Dark Persuasion cover art

Dark Persuasion

A History of Brainwashing from Pavlov to Social Media

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Dark Persuasion

By: Joel E. Dimsdale
Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin
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About this listen

A harrowing account of brainwashing's pervasive role in the 20th and 21st 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.

©2021 Joel E. Dimsdale (P)2021 Tantor 20th Century Elections & Political Process Modern Politics & Government Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Mental Health Health Imperial Japan Medical History Social Media Psychology

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All stars
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definitely a nice comprehensive overview of brain washing blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

the history of brain washing

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Gave me enough information to pursue the mentioned studies and delivered in a way to intrigue

Gave me enough information for me to pursue the studies

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I have always been thinking like this and my conclusion is, in my opinion or lifestyle going to change 30% of the people on earth? This is an eye opener. 👁

Probably the most realistic book

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I would recommend this book to those interested in “brainwashing” or coercive persuasion as it eloquently examines the history, studies and cases. Fascinating insights into cases such as the Stockholm bank robbery which birthed the Stockholm syndrome. The organised mass suicides committed by the Jones town community in Guyana and Heavens gate in the USA

Fascinating insights

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It's a very intriguing topic, and well illustrated with stories and case studies. The narrator has a pleasant voice and reads in a lively way without being overly dramatic.

Highly interesting and well read

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The author’s political views are so obvious and so one-sided that it makes me think that his book itself is a part of ‘dark persuasion’. Especially revealing his utter villainization of Pavlov, one of the founding fathers of phycology.

Brainwashing book

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