Customer Reviews: Read 11 more reviews...
 Good introduction to thinking about media bias. August 14, 2005
filthmonkey (UK)
43 out of 43 found this review helpful
Chomsky's famous books "Necessary Illusions" and "Manufacturing Consent" (co-written with Edward S. Herman) stand as excellent assessments of the propaganda inherent in the current media system. The thing is with those books is that they are quite detailed, and for someone seeking a nice route into thinking about the issue of propaganda, government spin, and how the media are complicit in it, Chomsky's "Media Control: Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda" is a much better choice. It is good because it introduces some basics. For example, how did the modern PR (public relations) industry start? Who gave rise to the way propaganda is used in modern society? So, all this is good entry-level stuff. The book itself is short and could be read in about an hour to two hours (depending on how quick you read). A couple of things to note is that Chomsky likes certain themes to illustrate his points (I guess the ones that he's done most research on in his time), such as what happened in Nicaragua, for instance. You'll find some of that in this book, so if you've read it elsewhere, you may get a little frustrated that he's using the same examples. If you don't know anything about propaganda or Nicaragua, you're looking at the right book. I'm not saying Nicaragua is where the propaganda happens. The propaganda is in OUR culture, but Nicaragua is relevant for other reasons - and its a nice way to learn some history you may not know. So a lot is squeezed into this little book, and moreover it's written in a much simpler style than most of what Chomsky puts out. The one drawback I think the book suffers from is that it isn't referenced as well as all his other work. I think this is because the majority of the material comes from speeches he's made and it's difficult to reference them in retrospect. However, if you go to the more heavy-duty books I mentioned above, you'll find references a-plenty. Overall: good for the beginner, interesting for the intermediate person or Chomsky lover, a bit mild for the expert.
Chomsky for Virgins June 18, 2003
31 out of 32 found this review helpful
This was the first Noam Chomsky I'd ever read and apart from Stupid White Men by Micheal Moore it was the first political book I'd read and I think it is an excellent book if your just starting to look at politics. It is very informative and it MAKES SENSE, after reading this book when you look at the world you see it more clearly. The essay about the war on terror at the end is essential reading and is easy to read. 5 thumbs up.
Trust No one July 12, 2002
Mr. Cleon W. White (North Wales)
29 out of 30 found this review helpful
Sometimes you buy a book and think, "If this book were 50 pages instead of 500 it would be quite good". Well this one is 50 pages, doesn't take long to read, but is utterly brilliant.
If you have any doubts at all about the way the media is being used to manipulate and control the population, then you really should read this book!
You will never look at a newspaper or television the same way ever again.
A brilliant book!
Chomsky February 10, 2007
Spider Monkey (UK)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
This is a great place to start if you're new to Chomsky and political books. It is one of his most accessible books, with a lots of varied information to whet your appetite. You are left with a feeling of shock, but also a desire to go out and learn more, which this book points you in the right direction of. Well worth a read.
should be required reading February 23, 2003
E. PARRY (UK)
40 out of 43 found this review helpful
If you are already well-versed in the likes of Noam Chomsky, John Pilger, and so on, then perhaps this book isn't for you. However, I found it to be a great starting point on reading up on politics and what is really going on in the world today. Though it sounds like some sort of conspiricist ranting; the media is really a tool that keeps the truth from the citizens in order to keep them subdued and unaware of the governments real plans, Noam Chomsky describes the history of how this state of affairs came about and shows just how much sense it makes. He also, like any author should, acknowledges his sources, allowing the reader to confirm these things for themself.I have always been sceptical about the news, but after reading this I know not to trust it. The sad thing is that some people still think the ideas in this book are far-fetched, and even more sadly in the current times, people still believe what they are made to believe by the media (not just the news; popular entertainment, soaps, magazines): that they are helpless and shouldn't bother trying to make a difference. Nevertheless, I think everyone should read this book and be given some idea what is really going on, whether they decide to do something about it or not. Chomsky as a writer does have a tendency to recite facts and statistics at the reader quite a lot more than perhaps is necessary. Inparticular, he often reduces his writing to merely listing American atrocities. Now, we in the western world more than anyone should be made aware of these, but he does often seem to be getting off the point, especially in a book about media control. In contrast, he can also present rather simplified ideas. However, I think this is just because this is a short book meant as a kind of pamphlet, and the ideas can be confirmed with research. I haven't read any of Chomsky's larger books, but I will be seeking them out.
|
