Propaganda by Edward Bernays Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Propaganda
Book Review: Conceptually Brilliant
Summary: 5 Stars
From the creator of public relations, Edward Bernays describes how he discovered to manipulate and engineer the consent of public opinion. This book is a conceptual model for governments, corporations, and lobbying firms to show the principles behind swaying public thought and opinion and controlling the masses. As the nephew of Sigmund Freud, Edward Bernays was able to learn from the master of psychoanalysis and through his many opportunities working for various of the United States largest corporations.
This book was incredibly useful and informational. I would recommend it to anyone interested in swaying opinion or being able to identify it in advertising, news, or public figures. Edward Bernays is the utmost authority on the subject so much so that even the Germans in the Nazi political party used this book to spread their policy beliefs. This book is still relevant today in a world of spin.
Edward Bernays runs through the psychology of developing public opinion and runs through several different areas where it could be applied from government to being implimented in the education system. Regardless of the brilliance this book contains, it still was written as though a lay-person was the intended audience. I would highly definitely recommend this book.
Book Review: Enlightening.
Summary: 5 Stars
Propaganda is a word synonymous with the likes of Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and the contemporary conspiracy theorists' attitude toward western government. Edward Bernays does try hard to defend propaganda as simply a method by which relevant information is propagated to a mass of potential customers about a product's desirability within context, so that a purchase is more likely. He compares the power of propaganda to the advertising methods prior to 1928 and gives examples of how the sale of pianos and velvet were made successful by using propaganda.
All this is justifiable when propaganda and its underlying philosophy of mass manipulation via a plethora of interest/pressure groups is used to raise awareness via context and association. But when propaganda is used within the sphere of politics, it is hugely dangerous to the well-being of the individual. This is because government, allied to its most vociferous supporters, has the power to use the coercion of the gun and the law to force others of a different persuasion to do what the government demands, despite the so-called separation of powers. Commercial organizations, of course, do not have the power to coerce. They can only expect to persuade and influence.
Propaganda is an enormously dangerous technique and philosophy when deployed by evil manipulators in or behind government.This book by Edward Bernays should be read and digested by those who value freedom and their individuality, so that they are aware of the dangers of propaganda, when used inappropriately.
Book Review: Good Enough
Summary: 3 Stars
This book trys very hard to use the techniques it espouses as the very reasons why "propoganda" should be use more. It sounded like the author was at a job interview and trying to convince me that I would be missing something important if I didn't develop an entire marketing division and hire him as director. I found it do be like reading Machiavelli's "The Prince" in that it all makes sense today; but, I have to realize that it was written long ago and Bernays was the first to tell us what we know as obvious now. This may be a good read for someone just being introduced marketing.Book Review: Great Book
Summary: 5 Stars
Great book. Insightful. Though written years ago, this info is very much up to date. As much as things change, they still remain the same. Same ole' tricks.Book Review: Imagine the new & refined tools of the trade
Summary: 5 Stars
This book Propaganda was written in 1928, which means the described techniques have been around for close to a century.
Bernays points out at the very end of the book that "propaganda will never die out" and that if the public becomes weary of the old methods, "its leaders will present their appeals more intelligently." With the advent of the internet and social media, new techniques are in use. Propaganda is more widespread and rampant than ever, as the means of communication have broadened.
Bernays states "The American motion picture is the greatest unconscious carrier of propaganda in the world today." Today, Hollywood, one must be sure, is consciously influencing the world. James Cameron admits this when he discusses his hit movie Avatar.
There is an extreme proliferation of all forms of entertainment: movies & music accessibly nearly anywhere to anyone with a smart phone. With its form of amusement, the video gaming industry raked in a record $20 billion last year.
The take home message is that propaganda is around every corner today even more than it was 80 years ago. Our culture is being dumbed down and manipulated, and children are especially vulnerable. Still, the music will keep playing even while the ship sinks.
Like others have said, this text is loaded with errors. Get past that, and you have yourself a primer on how, as Bernays puts it, order is brought from chaos.