The Age of Manipulation: The Con in Confidence, the Sin in Sincere

by Wilson Bryan Key

Book Overview

Exposes the strategies used by advertisers to manipulate our thoughts and senses. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0819186538
• ISBN13: 9780819186539
• Release Date: December 1992
• Publisher: Madison Books
• Length: 348 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Excellent, funny, mind-boggling... A must!

I found "The Age of Manipulation" at a local library while I was doing a research about subliminal messages and I wanted to know why they're such a big deal for some people.I thought I was going to read about some conspiracy theory not to be taken seriously. After all, who needs hidden messages in the media when we have so many lies in our daily news and everything that's called "entertainment" has a strong sexual appeal, most of them are not subtle at all. In other words, who needs subliminal messages? Who needs some dirty message we can't consciously notice when there's so much dirt in the media that we can see with our eyes wide open?I must admit I thought the book was about some religious/right wing ramblings taking everything in our daily life to "magical" proportions. But I wanted to know more so I read it. I realised Dr Key really has a point. It's not about magical thought or conspiracy theories at all, what he did was just to link Freudian theories, philosophy, science, to things he saw in the media, and that's what's brilliant about his work. He saw what we couldn't see without a "little" help. So if you see something dirty in his books, don't blame him, blame Freud ;-) Or our incounscious defense mechanism that block what we have seen because what we saw could shake our values systems, our view or the world, everything we belive in. Freud again. It's not a book for everyone, if you want to "stay safe" don' t read it. You'll never see the world the same way again after reading it - that could be a blessing or a curse.In those times when conglomerates that dominate our global economy also dominate everything we call news, culture, art and entertainment, this book is a must! As well as his older books, if you can find them, go for them! But if you get "The Age of Manipulation" that's enough, it's his most comprehensive book, the one that says it all.We've been had for so long, that's enough! Let's not allow humanhood "devolve" to media zombies.Somebody please reprint this book before it's too late.

He sure stirs up the pot...

Dr. Key's fourth book on subliminal advertising is worth the purchase price just for the pictures: liquor ads with blatantly obvious erect penises drawn into the stream of pouring gin, "sex" airbrushed into practically everywhere, and even a McDonalds ad with a hand dipping an unforgivably phallic "Chicken Tender" into sauce. Key hypothesizes that the male homosexual taboo is at play in many of these ads. When we perceive these images subliminally but repress them, he says, it creates an irrational attraction to the advertisement. He showed some of these ads to Inuits, almost all of whom saw the penises immediately and burst out laughing. Americans only saw the images immediately 5% of the time. Although Key doesn't use the word "meme," he is thinking along the memetic paradigm as he uses Madison Avenue's sneaky tactics to enlighten readers about the vulnerable nature of their minds. A well written and erudite book.--Richard Brodie, author, Virus of the Mind: The New Science of the Meme

A mind-shattering book

This book will probably forever change your perspective on all of western civlization if you have the guts to finish it, and consider its far reaching implications. You might realize things about your mind that you never before thought possible. It also deal heavily with human psychology, prepare yourself for some Jung and Freud to.

Scary, Enlighting, and Life-Changing

After reading this book, I ran out and read all his other works. I highly recommend all of his books. These books will change your life. The world of advertisements is not what we thought it was. We are being controled, and this book will help you start to see the truth.

Necessary for survival in modern society. Defense/Exploiters

I stumbled across this book by mere chance. Ironically enough, the title lured me in. This book is not for the faint of heart. The author is incredibly well educated in his field of study and experience. The reality he sets before us can be mind numbing and liberating. A phoenix from the ashes. Should be required reading for all middle school students because of the education the author poses. Consumer debt grows in proportion with industries growth and Wilson Bryan Key explains the techniques ad agencies use to rape the American people. As the author stresses throughout "theories are not fact" and that we need to "watch ourselves". I wholly agree with the authors approach because it is not subtle nor intimidating... it is just powerful. Truth in advertising is about as meaningful as Politics being considered a science. This is a must read for every individual in the United States and abroad. This can help you realize that not only are you not alone but that advertising is not a "victimless crime". DO NOT SUPPORT YOUR OWN DEMISE. I cannot stress enough that Dr. Key is the closest thing to a consumer advocate if there ever was one. I only hope there will one day be someone as well versed and competent as Dr. Key to fill the shoes of the "Master of Exposure". Some of us are truely endebted to the wonderful insight Dr. Key has given. Endulge your senses and explore the real world in which you live. All we can ask is, "Dr. Key, when does the next lesson begin?"