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48th out of 92 books
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14 voters
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The Father of Spin: Edward L. Bernays and The Birth of Public Relations
The Father of Spin is the first full-length biography of the legendary Edward L. Bernays, who, beginning in the 1920s, was one of the first and most successful practioners of the art of public relations. In this engrossing biography, Larry Tye uses Bernays's life as a prism to understand the evolution of the craft of public relations and how it came to play such a cri...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
September 1st 2002
by Owl Books
(first published 1998)
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A conflicted book about a fascinating character. Edward Bernays strikes me as an exasperating character who had a profound effect not only on modern public relations, but the marketing/advertising world as well. Although his role as the "father of public relations" may be disputed, his application of (his uncle) Freud's psychoanalysis to the masses has certainly left its mark on the constant stream of product placement and ubiquitous spin we encounter in our daily lives.
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You'd be amazed at what this man accomplished through PR. The hearty eggs and bacon breakfast? His idea. Built-in book shelves in houses to promote literacy? His idea. Cigarette smoking among women? His (not so great) idea.
Very interesting biography of the man who made "green the new black," changed multiple sclerosis to MS, made bacon into a staple of the American diet, and much much more. It eludes five stars only because the author questioned (and maybe even insulted) his subject's mystique throughout the book.
Should be required reading to view our country in a different light. The writing is irrelevant, the topic is too important.
Makes perfect sense. . .the founder of PR is Freud's nephew.
Robin
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Who was the ad wizard who came up with that one?
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I started this book after seeing the four-part documentary CENTURY OF THE SELF. A nephew of Sigmund Freud, Bernays was incredibly influential in American politics and popular culture. Unfortunately, I started this book when I had too many other things to read, so I'll have to finish it later. The writing isn't compelling, but the subject is.
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