Noam Chomsky's book, as is often the case, raises more questions than it provides answers. It plants the seeds of doubt within you regarding what you may have believed to be established facts.

The book discusses how the powerful media and the public relations industry control public opinion in the United States, and how the process of "manufacturing consent" undermines the very foundations of American democracy, reducing it to mere outward forms.

Chomsky delves deep into history, starting from the first use of propaganda in World War I and extending to the first half of George W. Bush Jr.'s presidency. The history is long, and the constant and thought-provoking comparisons that Chomsky makes between the justifications of American media propaganda to rationalize American actions and how those justifications can be applied to all other countries that might use the same actions against the United States are truly stimulating.

The book is of a small size, only 55 pages. The Arabic translation that I read was from the International Dawn edition.

Note: The publisher's comments (specifically 3 comments) are extremely stupid and border on being abridged.

Reading this book is indeed an interesting experience. It feels as if one is listening to a passionate diatribe from one's favorite professor. The professor firmly believes that the media is controlling the public opinion of the "bewildered herd," and to some extent, you might think he is probably right. However, a drawback is that he doesn't present a great deal of empirical research to support his claims. It must be nice to have tenure and be able to express such views freely.

This book holds significant importance for those who are studying media theory. Nevertheless, I don't think the theories put forward in it hold quite as much water in the digital age. The (post)modern media landscape is now more fragmented. As a result, public opinion is not as easily controlled by major networks and newspapers as it might have been in the past. Although the author's points about propaganda are still quite salient. When we come across vague slogans like "Support our troops," it is crucial to question the campaign behind it, rather than the basic notion. Of course, we all support the troops. But does that necessarily mean we support every war, surge, or endeavor? Idioms like this can sometimes back us into a corner when it comes to ideologies that we may not necessarily abide by. It is always the right thing to question the message. However, I'm just not entirely sure that we have to do it in as belligerent a way as Noam Chomsky does.

Noam clearly explains how those who are in control of the media can effortlessly manipulate public opinion.

They have the power to present their own warped version of reality that has little resemblance to the actual truth.

Moreover, he highlights how the media carefully selects the subjects they choose to talk about.

By doing so, they manage to hide certain crucial realities and divert the attention of the confused masses.

This manipulation and selective reporting can have a profound impact on the way people perceive the world around them.

It is essential for the public to be aware of these tactics and to seek out alternative sources of information to form a more accurate understanding of the true state of affairs.

Only by being vigilant and critical consumers of media can we hope to avoid being misled by those who seek to control our thoughts and opinions.

July 2017

I found "Media Control" to be thoroughly chilling. It is shorter and more readable than the last Chomsky book I read. He refers to the majority of the population (in America, but it can also apply elsewhere) as "the bewildered herd." The majority of people are by nature peaceful and reluctant to go to war with other countries. Therefore, the media's role is to arouse patriotism with ambiguous slogans like "support our troops," which no one would oppose. It also highlights the atrocities committed by the enemy while suppressing any narratives that don't conform to the government's public image. For example, it suppresses evidence of the use of torture and the indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas in the countries where America and its allies wage war.

"Media Control" is the kind of book that, on the one hand, I'm glad I read because I want to be informed. But on the other hand, it contains information that I wish I didn't know. It is terrifying how easily an entire population can be manipulated through the media, and we don't even realize it's happening until someone like Chomsky comes along and points it out.

This is the great Chomsky I’ve been hearing so much about? Pitiful - and I’m not overjoyed about the United States, either.

My main issue is that Mr. Chomsky refers to several fascinating historical details. However, he fails to provide any sources to support his arguments.

This book only cites a meager eight footnotes. Eight! I seem to recall having more footnotes in my second grade essay about the grazing habits of antelope.

Come on, Noam. You can do better than this. Try again and provide the necessary evidence to back up your claims.

It's not enough to simply make bold statements without any proof. We need to see the sources and the research that went into your ideas.

Otherwise, your arguments lack credibility and are open to质疑.

So, please, take the time to properly reference your work and give us a more convincing argument.

Despite the informational and technological explosion,

and despite the communications revolution,

peoples are still being deceived.

You will find a people in a country that leads the world economy and its industry, believing that a country in the Third World, which was devastated by war and strangled by siege, will come to destroy the world with weapons of mass destruction.

It all comes down to the faucet of the reservoir!

The reservoir is full of news and information, just open the faucet a little or a lot or close it according to need.

It is the faucet of the reservoir!

You can make the criminal a competitor, make the oppressed an oppressor. In fact, it allows you to change the picture more than once: enemy - ally - enemy - friend. No problem, because the faucet is under your control and you can pour water to the people according to your desire.

The first book I read by Noam Chomsky - I don't know where the letter 'ayn' came from in the Arabized name. I had previously read a lot of his articles and listened to excerpts from his lectures, other than his linguistic theories that blew our minds in the university. Yes, this is true, Chomsky writes on politics, languages, history, and more.

The first part of the book is the most enjoyable and the best, in which the author discusses the exploitation of the media by governments to play with public opinion or create consensus, meaning to pour a certain quantity and type of information to convince the people of a direction that they may fundamentally reject. The author examines the history of the hasty direction of public opinion and presents exemplary examples.

As for the second part, it is dense and there is nothing new in it for someone contemporary to the events that took place in the Arab world during the past two decades. Chomsky focuses on the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. This part did not interest me much. First, there is no mention of the direct role of the media in dealing with events, but rather the focus is on the deception of the American government and its hypocrisy to achieve its goals. Second, I did not discover anything that I did not already know. We all know here that Iraq did not possess weapons of mass destruction, and that America did not bring a project to help the Iraqi people, just as we know that the Afghan people have nothing to do with the events of September 11. Third, when you read this part, you will realize that we - as a nation - are living in a tightly closed cage. Whether by the stick or by the island, we do whatever is required of us and we go where we are led and we do not object to that under any pretext. I am very sorry that I am living in this era. May we be rewarded in paradise, God willing.

An interesting and light read, and this will definitely not be the last book by Chomsky.

A small book that does not exceed sixty pages, but it draws attention to extremely important and dangerous questions.

What is the democracy being implemented now? And what did they really find it to be?

Who are the elite? And how do they become so?

Is public opinion really public opinion? Or is there already what is known as the manufacture of consensus?

Questions that may change the reader's attempts to answer them and a lot of his views, beliefs, and understanding of that world that the propaganda creates.

God willing, we will discuss the book at the Alexandria Library Book Club on Thursday, September 30th at exactly five o'clock, and the invitation is open to those who have read and those who have not read.

The link to the event on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/events/42061...

Terrorist countries strive to impose their rule on non-terrorist countries by branding them as terrorist!

This is the truth of what the United States is doing. There are always two aspects for its aggression or as they like to call it, the fight against terrorism. The first aspect is what is promoted by the media, which in turn is under the control of the rulers. Through it, they can control the perception of the citizens, especially the American people, so that they always see that what the great country does is for the benefit of the American citizen and to protect him, while blinding his eyes to other things that he is in need of.

This book describes how a country like the United States can influence the global trend according to what it wants, with its allies everywhere. It dictates what it wants, violates and kills, and there is always a haughty justification far from the real justification, which is terrorism, and which can never be described as having power in its hands...

ĸнαℓєɒ τσℓвα

A book starts by describing the media tools for controlling minds and guiding opinions. How can we apply democratic systems while at the same time we are in control of everything? The media is one of the most important weapons these days. It is used to gather the masses and to direct the collective mind determined by the ruling elite.

The description summarizes what the book explains. "The media... that magical device that can direct public opinion towards one thing and away from another, turn it upside down, fill it, and depict what does not exist as if it is a real fact."

I recommend reading it for those who want to follow the huge role of the media in the corruption we live in this rotten world.

The book, despite the information and explanations it contains, has been surpassed in our current era. It is no secret to anyone now that the manipulation in the media tools has become exposed and ridiculous. And yet, the farce continues because the powerful impose their power and opinion, and no one will be held accountable.

Perhaps the result has become that the media is opposed to the government-directed media.

In today's society, the role of the media is crucial. It is supposed to provide objective and accurate information to the public. However, what we often see is the abuse of media power for personal or political gain. The government may try to control the media to promote its own agenda, while the opposing media may try to expose the flaws and injustices.

This constant struggle between different media forces can lead to confusion and misinformation among the people. It is important for us to be critical consumers of media and to seek out multiple sources of information to form a more comprehensive understanding. Only in this way can we hope to break free from the farce and find the truth.

I truly have a deep affection for Chomsky's cynicism.

His cynicism is not of the baseless or mean-spirited kind. Instead, it is a well-founded and thought-provoking perspective that challenges the status quo.

Chomsky's cynicism allows him to see through the false facades and hidden agendas that often prevail in society. He is not afraid to question the actions and motives of those in power, whether it be governments, corporations, or other institutions.

This cynicism drives him to seek the truth and expose the injustices and inequalities that exist. It also serves as a catalyst for social change and progress.

By being cynical, Chomsky is able to inspire others to think critically and independently, and to take action to make the world a better place. His cynicism is a valuable asset that has contributed greatly to the fields of linguistics, politics, and social justice.

In conclusion, I love Chomsky's cynicism because it is a powerful force for good in the world.

A very important book for understanding the policy that shapes people's opinions (which the author calls the industry of consensus) and its impact on the general public (the silent majority).

The author cites many examples on this topic and how the American policies are designed in different ways to control the media.

For instance, through various means such as lobbying, campaign financing, and regulatory mechanisms, the government and powerful interest groups can influence the content and narrative presented by the media.

This, in turn, affects how the public perceives and interprets information, ultimately shaping their opinions and behaviors.

The book also explores the role of the media in promoting certain agendas and how it can be used as a tool for social and political change.

Overall, it provides a comprehensive analysis of the complex relationship between policy, media, and public opinion, and offers valuable insights into how we can better understand and navigate this important aspect of our society.