Propaganda
by Jacques Ellul · first published 1962
63% recommend38% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Examines how propaganda shapes men's attitudes in modern society. Underrated, and still relevant today, it suits readers interested in media, persuasion, and social theory.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
French Christian anarchist Ellul explains how propoganda goes beyond politics to be about making the individual serve and conform. One of his insights is that those people who consume the most media are the most propogandized.
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…convicted terrorist should read the works of Jacques Ellul instead, of which Kaczynski's was largely a popular reduction. The Technological Society is the clearest influence on Kaczynski's manifesto, but Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes is possibly more pertinent in this day and age. Ellul was a professor, a pacifist, and a Christian anarchist. Attacks the ideas, not the man.
on “Ted Kaczynski, ‘Unabomber’ Who Attacked Modern Life, Dies at 81” ↗more reading on the same topic: Jacques Ellul -- Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes http://books.google.com/books?id=UpvZAAAAMAAJ Edward L. Bernays, Mark Crispin Miller -- Propaganda http://books.google.com/books?id=JlcPgPt17KcC
on “How Propaganda is Disseminated” ↗Indeed. Jacques Ellul discusses this at length in his book "Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes" [1]. Whenever I reread this book I feel it's more and more relevant than before. > "But modern propaganda has long disdained the ridiculous lies of past and outmoded forms of propaganda. It operates…
on “Illinois Is the First State to Have High Schools Teach News Literacy” ↗…I'd recommend reading for a different way of framing this issue (but from the same perspective) that's been helpful for me. Both by Jacques Ellul. First is "Technological Society" 1954, and second is "Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes" 1962. The second one might not seem related, but it is.
on “Facebook going down meant more than just a social network being unavailable” ↗…Fountainhead Thomas Sowell's Basic Economics Julian Jaynes's the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind Iain McGilchrist's the Master and his Emmisary Varlam Sharlamov's the Kolyma Tales Jacques Ellul's Propaganda: the Formation of Men's Attitudes (or alternatively Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death)
on “Ask HN: What book bit, stung and shook you deeply?” ↗Jacques Ellul's two classics The Technological Society and Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes (wikipedia has an excellent overview - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda:_The_Formation_of_M...) should be required reading for every educated person today. With the rise of AI and its unconstrained…
on “Ask HN: If technology is so good for the world, why are we becoming less happy?” ↗…Brainwashing: The Science of Thought Control by Kathleen Taylor - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwashing:_The_Science_of_T... 3) Reflexive Control - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflexive_control 4) Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes by Jacques Ellul - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda:_The_Formation_of_M... 5) The Technological Society by Jacques Ellul - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Technological_Society
on “Anduril's product engineering machine” ↗…shape of things to come. Some References: Deception: The Invisible War Between the KGB and the CIA by Edward Jay Epstein; For history/ideas/themes/motivation for further study on a complex subject. Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes by Jacques Ellul - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda:_The_Formation_of_M... Reflexive Control - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflexive_control
on “Palantir's secret weapon isn't AI – it's Ontology. An open-source deep dive” ↗You have already given some reasons in Part VIII, but for a more comprehensive theory, see, Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes by Jacques Ellul - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda:_The_Formation_of_M...
on “We Never Hear About the Countries Where Socialism Works” ↗…psychedelic terrorist should alone be worthy of a lookover (he doesn't receive any proceeds from sales). If you prefer French philosophy or a pacifistic author, replace this with The Technological Society and Propaganda: the Formation of Men's Attitudes, both by Jacques Ellul, tackling the same subjects (mostly). Management of Savagery: The Most Critical Stage Through Which the Islamic Nation Will Pass by Abu Bakr Naji -- This is the playbook that was…
on “Ask HN: Life Changing Books?” ↗…against him under the guise of "harmless business" PR/Advertising/Sales/Marketing/Influence etc. and much much worse eg. Nationalism, Religious Fundamentalism etc. PS: One more book to read (difficult) is "Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes" by Jacques Ellul - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda:_The_Formation_of_M... Excerpts below; "Very frequently propaganda is described as a manipulation for the purpose of changing idea or opinions…
on “Everything we know about spies is wrong” ↗> If anything I think that the general population is becoming more aware and educated. Not necessarily. Read Jacques Ellul's (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Ellul) book "Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda:_The_Formation_of_M... The wikipedia page has a good synopsis of all the major points. Read carefully his arguments specifically on "Information" and "Education"…
on “Amusing Ourselves to Death (2009)” ↗Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes by Jacques Ellul.
on “Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?” ↗…experience of mathematical beauty. I would recommend gaining a basic understanding of Kant, Buddhism, Hinduism, and then reading his work "Essays and Aphorisms," followed by "The World as Will and Idea." "Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes" by Jacques Ellul is the book I have read that best explains the human experience in the modern media environment. Like "The World as Will and Representation," it also forms a sort of complete system,…
on “Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?” ↗…Ukraine was manipulated into being the sacrificial lamb in order to draw Russia into invading it thus expending its resources while USA/Europe/UK don't suffer as much. One way to understand this is via Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes by Jacques Ellul - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda:_The_Formation_of_M... The aim of modern propaganda is no longer to modify ideas, but to provoke action. It is no longer to change adherence…
on “Are we sleepwalking into World War III?” ↗