Propaganda

Very interesting read! Backed up most of my personal thoughts and theories, guess I’m a smart cookie lol Once you read this, you’ll realize the propaganda in everything, everywhere!

A bracing, unsettling classic. Propaganda doesn’t ask to be admired so much as understood. Bernays lays out plainly and without apology, how mass opinion is shaped, steered, and manufactured, and in doing so removes the comfort of believing we’re immune to influence. What makes the book endure is its clarity: once you see the machinery, you can’t unsee it. Read it not for cynicism, but for literacy. It’s less a manual for manipulators than a warning for citizens who’d like to stay sovereign.

Key Takeaway: This was pre-CIA! Bernays relies heavily on his definition of propaganda, which was a very wide and all-encompassing lens. He uses the word 160 times - almost once or page. Social sciences, especially intelligence and what the US military calls PSYOP or now MISO - military information support operations - is more evolved and refined now. What Bernays discusses with that one term, "propaganda," while mostly still valid, regards marketing, advertising, broadcasting, etc overall. Propaganda has a negative connotation to most because government, corporate, and elite influence efforts, such as in the 2008 GFC, invasion of Iraq, etc. Bernays would be saddened.

I heard the name of Edward Bernays mentioned in a couple of podcasts as the nephew of Sigmund Freud (the famous psychoanalyst) and the uncle of Marc Randolph (the co-founder of Netflix). When I discovered that he had authored a book, I was quick to pick it up. I am deeply fascinated by what drives human behavior and who better to learn from than the “father of public relations” himself. The word propaganda is a loaded term and we tend to associate it with negative connotations but, as Bernays explains, anyone seeking to be influential in this world needs to become a propagandist. At it’s core, propaganda is influencing the masses to think a certain way. Of course, this power of influence has been leveraged by bad actors for nefarious means, and that’s why it’s so important to read this book so that you don’t fall victim to it. At the end of the day, whatever role you play in life, becoming a propagandist will make you more effective at it. Whether that means propagating the idea of dental hygiene to your kids or propagating the idea of why someone should by your product, it comes down to the ability to influence someone’s patterns of thought—and propaganda is about doing that at a mass scale. This was an interesting read for sure and I would recommend it to anyone looking to become an independent thinker in this world. Learning how to wield the power of propaganda is especially important for the heart-centered individuals that are sincerely looking to elevate humanity. Unfortunately, it is the bad actors that have become more effective at this art.

Eye opening! Descriptive of how propaganda shapes the masses.

Good information but difficult to read in the format presented

This book is a must read for everyone. The concepts contained within are as relevant today as they were in the 1920’s. Even in places where the author is talking about radio and television, the ideas and applications are easily transferable to today’s social media. Depending on your perspective, this book is just as much a warning as it is a user guide regarding propaganda. If you think this book is antiquated, you are missing the point. This book needs no updated version. By reading the words as originally written you get to see the true historical context of propaganda in use.

This edition of Propaganda by Edward Bernays is a thought-provoking read that explores the mechanisms behind mass influence and public opinion. Bernays, often referred to as the father of public relations, lays out how propaganda has been used—both ethically and manipulatively—across various industries and governments. His arguments are delivered clearly and confidently, which makes the book accessible even to those unfamiliar with the subject. While originally published in 1928, the content remains startlingly relevant today. Whether you’re interested in media, marketing, politics, or psychology, this book challenges you to think critically about how information is presented and why. The physical copy itself is well-printed and durable, with clean typesetting. A great addition for anyone who enjoys books that stir deep reflection and discussion.

Will truth ever return as a standard?

AWQESOME BOOK, A must buy!

Verschwörungstheoretiker, Schwurbler, Querdenker … wird Bernays nicht genannt, könnte man aber meinen. Sollten vor allem die Menschen lesen, die ganz schnell mit solchen Bezeichnungen bei der Hand sind, denn hier wird aufgezeigt, wie die Mächtigen (gar nicht mal die Politiker) versuchen im unbekannten Meinungen und Geschicke zu lenken.

The book is good. Great commentary but I was looking for a true to original print. This book is riddled with OpenAI GPT long dashes between words. Hall mark of being run through an LLM. I can't tell if the print is a cheap knock off or the person with rights to print revised the content? Would have preferred original contents close to first publication. Cannot trust the content if it's been altered. Quite disappointed and absolutely hate the trend of LLM written books. Atleast get rid of the dahses. Last book I bought for $20 was a copy from India marked to be sold for 200 ruppees. Not loving the Amazon book experience...

I would like to recommend this book to understand your mind