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Victor Sheinov – Russian Psychological Influence GBGB thread: : The Formation of Men’s AttitudesPublished in 1965, this book is a significant, if creepy study of that oft-misunderstood concept of propaganda. The references are unfortunately dated, but the insights are valuable, especially given how much propaganda is ignored in American society, particularly. It’s not an easy read by any means, mostly because he throws so much at you at once you’re sort of left punch-drunk. He lays it all out forthrightly.The most terrible revelation he offers is when he points out that the most informed individuals (in the sense of consuming the most media) are the most propagandized (but unaware of being so). This is why this book doesn’t get more play — it would put the Massive Media and the “public relations” (aka, propaganda industry) out of business if people understood their real social role.The book is bleak, and leaves you reeling. But it does provide intellectual ammunition — namely, critical thinking — as a hopeful vaccination from propaganda, except for Ellul’s statement that people who think propaganda doesn’t affect them tend to be propagandized….I guess the safest thing you can do is assume you are a victim of propaganda, and then deal with it by sorting out what opinions are genuinely yours, and what are the result of “conventional wisdom” and “common sense”. The alternative is to pretend you’re somehow immune. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0394718747/ref=oh_aui_detai…