The Hidden Persuaders
#1349 of 2,654 all-time
The Hidden Persuaders
Vance Packard
5 people recommended it in 5 threads, 2015–2020.
What people on Hacker News said
It shows how the ad world is working hard to persuade you. It convinced me to always question what are represented as facts by ads or the media. A healthy skepticism has served me very well.
A brisk, authoritative and frightening report on how manufacturers, fundraisers and politicians are attempting to turn the American mind into a kind of catatonic dough that will buy, give or vote at their command--The New Yorker
It's old and some say it's exaggerated in parts, but some of the mechanisms and tricks explained are everywhere. We swim in a sea of marketing.
Ymmv but I got a good grip on gimmicks from The Hidden Persuaders by Vance Packard
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: What are the best unknown books you have read? 2020 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What books have you read in the first half of 2016? 2016 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Best books you've read in 2015 2015 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Best books or videos to get better at sales? 2015 · 1 recommendation