Spin This!: All the Ways We Don't Tell the Truth: Amazon.ca: Bill Press, Bill Maher: Books

Product Description

From Booklist

Press, a Crossfire cohost, provides an amusing look at "spin," the basic commodity of professions from politics to journalism to marketing. After offering a loose definition of spin that distinguishes it from outright lying, Press expounds on the infinite varieties. There is the happy-face spin, which makes bad news sound good; the Boy Scout spin, which is pious denial; the twilight-zone spin, which projects the exact opposite of the truth; and, of course, the time-honored statistics spin, which twists and often fabricates numbers. Press cites plenty of examples, including the it-depends-on-the-definition spin offered by President Clinton's evasive definition of sex when the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke. Historical examples include the claim that the Civil War was fought to end slavery and talk of "collateral damage" during the Vietnam War to avoid talk of casualties. Press includes nominations to the spin hall of fame offered by well-known writers and political figures. All readers will enjoy this look at a widespread practice. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Tucker Carlson from the right Bill Press on spin is like Julia Child on French cooking: master practitioners letting the rest of us in on the secrets of their craft. This book will tell you all you need to know about how master spinners slice and dice the truth. Plus Bill is funnier than Julia Child.

James Carville from the left Press impresses. He takes the dizziness out of a spin. This book proves that you can't spin a spinner.

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Customer Reviews

17 Reviews

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
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Average Customer Review

3.7 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)

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1.0 out of 5 stars LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE, April 5 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Spin This!: All the Ways We Don't Tell the Truth (Hardcover)

Total waste of time and money.

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1.0 out of 5 stars Here's some spin: This book's not completely horrible!, Jan 21 2003

By

Kevin Currie-Knight "Education Grad Student" (Newark, Delaware) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spin This!: All the Ways We Don't Tell the Truth (Hardcover)

I really do not like writing bad reviews but I do wish people to know what they are and are not getting.

Like some other reviewers, I was hoping for a decent discussion on spin; what, how, why. Instead, this book is an repetitive barage of mildly entertaining anecdotes, slams and profane asides. (I'm not easily offended, but any political writer who uses the word 'bl**job' as much as Press does gets a bit annoying.) That's not to mention that the book could also, and was likely intended to, serve as an advertisement for his CNN show "Crossfire" as he mentions it once per page.

To his credit, this book is non-partisan, candid and from time to time, fun. Still, from his discussions on different kinds of spin, the history of spinning and all the rest, there was not one original thought in these pages. Everything Press presses in this book, we've all thought before while pondering the nature of political spin. With that in mind, it's tough to say whether Press was being deliberately condescending by writing this book, or if that was only the unintended consequence.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Bill Press, Spinmeister Par Excellence, July 1 2002

By

Iris J. Summers (Phoenix, Arizona USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spin This!: All the Ways We Don't Tell the Truth (Hardcover)

A delicious romp through the world of spin!!!As Bill Press's self-appointed "#1 Fan", I awaited release of this book with great anticipation; and, characteristic of his television personna, the book is intelligent, enlightening, and entertaining throughout. His sense of humor enables him to write without offending, even as one recognizes one's self in certain of his examples of spin.I hastily read the book as soon as I received it and enjoyed every page; however, just as one gobbles down a favorite food of which one has long been deprived, without really adequately tasting it, a subsequent reading, savoring every delicious morsel, provides even greater delight.Press's ability to totally enjoy himself, while providing truths, gift-wrapped in his wonderful sense of humor, provides the reader a delicious romp through the world of spin.

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Most recent customer reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars shallow and on top of that profane
I began reading this book with great expectations only to discover after a few chapters that it contains nothing new or worthwhile. Read more

Published on Mar 14 2002 by Julia Kennedy

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad read...and not a great read
I was disappointed by this book. Over the last few months, I've been reading the latest literary offerings by political pundits. Read more

Published on Mar 9 2002 by OldBookGuy