Product Description

Centred on research into the US media, but drawing off evidence from the English-language media worldwide, this text is based on the Massey Lectures in Canada. Noam Chomsky argues that the media operate in the service of powerful institutions rather than in opposition to them and are inevitably a part of the governing hegemony. He demonstrates that the media is indivisible from the system that it commentates on. He uncovers the veneer of propaganda that portrays the media as a servant of free speech and democracy. Chomsky is the author of numerous books including "Turning the Tide", "The Fateful Triangle" and "The Culture of Terrorism".

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #63192 in Books
• Published on: 1989-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 432 pages

Review
'A superb polemicist who combines fluency of language with a formidable intellect.' Observer 'Must be read by everyone concerned with public affairs.' Edward Said

About the Author
Noam Chomsky is a world renowned linguist and one of America's foremost social critics. He is Institute Professor in the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the author of numerous books.

Customer Reviews

He does it again
I became involved in a lengthy argument about Chomsky the other day, and found myself sticking up for him against accusations that he was either a dangerous subversive, or (at least) so hopelessly biased against the United States that his views could be of marginal relevance only in the "real world".

The experience reinforced my impression that those who seek to criticise Chomsky's analysis almost always seem to be playing the man rather than the ball, i.e. to be taking issue not with what he says, but why he says it, and/or what the consequences of it might be.

To me, one of the most (seemingly) overlooked aspects of what Chomsky says is that it is largely independent of any particular political perspective. He often refers (with some scorn) to those now referred to as "conservatives" (a travesty of usage), which I think underlines the point that one could be a small "c" conservative in the true sense of the term and still agree with the central tenets of Chomsky's analysis. For example, acceptance of the "propoganda model" as a reasonable fit for the known facts about the performance of the US mainstream media does not require any broader political accommodation on the part of the reader. Nor does it demand any particular conclusions. A statist reactionary could accept the model, and approve of the picture it presents, or even argue that state/corporate influence over the media does not go far enough. An anarchist could accept the model, and condemn the resulting picture as a depressing illustration of the inability of most human beings to think and act outside of constraints set and reinforced by self-interested power.

"Necessary Illusions" is well up to the standard of Chomsky's other work, and enlarges upon the themes of propoganda and indoctrination developed in "Manufacturing Consent". The examples are, as usual, extremely well-chosen, and meticulously set out.

We are extremely fortunate to have him. If only more people in positions of power would take what he says seriously.

Great book? No I should say one of the greatest book...
This book does not need any review. This is an eye opener book, you can see the reality of today's life without especial filter of media and governments...

I recommend this book to everybody (no matter the age, sex, etc)