Easily Led: A History of Propaganda

Easily Led: A History of Propaganda by Thomson, Oliver. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780750919654.

Among the most remarkable and least studied aspects of world history are the many examples of how easily led humans can be. Over substantial periods we have been cowed by the blatantly artificial images of kings and tyrants, and have meekly supported the most pernicious regimes. With amazing credulity we have been lulled into idolising conquerors, applauding genocide, upholding persecution and condoning exploitation . We have happily been drilled by religious fanaticism into worshipping cruel gods, fearing strange hells, blessing human sacrifice or torture and obeying the oddest of moral codes. Less dramatically, yet more disturbingly, we are constantly on the receiving end of information campaigns which are often far from benign. Why have we been willing to believe the silliest myths and let our senses be ruled by martial music, poetic slogans, absurd prophecies and exotic images? We may now claim to be more sophisticated and less easily manipulated, but there is little evidence of this. From the awesome ceremonials around Stonehenge or the Temple of Karnak right through to the Romans, the Crusades, Napoleon, Stalin, Hitler, Thatcher, Clinton, Yeltsin and the recent racist propaganda in Bosnia and Rwanda, the ability to deploy propaganda skills has been one of the major determinants of historical direction. This has been true not only of political power, but also of religion, morality and economics. Easily Led examines the variety of techniques for propaganda in different periods and cultures and demonstrates the extent to which such techniques have influenced the course of events over the past 5000 years. Ranging from ancient civilisations to the present day and covering propaganda through the arts, religion, politics, warfare and mass media, Easily Led is a readable, sane yet provocative account of our willingness to manipulate and be manipulated throughout history.