Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by comradeconrad
How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler by Peter Pomerantsev
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.25
Pomerantsev tells an interesting piece of WW2 history that I was not previously familiar with. Recounting the life and work of Sefton Delmer and giving a small look into the history of "black propaganda" operations by the British.
While the story is fascinating, it somewhat fails in its stated goal of giving the modern reader a blueprint for countering propaganda. The real world effects of Delmer's work will likely never be known and the technologies and social trends fueling modern propaganda are radically different in 2025.
Pomerantsev does leave the read with several fascinating lessons about propaganda and information warfare. Namely that fascist regimes supply an identity and belonging to the lonely. By embracing this identity and understanding the human social needs for a sense of belonging and agency, we can more effectively subvert fascist propaganda from within the Us group.
While the story is fascinating, it somewhat fails in its stated goal of giving the modern reader a blueprint for countering propaganda. The real world effects of Delmer's work will likely never be known and the technologies and social trends fueling modern propaganda are radically different in 2025.
Pomerantsev does leave the read with several fascinating lessons about propaganda and information warfare. Namely that fascist regimes supply an identity and belonging to the lonely. By embracing this identity and understanding the human social needs for a sense of belonging and agency, we can more effectively subvert fascist propaganda from within the Us group.