State of Confusion: Political Manipulation and the Assault on the American Mind

by Bryant Welch

Book Overview

"A vitally important and highly readable investigation...by this insightful psychologist and political activist." --Lawrence Tribe "A fascinating and compelling case that right-wing politics has... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312373066
• ISBN13: 9780312373061
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Length: 287 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.2" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A "must-read" for every caring, thinking voter

If you're interested in -- or just curious about -- how the US got where it now is in Iraq and among the nations of the world, you need to read this book. It explains how the "gaslighters" [Karl Rove, Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, etc] manipulated the minds of American citizens, increasing their vulnerability after 9/11, to make Americans more dependent on "their" brand of reality and to enable their agenda to be achieved. They warped American citizens' ability to "think," and discredited those persons and professions that could foster "clearer" thinking and decision-making. The psychological explanations are invaluable tools for helping readers identify similar on-going manipulations from the current Presidential campaigns. State of Confusion: Political Manipulation and the Assault on the American Mind

Fantastic!

What a wonderful read! Dr. Welch's style, coupled with his excellent credentials and experience have provided us with an understanding of how we Americans are manipulated by the politicians, spin doctors, press and special-interest groups. Dr. Welch uses his training as a Psychologist and Attorney, along with his real-life experiences in both in Washington, D.C. to show us the methods these people use to shape our thinking. Anyone who is fighting the fight for the greater good needs to read this book to understand how these "gaslighters" operate in shaping America's political future.

Robert L. Welker, Psychoanalyst

Bryant Welch's recent book, State of Confusion: Political Manipulation and the Assault on the American Mind (2008) Thomas Dunne Books, provides a compelling psychoanalytic framework for understanding the collective mental pathology driven by current sociopolitical machinations. He describes three "battleground psychological states" (paranoia, sexual perplexity and envy) that are manipulated in "gaslighting" the public--duping voters and consumers through the provision of defensive maneuvers that alleviate anxiety and create unquestioning believers in causes benefiting those in power. Mental dynamics remain in focus throughout Dr. Welch's penetrating analysis, the uniqueness of which stems from his perspicacity, the breadth of his professional experience (psychology, law, and politics) and the intensity of his effort. A personal anecdote in his acknowledgments is illuminating: "My personal mental image while writing the book was to framing a house. What made it especially difficult was the sense that I had to drive every nail with my head." (Page xii) While reading State of Confusion I remembered that when I decided to major in psychology (during the Nixon Administration, the Vietnam War, post political assassinations) I wanted viable answers to why our nation was so crazy. Forty years later I had all but given up hope that psychology could be of much help countering the formidable power of self-serving politicos and marketers. Reading Bryant Welch's book renewed my hope. Bryant gives us a practicable framework with which to promote healthier functioning of "The American Mind." I hope the American Psychoanalytic Association takes advantage of this opportunity by supporting and elaborating his ideas, joining him in the arduous task of driving each nail with our heads.

A must read for all Americans!

It is brilliant - what a wonderful application of psychology to politics with a trumpet call to Americans to be more reflective and thoughtful to protect themselves and the future of the country! Dr. Welch's emphasis on the need to face the true complexity of our millennium reality is imperative for psychotherapists, politicians, and voters alike. He reminds us of the power of empathic understanding in creating tolerance, patience, and peace in a time of inescapable perplexity and vulnerability. Dr. Todd F. Walker

An Astute Rendering of our Nation's Policies and Actions

This is a highly informative book about how the Bush administration and its right-wing political ideology have created our multiple current crises. Bryant Welch submits his comprehensive knowledge (both broad and deep) of global and domestic conflicts, especially the players within them, to an incisive psychological analysis so that we may understand the oft-times puzzling actions of our leaders. No matter your political persuasion, this is a book for everyone to read - you will have more substance to your arguments with Welch's research and analysis behind them! Andrea Celenza