Dark Persuasion

A History of Brainwashing from Pavlov to Social Media

Narrated by Eric Jason Martin
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Pub Date 10 Aug 2021 | Archive Date 10 Aug 2021

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Description

A harrowing account of brainwashing's pervasive role in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries

This gripping book traces the evolution of brainwashing from its beginnings in torture and religious conversion into the age of neuroscience and social media. When Pavlov introduced scientific approaches, his research was enthusiastically supported by Lenin and Stalin, setting the stage for major breakthroughs in tools for social, political, and religious control.

Tracing these developments through many of the past century's major conflagrations, Dimsdale narrates how when World War II erupted, governments secretly raced to develop drugs for interrogation. Brainwashing returned to the spotlight during the Cold War in the hands of the North Koreans and Chinese. In response, a huge Manhattan Project of the Mind was established to study memory obliteration, indoctrination during sleep, and hallucinogens. Cults used the techniques as well. Nobel laureates, university academics, intelligence operatives, criminals, and clerics all populate this shattering and dark story—one that hasn't yet ended.
A harrowing account of brainwashing's pervasive role in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries

This gripping book traces the evolution of brainwashing from its beginnings in torture and...

Advance Praise

“In an age with deep concern that we are being manipulated by artificial intelligence and algorithms, this is an important topic and a timely, well-written book. The question of how large groups of seemingly reasonable people come to hold obviously unreasonable beliefs is one of the deepest questions of our age.” —Tanya Luhrmann, author of When God Talks Back

“This book is a fascinating account of coercive persuasion from Pavlov to today's mass believers in conspiracy. Dimsdale’s sobering account makes the reader wonder if what anti-vaxxers, Big Lie believers, and victims of brainwashing techniques have in common is the story told in this book about the socialization of cognition and emotion. Provocative and eye-opening.” —Arthur Kleinman, author of The Soul of Care

“A book for our times—timely, compelling, provocative, smart, and ultimately hopeful, in offering a means to our own protection from the forces of darkness.”—Philippe Sands, author of East West Street

“In an age with deep concern that we are being manipulated by artificial intelligence and algorithms, this is an important topic and a timely, well-written book. The question of how large groups of...


Available Editions

EDITION Audiobook, Unabridged
ISBN 9781666141122
PRICE $24.99 (USD)
DURATION 9 Hours, 49 Minutes

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (AUDIO)

Average rating from 9 members


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