being kinda pricey for its size (compare with "Everything You Know is Wrong.") Ironic - given its subject matter of being duped.
I'm glad I got it, though.
Just say Know!!!
8 people found this helpful
Report abuse
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2013
Verified Purchase
Toxic Sludge is an expose of the Public Relations industry covering some of the worst examples of corporate greed and government perfidy up through 1995. Readers of Bernays'
Propaganda
and Larry Tye's
The Father of Spin: Edward L. Bernays and The Birth of Public Relations
might enjoy this book also. The book documents some truly abhorrent corporate behavior and shows how effective PR can be in supporting the powerful against the public interest. Think of this book as a prerequisite for the next level of analysis: Why does PR work so well, and how can we combat it?
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2008
Verified Purchase
Excellent, I love this book and the information in it is to be used in every classroom. Teachers, take a look at it and bring it to the students.
I loved to learn about the tricks that corporations have used to make profits while disregarding the damage they have done to the environment and lied to use about it.
This book illustrates how much of what we think of as independent, unbiased news and information has its origins in the boardrooms of the public relations companies.
What your student will say after reading this books is something in the lines of:"Where have I been all this life?".
A must read.
I loved to learn about the tricks that corporations have used to make profits while disregarding the damage they have done to the environment and lied to use about it.
This book illustrates how much of what we think of as independent, unbiased news and information has its origins in the boardrooms of the public relations companies.
What your student will say after reading this books is something in the lines of:"Where have I been all this life?".
A must read.
One person found this helpful
Report abuse
Top reviews from other countries
Segovia
1.0 out of 5 stars
Weak and elusive book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 26, 2016Verified Purchase
I found the book enormously disappointing and am surprised by the positive reviews. The first couple of chapters were the standard introduction to PR found in no end of textbooks.
The book then really just repeated endless case studies but without any real theoretical conclusions
Although taking a 'radical' view of the PR industry and lobbying (in the US) the book showed its self imposed limits by completely ignoring possibly the largest and most significant lobbyin organisations, AIPAC. Rather ironic given the claims of the book, but standard fare.
The book wasn't particularly readable either. Not sure who would be interested in it - I rushed to close it
The book then really just repeated endless case studies but without any real theoretical conclusions
Although taking a 'radical' view of the PR industry and lobbying (in the US) the book showed its self imposed limits by completely ignoring possibly the largest and most significant lobbyin organisations, AIPAC. Rather ironic given the claims of the book, but standard fare.
The book wasn't particularly readable either. Not sure who would be interested in it - I rushed to close it
One person found this helpful
Report abuse
Pontifex Maximus
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still worth reading
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2019Verified Purchase
Slightly old now but still an excellent readable overview
One person found this helpful
Report abuse
MTB guy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome book
Reviewed in Canada on January 8, 2014Verified Purchase
I am studying this with my PR students, but everyone should read this book. It's amazing how brainwashed we all are. And very scary that we are so manipulated by PR. This book will open your eyes.
What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1










