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131st out of 352 books
—
184 voters
Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes
"A far more frightening work than any of the nightmare novels of George Orwell. With the logic which is the great instrument of French thought, [Ellul] explores and attempts to prove the thesis that propaganda, whether its ends are demonstrably good or bad, is not only destructive to democracy, it is perhaps the most serious threat to humanity operating in the modern world...more
Paperback, 352 pages
Published
January 12th 1973
by Vintage
(first published 1962)
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Jan 21, 2008
Brian
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Intellectuals who think they are immune to Propaganda
This is the third book concerning technology and society that really changed the way I think about the world. As with The Technological Society and Mumford's Pentagon of Power, this book contains many ideas and concepts that turn our normal worldviews upside down. He states that Propaganda is necessary for modern societies to function and that they play an integral part in the power structures that run them. This is all the more true for our modern, so-called Democracies. He also states that the...more
As in The Technological Society, Ellul examines, not the practice of propaganda, but the the underlying assumptions and ideology that gives rise to it--a much broader category of communication than commonly assigned to the term.
I'm actually reading this right now, so I'll update this as I am amazed and transformed by this highly underappreciated and brilliant Frenchman.
Parts of this book are amazing, even today. While portions of it are a little dated or too caught up in the Cold War or focused on the forces which brought about the second world war, the insights he draws from them are not. I've never read a description of just what propaganda is or why it is so dangerous and effective that was close to this good. Ellul's background in Theology shines through in a lot of places and he is also concerned with understanding how the modern state and the ideologies...more
Scary, scary, scary.
Aug 20, 2009
Sestius
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Interested people
Shelves:
theory-in-them-thar-hills
Modern readers, especially perhaps readers in the Anglosphere, might face a few hurdles caused by Propaganda's time and place of origin. (I know I did.) Ellul draws on French experiences of the Second World War, of the first decade of the Cold War and of the end of empire in Indochina and Algeria which seem distant now. He is also much less concerned with evidence than I imagine (and hope!) modern theorists of media and politics are. But this only means that reading Propaganda is a chance to ste...more
this is an amazing book on propaganda. certainly you'll come away with a new view of what propaganda is and what needs to exist for it to manifest. this is not the kind of book that you'll breeze through. some parts you'll have to read several times. it's probably best read twice. my brother said that you almost have to have read the entire book to really understand any of it. read it and find out for yourself.
Reading this book from the perspective as a graffiti artist and symbolic interactionist, I could not put the book down. I've probably read it three or four times, partially because I am somewhat dyslexic with ADD, but also because it clearly describes the sociological indicators to consider when analyzing propaganda.
If you have studied/are studying communications, this book is for you. If you have any interest in the way media works on people, this book is for you. It is brilliantly written and thoughtfully executed. While written in the mid-1960s (a very interesting time for Propoganda), the reader can fairly easily surmise how Ellul would feel about current media (social networks, political races, etc). A great read, though not terribly casual.
Very simply this work is one of the (underlined, bold-typed, italicized) books on the subject that must be consumed. Critique it, tear it apart at the seams, you'll likely still find that all other works on the subject should be measured in reference to it.
A dense (with some technical jargon) philosophical work on the nature of man in a technical society, whether it be democratic or fascist. To consider that propaganda (as described by Ellul) is not only necessary, but also a natural outcome in a large and diverse modern society, is a rather bitter concept to swallow, but for me, Ellul makes an excellent case as to its diverse means and forms.
Should be mandatory reading in college, if not before. I was quite a bit older when I came upon it. But it's never too late. Provides a clear description of the mechanics of INFORMATION.
Izcils darbs, īpaši par propagandu kā sociālizācijas instrumentu!
Re-read this one not long ago. Got more out of it the second time.
One of the most important books of the past 100 years.
Essential reading if you live in a mass society.
This is, put quite simply, a MUST read. It was written shortly after WWII and focuses on the propaganda machine of Goebbels. It is shocking how much of what is described in this book is the norm in today's "quality" of discourse. Truly prophetic.
Feb 05, 2008
Katie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
those interested in the development of the modern psyche
Shelves:
class,
non-fiction
While it is clear that at times Ellul has no bloody clue what he's talking about in a factual sense, his ideas are intriguing. The proposed chicken-and-egg quandary is especially engaging--as one begins to read more they are compelled to examine their current situation. How much does propaganda effect us? To what extent is thought genuinely independent? Philosophic questions with a spin.
One certainly starts to look at things a little differently after being exposed to the ideas presented here.
One certainly starts to look at things a little differently after being exposed to the ideas presented here.
An essential read.
A very scary book.
Oct 02, 2012
Kevin Fitts
added it
Great.
An excellent discussion of propaganda not as the base tool of ideologues but as the pervasive force in most modern nationalized countries. Propaganda emerges as a technique of communication that is amplified by modern communication technology. Ellul questions the foundations of modern industrialized societies and questions whether current modes of public and political discourse can really engender free thought or encourage that activity which makes us human, to speak and act originally.
Depressive, but needs to be read.
An interesting book on the way in which comprehensive propaganda is employed in the modern world (a bit dated now, but still good and helpful, covering ground others have ignored). Ellul is a Christian as well, so his approach is more interesting than just an academic approach to the subject.
Oct 12, 2008
Dave
is currently reading it
Propaganda as defined by Jacques is far more pervasive a current in the modern society of man than we would all like to think. Most of us don't actually fully exercise our free will very freely.
A tough read, but good if you want to understand the true nature of propaganda. An eye opener!
Haven't fnished it, but I will someday. Shoving it aside for now.
May 23, 2013
Erica Rodriguez
marked it as to-read
May 22, 2013
Shaun
is currently reading it
May 22, 2013
Richard Prins
marked it as to-read
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Baptised Catholic, Ellul became an atheist and Marxist at 19, and a Christian of the Reformed Church at 22. During his Marxist days, he was a member of the French Communist Party. During World War II, he fought with the French Underground against the Nazi occupation of France.
Educated at the Universities of Bordeaux and Paris, he taught Sociology and the History of Law at the Universities of Strau...more
More about Jacques Ellul...
Educated at the Universities of Bordeaux and Paris, he taught Sociology and the History of Law at the Universities of Strau...more
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“Again I want to emphasize that the study of propaganda must be conducted within the context of a technological society. Propaganda is called upon to solve problems created by technology, to play on maladjustments, and to integrate the individual into a technological world.”
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