Rating: 
Summary: Wake-up call!
Review: Like The Technological Society, this book is a wake-up call. It portrays the forces that are arrayed against us (humans) with chilling forthrightness. This should be required reading for all students of the media, politics, and anyone who wants to understand why and how such large numbers of people can do and believe the crazy things we see every day.
Rating:
Summary: The Abuses of the State.
Review: Propaganda is a relatively recent phenomenon made possible by the channels of the mass media. In this work, Jacques Ellul analyzes propaganda in all its forms. He argues that propaganda is indeed effective, that it is indeed necessary, that it is indeed harmful to democracy, and that it need not be based on lies. It is precisely at this point that the dangers of propaganda become appparent because often the propaganda released is truthful in content. Propaganda is also necessary even for a government which claims to be a democracy (and yes the United States does engage in it on its citizens). Ellul examines the history of propaganda as it was used by Joseph Goebbels in Nazi Germany, Lenin and Stalin among the communists, and in the United States. In an appendix, he deals with scientific studies which have aimed at measuring propaganda's effectiveness, and with the propaganda of Mao in China (which includes the topic of "brainwashing", unfortunately not very developed in the text). He also discusses propaganda as put out by churches and concludes that a true Christianity cannot rely on propaganda. Also, the relation between propaganda and advertising is examined.Overall this work is a thorough study of propaganda, although I wish that it had gone into further detail on the subject of "brainwashing".
Rating:
Summary: The Abuses of the State.
Review: Propaganda is a relatively recent phenomenon made possible by the channels of the mass media. In this work, Jacques Ellul analyzes propaganda in all its forms. He argues that propaganda is indeed effective, that it is indeed necessary, that it is indeed harmful to democracy, and that it need not be based on lies. It is precisely at this point that the dangers of propaganda become appparent because often the propaganda released is truthful in content. Propaganda is also necessary even for a government which claims to be a democracy (and yes the United States does engage in it on its citizens). Ellul examines the history of propaganda as it was used by Joseph Goebbels in Nazi Germany, Lenin and Stalin among the communists, and in the United States. In an appendix, he deals with scientific studies which have aimed at measuring propaganda's effectiveness, and with the propaganda of Mao in China (which includes the topic of "brainwashing", unfortunately not very developed in the text). He also discusses propaganda as put out by churches and concludes that a true Christianity cannot rely on propaganda. Also, the relation between propaganda and advertising is examined. Overall this work is a thorough study of propaganda, although I wish that it had gone into further detail on the subject of "brainwashing".
Rating: 
Summary: A Chilling Study
Review: Published in 1965, this book is a significant, if creepy study of that oft-misunderstood concept of propaganda. The references are unfortunately dated, but the insights are valuable, especially given how much propaganda is ignored in American society, particularly. It's not an easy read by any means, mostly because he throws so much at you at once you're sort of left punch-drunk. He lays it all out forthrightly. The most terrible revelation he offers is when he points out that the most informed individuals (in the sense of consuming the most media) are the most propagandized (but unaware of being so). This is why this book doesn't get more play -- it would put the Massive Media and the "public relations" (aka, propaganda industry) out of business if people understood their real social role. The book is bleak, and leaves you reeling. But it does provide intellectual ammunition -- namely, critical thinking -- as a hopeful vaccination from propaganda, except for Ellul's statement that people who think propaganda doesn't affect them tend to be propagandized.... I guess the safest thing you can do is assume you are a victim of propaganda, and then deal with it by sorting out what opinions are genuinely yours, and what are the result of "conventional wisdom" and "common sense". The alternative is to pretend you're somehow immune.
Rating:
Summary: Activist to Cash Generation
Review: This is a brilliant book. Have you ever wondered why idealistic organizations turn within a few years from activism to being soley commercial cash generators? This book shows how these organizationsa are subverted by their own propaganda and become its victim. Now I know why I receive so many printed form letters detailing a pressing social crisis and asking for a guaranteed monthly donation.
Rating:
Summary: a must read
Review: Though a tad diffucult at times, especially at the begining, but definately worth it. After reading, I will neve look at the mass media the same again. It truly amazing to see the techniques described in the book at work. When I was in high school, and read Orwell's 1984, I came away terrified. After reading this book, I was terrified even more, as I realized such a horrid society is, in many important respects, a reality.
Rating:
Summary: Wow, this book is amazing...
Review: Warning, this book will blow your mind, it may have you reeling and it may depress you, but you should read it! Arm yourself against manipulation, everybody needs to understand just how pervasive and corresive scientic propagana is on modern society. This book WILL change your outlook on the world.
Rating:
Summary: Will Blow Your Mind!
Review: Warning, this book will blow your mind, it may have you reeling and it may depress you, but you should read it! Arm yourself against manipulation, everybody needs to understand just how pervasive and corresive scientic propagana is on modern society. This book WILL change your outlook on the world.
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