Brainwashing, Kathleen Taylor
Brainwashing, Kathleen Taylor
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Brainwashing
The Science of Thought Control

Author: Kathleen Taylor

Narrator: Jennifer M. Dixon

Unabridged: 15 hr 2 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 09/04/2018

Synopsis

Throughout history, humans have attempted to influence and control the thoughts of others. Since the word 'brainwashing' was coined in the aftermath of the Korean War, it has become part of the popular culture and been exploited to create sensational headlines. It has also been the subject of learned discussion from many disciplines: including history, sociology, psychology, and psychotherapy. But until now, a crucial part of the debate has been missing: that of any serious reference to the science of the human brain. Descriptions of how opinions can be changed, whether by persuasion, deceit, or force, have been almost entirely psychological.

In Brainwashing, Kathleen Taylor brought the worlds of neuroscience and social psychology together for the first time. In elegant and accessible prose, and with abundant use of anecdotes and case-studies, she examines the ethical problems involved in carrying out the required experiments on humans, the limitations of animal models, and the frightening implications of such research. She also explores the history of thought-control and shows how it persists all around us, from marketing and television, to politics and education.

This edition includes a new preface from the author reflecting on the uses of brainwashing today, including by the Islamic State.

About Kathleen Taylor

Kathleen Taylor studied physiology and philosophy at the University of Oxford. After a research MS at Stirling University, working on brain chemistry, she returned to Oxford to do a PhD in visual neuroscience and postdoctoral work on cognitive neuroscience. In 2003 she won two national writing awards, and decided to leave the uncertain and challenging world of academic science for the even more uncertain and challenging world of science writing. Her interests range across brain research and psychology-from consciousness to cruelty, dyslexia to dementia. Her books include Brainwashing, Cruelty, The Brain Supremacy, and The Fragile Brain.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Shaun

While Taylor does discuss hardcore brainwashing (think Communist China), its uses, and its potential future, which in a technological age is kind of scary, much of the book (the really interesting part) deals with a more insidious, though milder, form of thought control, particularly that which is a......more

Goodreads review by Mizuki

I read this book for my fanfic-writing. The information within is very useful, but the text itself is a bit dry.........more

Goodreads review by Lena

I got this book hoping that it would provide me with scientific evidence that would help me develop a more informed opinion on the controversial issue of brainwashing. Unfortunately, Taylor points out that it is ethically impossible to conduct controlled brainwashing studies, so I did not find the s......more

Goodreads review by Nerine

This is possibly one of the most important books I've read in a long while. As someone trained in media studies and employed within an advertising-driven environment, I understand all too well how modern media manipulate people. Kathleen Taylor offers readers a basic breakdown with reference to furt......more

Goodreads review by Cav

Man is the strangest animal... Many, if not most of his actions are not grounded in any semblance of rationality or reason. This makes studying him so interesting, and why I am drawn to the field of social psychology. Brainwashing: The Science of Thought Control is an incredibly interesting book......more

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