“There is so much bullshit that one hardly knows where to begin...”
Taking no prisoners, author Laura Penny dissects—no, d... read full description
Taking no prisoners, author Laura Penny dissects—no, d... read full description
reviews
Jul 16, 2011
Therese
rated it: 
A noble endeavor by someone who deep down is sincere and concerned about the consequences of BS in public policy and advertising. Good for a cursory overview and might even get some people worked up enough to pay more attention. However, this book is written with very little in-depth information and a lot of BS. The tone of the book is a serious problem. The author complains about the dumbing down of information, but spends half the book trying to be cute/funny. Example: on the rise of mutual fu
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Aug 09, 2011
This book pretty much summed up how I feel on my cynical days. An interesting overview that collects examples of bullshit from the insurance, PR, big pharma, government, advertising etc. sectors. I recommend it if you like to gripe about that sort of thing. It doesn't really offer any suggestions (and doesn't pretend to) but awareness is the first step to making things better right? Also, the book is about 5 years old so occasionally comes off a bit dated (talking about "the current Bush ad
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Jun 01, 2009
Steven
rated it: 
A pretty good read with a useful message, that corporate America is, well, full of bullshit. We need as many books as possible on the mind-numbing advertising bombardment we have to put up with daily in the US. They have ads on the goddamn tray tables on airplanes now, and half the flight attendants' job seems to entail selling, well, bullshit (food and credit cards, for example).
What I didn't like so much about this title is that the clever premise runs its course before the book More...
What I didn't like so much about this title is that the clever premise runs its course before the book More...
Nov 21, 2008
Mjackman
rated it: 
With the Western world choking on its own bullshit, watching things fall apart because we've believed our own lines, Laura Penny rides to the rescue, shovel in hand, to help us dig ourselves out. Compared to that other book, "On Bullshit," Penny's book is a breath of fresh air. No intimidating philosophical trappings, no faux-analytical setup, no nonsense. Compared to this book, "On Bullshit" is full of, um, shit.
She trains her sights on big drug companies, big b More...
She trains her sights on big drug companies, big b More...
Apr 19, 2009
Robin
rated it: 
"If the minimum wage had inflated as much as CEO pay or margin debt, cashiers and rib-joint ladies would be making hundreds of dollars an hour."
"In 1980, CEOs made 42 times the average worker's pay; by 1990,it had doubled; by 2000 their compensation had increased to 531 times the average salary."
Interesting stuff - a must read!
"In 1980, CEOs made 42 times the average worker's pay; by 1990,it had doubled; by 2000 their compensation had increased to 531 times the average salary."
Interesting stuff - a must read!
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Oct 05, 2010
Chris
rated it:
very funny book but also sad at how companies have stopped caring about their customers. SprintPCS is one major company that doesn't give a damn about their customers having problems and being allowed to get away with it by the FCC. Although its shocking to read, there are many times you will laugh out loud for it.
Mar 05, 2010
Dan
rated it:
Bone up on how bullshit works, and begin to inoculate yourself. A small, hilarious, and easy to read book.
Not only is Laura Penny extremely funny, clever, and topical but every one of her chosen subjects have direct and genuine relevance for all of us living in a culture which is profoundly saturated with state of the art commercial propaganda and playground to entire industries devoted to the subtle manipulation of the public mind (that's you, cowboy and cowgirl American - your so- More...
Not only is Laura Penny extremely funny, clever, and topical but every one of her chosen subjects have direct and genuine relevance for all of us living in a culture which is profoundly saturated with state of the art commercial propaganda and playground to entire industries devoted to the subtle manipulation of the public mind (that's you, cowboy and cowgirl American - your so- More...
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Jun 19, 2008
Paige
rated it:
So, yeah, there is a lot of bullshit out there, and this book only skims the surface. She could have expanded on a lot of the topics, but the fact that she didn't does kind of give it more readability. She talks about PR, insurance companies (those fuckers!), the media, advertisement, and of course the Bush administration. There wasn't a whole lot in there that surprised me but it was enjoyable and I did pick up some interesting nuggets. Plus it was pretty funny! I read some of it to my boy
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Aug 09, 2011
Expose Austin Texas
rated it:
Excellent, very informative, and grandeur. This explicates the pernicious evil that pervades in advertising firms, corporations, and state universities.
Aug 25, 2010
Ty
rated it:
I'm enjoying the wit much more than the railing against the system but I recognize that the author makes good points amidst left wing propaganda. I'm also really enjoying that it's written by a Maritimer ensuring less US centrism than usual in the anecdotes.
Jul 23, 2011
David
rated it:
Not the best left wing book that I have read. As the author says, this book is more of a whinge than a way forward.
Dec 04, 2008
Laurie
rated it:
It was a bit slow and the young author used bull shit far too many times in the beginning. I gave up on this one three chapters in...
Jan 23, 2008
J
rated it: 
I couldn't get past the first chapter of this book. What I did read came off as totally pretentious. Also, Penny used the word "bullshit" so many times it was mind-numbing (unfortunately, I think she did this in an attempt to show how clever she is). Surely there is a better written book out there on the same topic.
Dec 23, 2009
Evie
rated it:
Lady, you are preaching to the complaints choir here.
A scathing, easy, enjoyable fluff read that didn't really bring much new to the table. Wal-Mart is evil, pharmaceuticals are overused, the media is biased, a few people in America have all the power.
Yeah, so what else is new?
A scathing, easy, enjoyable fluff read that didn't really bring much new to the table. Wal-Mart is evil, pharmaceuticals are overused, the media is biased, a few people in America have all the power.
Yeah, so what else is new?
Apr 17, 2008
Pat
rated it:
Another six star book that does nothing but make you a less productive member of a society that can be pretty shitty, in places. Favorite (probably garbled by now)line:
PR firms make one thing and one thing only - Shit Up.
PR firms make one thing and one thing only - Shit Up.
Jun 18, 2008
Anne
rated it:
An indictment against Corporate America. Will make your blood boil and raise your ire against the bullshit we put up with on a daily basis! Had to read it in bits and pieces so I wouldn't end up with high blood pressure!
Mar 20, 2007
Jill
rated it:
Props to my dad for giving me this book. A quick read and an insightful, if a bit cynical (as we should be and often are), take on contemporary American society through a media-saturated, corporate-sponsored lens.
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