Persuasion and Influence in American Life

Well. I looked at the two reviews that were posted as of June, 2008, and decided I had to take a stand. One -can- crab about the "spill-over" and gaping holes here and there, but as a revelation of technique to those who are largely unaware of how those with the knowhow and financial wherewithall manipulate public opinion, this is a -very- worthwhile read. I expect anyone who "digs in" here will come away with a much better grasp of how electoral politics, as well as marketing and advertising, work to influence voting and buying habits. While this is an undergraduate school text, the authors are pretty "toothy" in their examination of societal norms, manipulation of symbols, credibility, audience-targeting, and the use -- as well as intentional -misuse- -- of logic. It also seems fair -- and accurate -- to assert that in the wrong hands, this is as fine and dandy a basic manual for designing propaganda and media manipulation as it is a means for illuminating such to the uninformed.