Trust Us, We're Experts PA: How Industry Manipulates Science and Gambles with Your Future [Paperback]

 

 

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The bulk of this book is given over to detailing the consistent patterns big money has used to manipulate the flow of knowledge from those who have it to those who need it. In practice, this means the book details how "industry" (a term used but never clearly defined) is standing in the way of public health, environmental concerns, and more. Perhaps this book was printed with soy ink on recycled paper? Or are publishers not an industry?

That quibble aside, Stauber and Rampton attempt to demonstrate, primarily through pattern recognition, how easy it is to see through PR-motivated lies and hucksterism if we simply know what to look for. Uncomfortably cozy relationships with "independent" third parties are an obvious example, as is a tendency to divert attention from the credibility of the statement to the credibility of who makes the statement. In fact, an elementary knowledge of the rules of formal debate are well rewarded in reading this book, since you quickly discover that, if an "expert" is defying these rules, that expert is probably trying to take you to the cleaners.

The book is patently left-leaning. The authors are idealistic about human nature, for example, believing people would do the greatest good for the greatest number if they knew how to do it. The authors also appear to believe that government regulation is the necessary answer to inevitable government excess. This seems awfully naïve in its sheer repetition at times. In Chapter Nine, the concession is briefly made that "public advocacy" groups will sometimes distort facts and figures to achieve their desired ends, but that assertion is ultimately deemed less important than the tendency of conservative forces to distort.

The ultimate chapter actually goes into some pointers for seeing through distortion and arming yourself to stand up for your beliefs. At least one previous reviewer seems to have missed this fact. This isn't just a list of information, there are actual pointers for action in here. Don't be shy about standing up for what you believe in, that's the message of this book, and one worth repeating, since we Americans allow ourselves to forget it all too easily.

This book shouldn't be sought out by anybody too in love with their conservative beliefs, their love of mass manufacturing, or a belief that prosperity must come on the heels of pollution. Despite its leanings, it maintains no sacred cows. Those willing to allow themselves to be challenged, however, will be richly rewarded by going out on a limb. This sophisticated, well-documented book tries to show the point where truth and lies intersect, and it is a view you will not soon forget.

"Trust us, we're impartial!" would have been a more descriptive title for this book.

The authors document in meticulous detail how Public Relations Firms hired by wealthy parties, in particular big industries, manipulate political opinion, public debate and private behavior. There is no shortage of examples -- the book is crammed with them.

The PR firms pose as concerned citizen groups, grassroots activists, independent think tanks, or scientific researchers, masterminding campaigns that pretend to defend our interests but actually benefit their clients. "Raw money allows the PR industry to mobilize ... expensive, high-tech resources to outmaneuver, overpower, and outlast true citizen reformers." Spin doctors train industry directors to dot their speech abundantly with certain key words like natural and quality while avoiding words like chemical and profit.

Part of the propaganda free-for-all are scientists for hire: "A steady stream of stories touting new medical breakthroughs and previously unknown health benefits that researchers attribute to oat bran, garlic bread, walnuts, orange juice, or whatever product the sponsoring client happens to be selling."

Although not the main theme of the book, along the way we are told about the thousands of toxic chemicals dumped by industry in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. Some are still there though they were prohibited decades ago. These chemicals have been demonstrated to harm our bodies and behavior, yet one never hears your surgeon general or our minister of health refer to them as a possible cause of afflictions proliferating today and driving up the cost of health care.

The authors put their finger on the sore spot. Government regulatory agencies are supposed to provide an important check on otherwise unrestrained corporate power, but in fact collaborate. The same bigwig names pop up alternately in lucrative positions on the boards of industries and in the bodies that regulate them, like revolving doors. "Far from being antagonists, government agencies and the ... companies they regulate often appear to be a club of elite insiders."

The same government regulation also corrupts science.

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Modern science considers itself 'scientific' because it adheres to a certain methodology. ... The myth of a universal scientific method glosses over many far-from-scientific pristine realities about the sway scientists work in the real world. There is no mention, for example, of the time that a modern researcher spends writing grant proposals; coddling department heads, corporate donors, and government bureaucrats; or engaging in any of the other activities that are necessary to obtain research funding. ... The idea that all scientific experiments are replicated to keep the process honest is also something of a myth. In reality, the number of findings from one scientist that get checked by others is quite small. Most scientists are too busy, research funds are too limited, and the pressure to produce new work is too great for this type of review to occur very often. ... [T]he practice and philosophy of science [has] changed under the pressures of government bureaucracy... Instead of a process for asking questions, it [has] become a dogma, a set of answers imposed by what [is] becoming de facto state religion.
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If you're a CEO or managing director in a global industry like oil or pharmaceuticals, you won't like this book.

Copyright © MeTZelf

another mind cracking tome that feeds your starving neurons some nutrition, for once.

Though many of these ideas will make you mad, you'll be glad you gained the wisdom after trading in the ignorance-is-bliss mentality of the typical drone.

It's nice to know what's really going on in this country.

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5.0 out of 5 stars I Am Happily Aghast -- My 18-Yr-Old Loves It -- Great Gift!
You might call me the "aging hippie mom" wondering when and if my teenaged son would *ever* get passionate about, and see, some important truths of what is happening in... Read more

Published on Dec 6 2003 by Avocadess

5.0 out of 5 stars Believe none of what you hear....
...and only half of what you see. That's how an old friend paraphrased some public figure many years ago. And this book makes that statement far less cynical. Read more

Published on Jun 14 2003 by Timothy P. Scanlon

5.0 out of 5 stars These guys are far better than Michael Moore
It is a bit sad that in our society the loudest mouth gets the most publicity. This is where Michael Moore comes in. Read more

Published on May 28 2003 by Gaetan Lion

4.0 out of 5 stars Modern Marketing
Turn on the tv or radio, open a magazine, or download a computer, and chances are first thing you'll encounter is an advertisement. Read more

Published on May 20 2003 by Douglas Doepke

5.0 out of 5 stars PR-Watch is paying attention!
"Have you forgotten about Alar?" writes another reviewer, explaining that you can't trust Stauber and Rampton to be unbiased. Read more

Published on Feb 1 2003 by Avery Morrow

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
A most excellent and throught provoking book guaranteed to enrage the reader. Rampton and Stauber detail the history and mechanics of PR(or spindoctoring) with plenty of examples... Read more

Published on Sep 14 2002 by R. Clampitt

5.0 out of 5 stars finally!
There isn't enough that I can say about this book so all I'll say is read this book. Get enraged by what this book has to say and then read Guerrilla PR Wired by Michael LEvine... Read more

Published on Aug 29 2002

4.0 out of 5 stars Okay, So Now What Do We Do?
The most revealing aspect of this book is the fact that many scientists are being paid to give "evidence" that conforms to the wishes of corporations, as part of the vast PR... Read more

Published on July 4 2002 by doomsdayer520

5.0 out of 5 stars A needed antidote to corporate spin
Rampton and Stauber's excellent book "Trust Us, We're Experts" shows how the corporate PR industry produces a steady stream of content that is intentionally designed to mislead by... Read more

Published on July 4 2002 by Malvin

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank the authors, buy this book!...
...and read it!

There's something disturbing when you turn the last page of this book: the thought that there's no end to human greed. Read more

Published on Jun 13 2002 by Giancarlo Nicoli

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