Toxic Sludge Is Good For You

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Lies, Damn Lies and the Public Relations Industry

by John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton

Publisher: Common Courage Press, Monroe, Maine

Bookstore price: $16.95

ISBN 1-56751-060-4

Ask for it in your local bookstore or order it directly. To order by mail, send $15/book (includes postage & handling) to: CMD, 520 University Avenue, Suite 260, Madison, WI 53703.

• Description
• Reviews
• Contents
• About the Authors
• Order Online
• Read an Excerpt: How PR Helped Sell the War in the Persian Gulf
• Sample chapter: "The Sludge Hits the Fan" (PDF download)

"Terrific! Don't miss it."
--Molly Ivins

Publisher's Weekly describes Toxic Sludge Is Good For You as "a chilling analysis of the PR business...a cautionary reminder that much of the consumer and political world is created by for-hire mouthpieces in expensive neckties."

Since its publication in late 1995, Toxic Sludge has already gone into its sixth printing amid rave reviews. It's been featured on ABC-TV's Good Morning America, National Public Radio's Marketplace, and in scores of other radio, TV and print stories.

You've read the book, now see the video!

WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING

"A chilling expose."

--Tom Vanderbilt, Village Voice Literary Supplement, 11/95

"Toxic Sludge should appear on the short list of anyone serious about the study of public relations in the United States."

--Paul Swift, Public Relations Quarterly, Fall 1996

"An instant classic!"

--Norman Solomon, author

"Written with humor and outrage at the public relations industry's worst excesses."

--Utne Reader, January/February 1996

"A startling portrait of the poisoning of the American democratic process by the nation's professional spin doctors... exposes the bare-knuckled, invisible hand guiding and shaping public opinions."

--Will Fantle, The Progressive, 12/95

"A real eye-opener."

--O'Dwyer's PR Services Report, 10/95

"A font of knowledge on the anti-knowledge biz."

--Leslie Savan, Village Voice, 12/12/95

"A powerful indictment of an industry 'designed to alter perception, reshape reality and manufacture consent.' "

--Laura Castaneda, Dallas Morning News, 12/17/95

"Terrific! Don't miss it."

--Molly Ivins, author

"Revealing and motivating."

--Ralph Nader, consumer advocate

"Important ... unmasks how corporations manipulate our democracy."

--William Greider, author, Who Will Tell The People

"Exposes how far we've tumbled down the dark hole of 'Newspeak' that Orwell warned about ... it could be the flashlight to find our way out."

--Jim Hightower, author and commentator

"A well-written, enlightening look at a war of the powerful against society."

--Edward Herman, co-author, Manufacturing Consent

"Great book - I love it!"

--Bill Lutz, founder, Doublespeak Quarterly

"Helps us see corporate crime and media distortion up close."

--Jeff Cohen, Executive Director, Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR)

"Powerful."

--Ben Bagdikian, author, The Media Monopoly

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Torches of Liberty, by Mark Dowie

CHAPTERS

1. Burning Books Before They're Printed
2. The Art of the Hustle and the Science of Propaganda
3. Smokers' Hacks
4. Spinning the Atom
5. Spies For Hire
6. Divide and Conquer
7. Poisoning the Grassroots
8. The Sludge Hits the Fan
9. Silencing Spring
10. The Torturers' Lobby
11. All the News That's Fit to Print
12. Taking Back Your Own Back Yard

APPENDICES

PR Industry Leaders

The Clorox PR Crisis Plan

Suggested Reading

Notes

Index