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Brainwashing: The science of thought control (Oxford Landmark Science) Paperback – 29 Dec. 2016

by Kathleen Taylor (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 162 ratings
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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.

Oxford Landmark Science books are 'must-read' classics of modern science writing which have crystallized big ideas, and shaped the way we think.
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  1. ISBN-10
    0198798334
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0198798330
  3. Edition
    2nd
  4. Publisher
    OUP Oxford
  5. Publication date
    29 Dec. 2016
  6. Part of series
    Oxford Landmark Science
  7. Language
    English
  8. Dimensions
    19.56 x 3.3 x 12.7 cm
  9. Print length
    528 pages
  10. See all details
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Review

Review from previous edition A magisterially detailed survey... Taylor is never less than direct and engaging. The subject may be difficult but the writing never is. With no hint at all of academic pretension, this is a model of how to make hard science accessible without rendering it impossibly watered down or patronising. This is an outstanding book. Academic researchers and human rights professionals will find it a goldmine of relevant research and information. And anyone else interested in psychology will find it a thrill. ― Focus Magazine 12/2004

The book is to be commended. Taylor writes engagingly. ― THES

I can't remember when I last encountered such a thoroughly argued book which was also so accessible. A miracle of cogency. ― Morning Star

An ambitious and well-written study ― The Guardian

Review

Review from previous edition A magisterially detailed survey... Taylor is never less than direct and engaging. The subject may be difficult but the writing never is. With no hint at all of academic pretension, this is a model of how to make hard science accessible without rendering it impossibly watered down or patronising. This is an outstanding book. Academic researchers and human rights professionals will find it a goldmine of relevant research and information. And anyone else interested in psychology will find it a thrill. ― Focus Magazine 12/2004

The book is to be commended. Taylor writes engagingly. ― THES

I can't remember when I last encountered such a thoroughly argued book which was also so accessible. A miracle of cogency. ― Morning Star

An ambitious and well-written study ― The Guardian

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ OUP Oxford; 2nd edition (29 Dec. 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 528 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0198798334
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0198798330
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 19.56 x 3.3 x 12.7 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 162 ratings

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Kathleen Taylor

Kathleen Taylor

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
162 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book great, fascinating, and an education. They describe the reading quality as profound, engaging, and enlightening. Opinions are mixed on the knowledge level, with some finding it great and accessible, while others say some sections get fairly technical.

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ReadabilityReading qualityHistoryKnowledge level
14 customers mention ‘Readability’14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book great, excellent, and fascinating. They say it's like an education.

"...The book is such a great read because it deals with something that we've probably all been subjected to at some point - hopefully not full blown..." Read more

"...Overall it is an in depth and fascinating book and one that is well worth the effort to read...." Read more

"...In all this is a very enjoyable read fro any one interested in how people battle for our minds and influence our choices and views." Read more

"Good but skips altogether, mind control, al la CIA, which is experienced by millions of targeted individuals worldwide." Read more

13 customers mention ‘Reading quality’13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book profound, engaging, and captivating. They say it's well-researched, well-referenced, and interesting to a broad range of readers. Readers also mention that the author does a good job of defining her subject and providing a good introduction to neuroscience.

"...There's a great deal in this book and it's been well researched and well referenced...." Read more

"...It could quite easily of been a larger font. The notes are also very good, but some information could have been added to the main text to good..." Read more

"I chose this book as part of a research project. It is an easy read however that does not diminish the excellent content...." Read more

"...opinions differ and are pushed forcefully, you will find this an enlightening read...." Read more

3 customers mention ‘History’3 positive0 negative

Customers find the historical roots well-explored. They also appreciate the discussion of terms used for mind influence.

"...It looks at it's history, some methods, coercion in the media and education, the physical attributes of the brain that lend itself to coercion and..." Read more

"...The historical roots are well explored with discussion of the terms used for mind influence ...." Read more

"This book takes a comprehensive look at brainwashing. It looks at the origin, the methods, the ideas, the social and political implications, the..." Read more

8 customers mention ‘Knowledge level’5 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the knowledge level of the book. Some mention it provides a great overview of brainwashing, while others say some sections get fairly technical.

"...It looks at it's history, some methods, coercion in the media and education, the physical attributes of the brain that lend itself to coercion and..." Read more

"...covers the topic in depth and detail, revealing the history of brainwashing as a psychological technique, giving many case histories and examples..." Read more

"...to understand or appreciate the book although some sections do get fairly technical because there's just no simple way to get the complex ideas..." Read more

"...It's as much about how we think and learn as about brain washing...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

brainleek007
5.0 out of 5 stars Eye opening account as to the dangers of coercion
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 December 2006
Verified Purchase
I bought this book after reading a recommendation of it in Focus magazine and am very glad I did.

Kathleen Taylor does a very good job of defining her subject. It's certainly not necessary to have a degree in psychology to understand or appreciate the book although some sections do get fairly technical because there's just no simple way to get the complex ideas across.

Taylor does a great job of highlighting the alarming number of ways in which people seem to be open to brainwashing through various case studies ranging from American personnel captured in Korea to the Manson family and the atrocities they committed.

The book is such a great read because it deals with something that we've probably all been subjected to at some point - hopefully not full blown brainwashing but `influence attempts.' You can't avoid them and this book will hopefully educate you so you are more aware of insidious attempts to control your behaviour. This all sounds very alarmist but one of the main themes of the book is to make us more aware of these attempts so we don't fall for them without questioning. Fortunately for most of us reading in the western world most influence attempts are contained in adverts but obviously politics plays a large role in our lives and the book highlights ways in which political parties attempt to manipulate the populace.

Taylor takes us through the mechanics of the attempts, showing how the people making the attempts at control can subvert our defences and begin to exert more control over us than they really should and she also goes on to explain how, from a psychological viewpoint these attempts achieve success. Very interesting stuff and also very sobering.

The good news is Taylor also provides us with some good ways in which to strengthen our defences against such attempts to control us. Education is paramount - as is not blindly accepting everything that others say - we must learn to question everything!

There's a great deal in this book and it's been well researched and well referenced. A great read for anybody interested in brainwashing for its own sake and psychology in general.
84 people found this helpful
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Sarugumo
5.0 out of 5 stars Brainwashing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 January 2008
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'Brainwashing' is a fascinating and stimulating book exploring the many facets of Brainwashing. It looks at it's history, some methods, coercion in the media and education, the physical attributes of the brain that lend itself to coercion and persuasion, as well as methods to protect yourself from the various influences of Brainwashing you may experience. It is written in an engaging and captivating way and the ideas outlined will stimulate your mind to think in new or different ways. Kathleen Taylor's writing style is very eloquent and easy to read and she makes quite complex ideas extremely accessible. One minor quibble is that the text format is quite small and is therefore hard going on the eyes. It could quite easily of been a larger font. The notes are also very good, but some information could have been added to the main text to good effect. Overall it is an in depth and fascinating book and one that is well worth the effort to read.

Feel free to check out my blog which can be found on my profile page.
43 people found this helpful
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Keith Hopper
4.0 out of 5 stars Thought Control All around us
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 May 2013
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I chose this book as part of a research project. It is an easy read however that does not diminish the excellent content.
The historical roots are well explored with discussion of the terms used for mind influence .
In all this is a very enjoyable read fro any one interested in how people battle for our minds and influence our choices and views.
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Pete
5.0 out of 5 stars A book which says surprisingly little about what you think it will
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 April 2011
Verified Purchase
When you come across a book with the title "Brainwashing: The Science of Thought Control", you expect to open its pages and come across a mixture of conspiracy theory and egotistical mentalism. In fact, this is a book which is probably as far from its perceived title as can possibly be, and arguably for good reason, as the author explains.

The thrust of the author's argument is that the stereotypical notion of brainwashing as thought of by most people who use the term is fundamentally flawed. Specifically, we go looking for zombies and "Yes Master" style Hollywood stories, when in fact such notions belong firmly to the world of fiction rather than fact. This is not surprising when you think about it rationally for a few minutes. Instead, the author explores the much deeper areas behind the notion of brainwashing, and in doing so expands into areas that the reader probably hasn't considered before.

The book is split into three themes of sorts. First, a casual look at the historical uses of brainwashing is covered. The author is keen to point out that the word and concept of what we think of as brainwashing is a relatively new concept, yet the purpose behind (to convert a person from one belief system to another) is far from new at all. Torture has been used throughout the ages to attempt to force people to accept new truths, and as you read on you see how relatively haphazard the results have been.

Secondly, the author delves into the relatively advanced world of neuroscience. Taking an extremely objective and biological consideration of the brain as a reductionist computer, we look at how the brain itself is wired and works. This may seem an overtly complex tangent initially, but is key to the author's argument that simplistic notions of mind-control are pipe dreams. The brain is a fiercely complex organ, and our approaches to control are large-scale and a far distance from the fine grained ideas of individual thought modification.

Lastly, the notional of brainwashing is considered from a philosophical standpoint in relation to society at large. The subject is looked at from both positive and negative perspectives, and the author takes on a fairly abstract approach, covering the very notions of community and education. This goes to show that brainwashing is not an independent process that happens, but is woven into the very fabric of our lives.

This is a relatively advanced book, and if you are used to light casual reading this is not the book for you. Similarly, if you are looking for a tips and techniques to influence people tone, then you will be sadly disappointed. But, if you are willing to take a step back, and look at the wider pictures of how humans interact and what happens when opinions differ and are pushed forcefully, you will find this an enlightening read.

One warning, as another reviewer has pointed out, although the author does her best to be fair and objective, there is a fairly strong anti-religion and collectivism feel to the book. That didn't bother me, and I probably agree with most of her viewpoints, but it may put others off.
26 people found this helpful
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Flat earth Christian
3.0 out of 5 stars Missed the most significant issue in this field
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 June 2015
Verified Purchase
Good but skips altogether, mind control, al la CIA, which is experienced by millions of targeted individuals worldwide.
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Top reviews from other countries

William R. Krapek
5.0 out of 5 stars Even brain washing experts can be brain washed
Reviewed in the United States on 16 April 2023
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Her political commentary throughout the book proves to me she drank the Kool-Aid. (NORMAL people get mad when millions of strangers come crashing through their borders!) But I’m still giving her book five stars. The science is that good. Quite an eye opener!
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Antonio
2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
Reviewed in Spain on 21 March 2021
Verified Purchase
Although it provides some useful information, this book is somehow superficial and disappointing: instead of delving into the techniques of out-and-out brainwashing while mentioning in passing those situations and contexts in which “brainwashing” seems to be perpetrated in a broader sense, the author does quite the reverse, often leaning towards the positions of philosophers and scholars who inspired SJWs and exaggerating so much the extent to which the use of the word “brainwashing” should be allowed that, if we followed the same logic, even her very same book could be considered “brainwashing”.

The examples she offers are also often poor and the style is not so fluent.

Furthermore, the book was written in 2004, and in 2017 just a new short preface was added. The events of the last two years could offer a lot of further material to improve the text and apply its concepts to the peculiar times we’re living in: maybe a totally new, extended edition would be necessary.
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Shashank
2.0 out of 5 stars Nice book to understand the art and science of thought control
Reviewed in India on 3 February 2017
Verified Purchase
In-depth, intriguing, exciting.

It could a a bit difficult to comprehend but once you get it. It gets better.

However I find a bit long read which doesn't provide easy pointers. You have to focus really hard else it could be totally a waste of time
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Koko
5.0 out of 5 stars Brainwashing: The Science of thought control
Reviewed in Canada on 8 May 2013
Verified Purchase
A stunning read for anyone but especially for those interested in personal vulnerability to predatory practices whether in one's personal sphere or in the larger world, e.g., the media.
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janu
4.0 out of 5 stars it is important to get free of brainwashing
Reviewed in France on 10 October 2013
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It is a good book to get conscious of the brainwash of the media and politics.
i enjoy reading this book
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