The Influencing Machine: Brooke Gladstone on the Media
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3.9 • 25 Ratings
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
"Mind-opening, thought-provoking and incredibly timely… An absolutely spectacular read."—Cory Doctorow, BoingBoing
A million listeners trust NPR's Brooke Gladstone to guide them through the complexities of the modern media. Bursting onto the page in vivid comics by acclaimed artist Josh Neufeld, this brilliant radio personality guides us through two millennia of media history, debunking the notion that "The Media" is an external force beyond our control and equipping us to be savvy consumers and shapers of the news. Owing to the graphic format, this book is readable only on larger screens and devices.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Gladstone, cohost of NPR's On the Media, and noted illustrator Neufeld (A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge) make a formidable pair in this fascinating history of media's influence. Gladstone is both narrator and visual tour guide, popping up throughout Neufeld's panels as both her contemporary self and wittily camouflaged alongside historical figures. From the "Acta Diurna" posted in ancient Rome to the outcries over President Adams's Alien and Sedition Acts and McCarthy's Red Scare, Gladstone traces not only the birth of the press but also its various muzzles. The press will not always stay silent, as she illustrates with Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers, and Woodward and Bernstein's uncovering of the Watergate scandal. Yet government opacity still abounds, and Gladstone pointedly wonders if secrecy really makes us safer. One of the most intriguing sections deals with bias, a term tossed around so often it's become almost meaningless. Gladstone points to seven key biases that cognizant media consumers should worry about: commercial, bad news, status quo, access, visual, narrative, and fairness. These dovetail nicely into a frank discussion of war journalism, which highlights Neufeld's considerable skills, with each panel bursting with situational details. Gladstone's is an indispensible guide to our ever-evolving media landscape that's brought vividly to life.
Customer Reviews
Great book! But Fuc|< iBooks!
Great read! Just wouldn't ever buy any literature from Apple again since you can only access it from iOS devices.
Good ideas
The book author, Gladstone, have some really good ideas, however, it was hard to read the book, and in times it felt repetitive!
We get grammar/spelling we deserve?
Too many spelling/grammatical errors. VERY distracting and detracted from the message. I suggest using spell check before publishing a book...I would ask for my money back, but she would probably say I got the book I deserve...