3 replies to this topic

[Ray]

This isn't a book, but a series of documentary videos about the use of Freud by governments and corporations.  Remarkable and, before someone led me to this link, unavailable.

The Century Of The Self By Adam Curtis (Documentary, 2002)

Episode 1: "Happiness Machines"
Episode 2: "The Engineering of Consent"
Episode 3: "There is a Policeman Inside All Our Heads: He Must Be Destroyed"
Episode 4: "Eight People Sipping Wine in Kettering"

"This series is about how those in power have used Freud's theories to try and control the dangerous crowd in an age of mass democracy." - Adam Curtis

[dirac]

This looks fascinating, Ray. Thanks for the links.

[SanderO]

The Century of the Self is a brilliant work which explains how we are now manipulated to consume and that includes everything from politicians, to products, to cultural values to even what makes up our of self esteem.  The work is largely about Edward Bernays who is considered the founder of Public Relations and he has had such a profound impact on culture that is perhaps the single most important development for people since they adapted religion.

This is a must see.

[dirac]

Thanks, SanderO.