A review by izcanbeguscott
Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media by Edward S. Herman, Noam Chomsky
challenging
informative
sad
slow-paced
5.0
I mean, it's Manufacturing Consent. This is the book of media influence, power, corporate and governmental stenography and so much more. Herman and Chomsky display the absolute hollow core at the center of most mass media as money making enterprises with extensive sources and examples. I imagine most people would be hard pressed to come out of this book not having their perspective shifted just a little bit.
Again, as with most non-fiction books looking to prove a point, it is outdated in some capacities. The diffusion of information present in the information age does dilute some of these points a little bit, where not everyone has to beg for the drip feed from CNN and the NYT. There are even some questionable bits regarding Cambodia where I think Chomsky's willingness to stick it to America makes him under allocate blame to the Khmer Rouge.
There are other aspects of this book that are even MORE prevalent today, however, as the epidemic of frivolous bullshit and conspiracy theories have made more reasonable people flock to corporate media as the more "real" sources of news. This can help dissolve those illusions in a powerful way, as the commitments to make money and please sources will always undercut the truth in a major factor.
Essential reading, just with the understanding that it is nearly 40 years old and may be discussing events that are more pertinent to our parents generation than ours.
Again, as with most non-fiction books looking to prove a point, it is outdated in some capacities. The diffusion of information present in the information age does dilute some of these points a little bit, where not everyone has to beg for the drip feed from CNN and the NYT. There are even some questionable bits regarding Cambodia where I think Chomsky's willingness to stick it to America makes him under allocate blame to the Khmer Rouge.
There are other aspects of this book that are even MORE prevalent today, however, as the epidemic of frivolous bullshit and conspiracy theories have made more reasonable people flock to corporate media as the more "real" sources of news. This can help dissolve those illusions in a powerful way, as the commitments to make money and please sources will always undercut the truth in a major factor.
Essential reading, just with the understanding that it is nearly 40 years old and may be discussing events that are more pertinent to our parents generation than ours.