This Is Not Propaganda: Adventures in the War Against Reality
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- Create Date：2021-06-11 09:56:18
- Update Date：2025-09-07
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- Author：Peter Pomerantsev
- ISBN：057133864X
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Summary
The TIMES and EVENING STANDARD BOOK OF THE WEEK
'The world's most powerful people are lying like never before， and no one understands the art of their lies like Peter Pomerantsev。' Oliver Bullough， author of Moneyland: The Inside Story of the Crooks and Kleptocrats Who Rule the World
When information is a weapon， everyone is at war。
We live in a world of influence operations run amok， a world of dark ads， psy-ops， hacks， bots， soft facts， ISIS， Putin， trolls， Trump。 We've lost not only our sense of peace and democracy - but our sense of what those words even mean。
As Peter Pomerantsev seeks to make sense of the disinformation age， he meets Twitter revolutionaries and pop-up populists， 'behavioural change' salesmen， Jihadi fan-boys， Identitarians， truth cops， and much more。 Forty years after his dissident parents were pursued by the KGB， he finds the Kremlin re-emerging as a great propaganda power。 His research takes him back to Russia - but the answers he finds there are surprising。
Part reportage， part intellectual adventure， This is Not Propaganda is a Pynchon-like exploration of how we can reimagine our politics and ourselves in a time where truth has been turned topsy-turvy。
'Through our current smog of smouldering bullshit， This is Not Propaganda shines a necessary， humane and dissident light。' Nick Rankin， author of Churchill's Wizards: the British Genius for Deception 1914-1945
'The world's most powerful people are lying like never before， and no one understands the art of their lies like Peter Pomerantsev。' Oliver Bullough， author of Moneyland: The Inside Story of the Crooks and Kleptocrats Who Rule the World
When information is a weapon， everyone is at war。
We live in a world of influence operations run amok， a world of dark ads， psy-ops， hacks， bots， soft facts， ISIS， Putin， trolls， Trump。 We've lost not only our sense of peace and democracy - but our sense of what those words even mean。
As Peter Pomerantsev seeks to make sense of the disinformation age， he meets Twitter revolutionaries and pop-up populists， 'behavioural change' salesmen， Jihadi fan-boys， Identitarians， truth cops， and much more。 Forty years after his dissident parents were pursued by the KGB， he finds the Kremlin re-emerging as a great propaganda power。 His research takes him back to Russia - but the answers he finds there are surprising。
Part reportage， part intellectual adventure， This is Not Propaganda is a Pynchon-like exploration of how we can reimagine our politics and ourselves in a time where truth has been turned topsy-turvy。
'Through our current smog of smouldering bullshit， This is Not Propaganda shines a necessary， humane and dissident light。' Nick Rankin， author of Churchill's Wizards: the British Genius for Deception 1914-1945
Reviews
Arhondi
，
Α very intriguing read。 Wish it was fiction。。。but it's all true。 Α very intriguing read。 Wish it was fiction。。。but it's all true。 。。。more
David Gilani
，
Really enjoyed this one。 5 great case studies into how propaganda is operating in the 21st Century。 Very worrying reading for anyone who is a fan of liberal democracies。 It's also very well pitched in terms of level of information。 Most of us will have heard about Russian bots and Cambridge Analytica。 It does very well at going in much more deep beyond those headlines。 Thoroughly recommend it to anyone who is interested in politics （and technology's influence on it）。 I didn't give it 5 stars bec Really enjoyed this one。 5 great case studies into how propaganda is operating in the 21st Century。 Very worrying reading for anyone who is a fan of liberal democracies。 It's also very well pitched in terms of level of information。 Most of us will have heard about Russian bots and Cambridge Analytica。 It does very well at going in much more deep beyond those headlines。 Thoroughly recommend it to anyone who is interested in politics （and technology's influence on it）。 I didn't give it 5 stars because I found the personal interludes of his family's story through the Soviet Union a little disjointed from the rest of the story。 They didn't add to it in my opinion。 。。。more
Anya Nakhmurina
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Very moving and incredibly well written。 Main message: smm is a new control tool used by politicians。 While the old persuasion methods too， also used ‘us vs。 them’ dichotomy， it can now work better because it can cater ‘us vs。 them’ messages to granular groups。 It works as in the post Cold War， post financial crisis world people struggle for identity and crave to assign blame for their hardships。Powered by family history， the story and the message holds together so well that I can’t help but won Very moving and incredibly well written。 Main message: smm is a new control tool used by politicians。 While the old persuasion methods too， also used ‘us vs。 them’ dichotomy， it can now work better because it can cater ‘us vs。 them’ messages to granular groups。 It works as in the post Cold War， post financial crisis world people struggle for identity and crave to assign blame for their hardships。Powered by family history， the story and the message holds together so well that I can’t help but wonder about potential omissions。 Relatedly I would have enjoyed the book more if the author actually used academic studies to evaluate his claims。 。。。more
Valentyna Merzhyievska
，
Люблю， коли книжка породжує більше запитань， аніж дає відповідей。Стільки всього цікавого - про радянських дисидентів， сербський Отпор і російські ботоферми。 Про підліткові пранки， симуляцію громадської думки і загалом керування масами в онлайновому суспільстві。Інформація перестала бути просто фіксацією події， натомість стала її метою。 Шикарний розділ про популізм і таргетовані вибори - скільки всього ми недобачаємо， чи не хочемо добачати。 Бо ніразу неясно， що з цим всим робити。。。Світ продовжує п Люблю， коли книжка породжує більше запитань， аніж дає відповідей。Стільки всього цікавого - про радянських дисидентів， сербський Отпор і російські ботоферми。 Про підліткові пранки， симуляцію громадської думки і загалом керування масами в онлайновому суспільстві。Інформація перестала бути просто фіксацією події， натомість стала її метою。 Шикарний розділ про популізм і таргетовані вибори - скільки всього ми недобачаємо， чи не хочемо добачати。 Бо ніразу неясно， що з цим всим робити。。。Світ продовжує підсовувати мені думки про книгочитання: "Що більше людина читає художньої літератури， то більше спроможна уявити реальність відмінну від тієї， що її оточує。"А ще， дуже сподобалась теза про те， що зміна ставлення не означає зміну поведінки。 Щоб змінити поведінку， треба зрозуміти чому люди так діють， навіщо - це взагалі має дуже широке коло застосування。Коли читала книгу， подумала， що в сучаному світі ведення особистого щоденника може бути дієвим інструментом відстеження зміни поглядів。 У час， коли визначальними стають не ідеї， а емоції。 Емоції дуже потужні， але водночас швидкоплинні。 Тому， коли перечитуєш， власноруч написане рік-пару років тому， те， що дуже сильно хвилювало тоді， але якось втратило свій драматизм нині。 Стає набагато легше відсювати справжнє від навіяного。 Зменшувати градус емоційності， а отже take back control над власними поглядами。 。。。more
Alexander McLeese
，
I dunno， maybe I was expecting more from this book or maybe I was hoodwinked by the Unicorn on the front cover and broke the golden rule and judged this book by its cover。 Certain parts were ok and then there were parts which made me think the books title must be a kind of 'tongue in cheek' joke。 I dunno， maybe I was expecting more from this book or maybe I was hoodwinked by the Unicorn on the front cover and broke the golden rule and judged this book by its cover。 Certain parts were ok and then there were parts which made me think the books title must be a kind of 'tongue in cheek' joke。 。。。more
Jenna Spinelle
，
Peter's book and subsequent work offer both an analysis of the current problems in our information ecosystem and creative suggestions for how we can address those problems。 I especially appreciate the connection he draws between the spread of disinformation in Russia in the 1990s and 2000s and how it subsequently spread to the West in the years since。I had the opportunity to talk with him about addressing the demand for disinformation and making the Internet more democratic for a podcast I host Peter's book and subsequent work offer both an analysis of the current problems in our information ecosystem and creative suggestions for how we can address those problems。 I especially appreciate the connection he draws between the spread of disinformation in Russia in the 1990s and 2000s and how it subsequently spread to the West in the years since。I had the opportunity to talk with him about addressing the demand for disinformation and making the Internet more democratic for a podcast I host and produce。 The episode is available here:https://democracyworks。simplecast。com。。。 。。。more
Valeriia Arnaud
，
отзыв после встречи клуба :Рда， вот такая дешёвая интригаupd: это самая бестолковая книга， что я читала в этом году。 Ноль новой информации， личная история， которую я не просила， размазанное повествование， и， повторюсь， ноль новой информации。
Alistair Soutter
，
An interesting introductory read on propaganda and its place in the modern world。
Joonas
，
Pomerantsevi "Tõde ei ole olemas ja kõik on võimalik" oli raamatuna sümpaatsem kui "See ei ole propaganda"。Kuna autor puudutab üsna lühikeses raamatus nii Filipiine， Süüriat， Ameerika Ühendriike， Venemaad， Ukrainat， Eestit jm tekkis kahtlus， et kui palju on Pomerantsevi ajakirjanduslik stiil saanud inspiratsiooni ilukirjandusest。Olles Eesti teemaga paremini kursis， jäi mulje， et pigem kaldus ta faktitruudusele ning ei astunud liialdamise ahvatlevale teele。Autor oma venevastasusest saladust ei te Pomerantsevi "Tõde ei ole olemas ja kõik on võimalik" oli raamatuna sümpaatsem kui "See ei ole propaganda"。Kuna autor puudutab üsna lühikeses raamatus nii Filipiine， Süüriat， Ameerika Ühendriike， Venemaad， Ukrainat， Eestit jm tekkis kahtlus， et kui palju on Pomerantsevi ajakirjanduslik stiil saanud inspiratsiooni ilukirjandusest。Olles Eesti teemaga paremini kursis， jäi mulje， et pigem kaldus ta faktitruudusele ning ei astunud liialdamise ahvatlevale teele。Autor oma venevastasusest saladust ei tee。 Kreml=venemaa=paha on ka raamatu läbiv noot。 Pomerantsevi perekonna läbielamised annavad ka koodi tema positsiooni mõistmiseks。 Samas toonitab raamat justkui aus kallutatus （nt selgelt parempoolne telekanal） oleks samaväärselt halb selle läbipaistmatu vormiga。Paar mõtteidu jäi raamatust kõlama。 Kas või huvitav tähelepanek， kuidas pärast sõnavabaduse välja võitlemist on need， kelle käest see kätte võideti （autoritaarsed režiimid） hakanud sõnavabadust kasutama selle hävitamiseks。 Keelamise asemel lihtsalt röögitakse ja trollitakse kuni keegi ei saa aru， mis sõnumid tulevad kodanikualgatustelt ja millised kehtivalt võimult。 Sõnavabadust ei piirata， vaid kuritarvitatakse。 Vastuseid muidugi ei ole ning eks küsimusigi on hõredalt。Teemadering on Pomerantsevil lai ning rohkem või vähem sujuvalt hüppab ta trollivabrikutest Islamiriigi manipulatsioonitehnikateni。 Lõpuks ei saagi aru， kas nendel lugudel on mingi ühine punane niit või mitte。 Justkui info。 Justkui tänapäev。 Aga kaante vahel on teemad， mis on sarnased ainult näiliselt。Mõnes mõttes on tegemist kerge dokumentaalfilmi või TEDtalkiga， mis midagi justkui avab， aga pärast liigud sama nõutult edasi。 Kindlasti mängib selles oma rolli asjaolu， et raamat on loodud autori artiklite baasilt， mitte nullist tühjale lõuendile。 Oleks võinud rohkem raputada。 。。。more
Φίλ
，
This makes me sad， Homo Sapiens Sapiens are so easily manipulated （NB 'sapiens'， depending on who one asks， means 'wise' or 'able to discern'。。。 clearly a misnomer）。As someone who is often in the minority （sometimes of one and to my detriment） this phenomenon baffles me。 I also double and triple check anything I read online， with today's technology it is very easy。This is a demoralising book about amoral （f？t？）ools who dupe stupid people into believing， and sometimes acting upon， whatever is the This makes me sad， Homo Sapiens Sapiens are so easily manipulated （NB 'sapiens'， depending on who one asks， means 'wise' or 'able to discern'。。。 clearly a misnomer）。As someone who is often in the minority （sometimes of one and to my detriment） this phenomenon baffles me。 I also double and triple check anything I read online， with today's technology it is very easy。This is a demoralising book about amoral （f？t？）ools who dupe stupid people into believing， and sometimes acting upon， whatever is the flavour of the month。 Beside reading certain articles and checking their sources （on Brave） my only presence online is this site （where no one can comment on my reviews and good luck trying to friend me）， my email （which I check once or twice a week） - oh， and I do not own a cellphone。 The back and forth between childhood memories and present day is OK but it often broke the flow of the narrative。 At the very least， this provides me with a good reason to be apolitical。 。。。more
Oleska Tys
，
Це книга зовсім не про пропаганду і як її розпізнавати。 Від слова "зовсім"。Пітер Померанцев у своїй книзі "Це не пропаганда" зосередився на набагато важливішому аспекті пропаганди （на мою думку） - як впливає пропаганда на людей， політику та світ загалом。 І я думаю， що це чудово 👌。6 історій з усього світу， які перевернуть ваше бачення впливу та чому поняття" пропаганда - це погано" не є актуальним。 Від США та Мексики до України та Естонії， пропаганда керує світом。 От тільки ще 30 років тому вона Це книга зовсім не про пропаганду і як її розпізнавати。 Від слова "зовсім"。Пітер Померанцев у своїй книзі "Це не пропаганда" зосередився на набагато важливішому аспекті пропаганди （на мою думку） - як впливає пропаганда на людей， політику та світ загалом。 І я думаю， що це чудово 👌。6 історій з усього світу， які перевернуть ваше бачення впливу та чому поняття" пропаганда - це погано" не є актуальним。 Від США та Мексики до України та Естонії， пропаганда керує світом。 От тільки ще 30 років тому вона була у руках телебачення та газет， сьогодні ж вона захопила інтернет。 Кіперхарасмент， переслідування в мережі， погрози та" вбивчі" коментарі - тепер значно простіше розкрутити з ніщо велику проблему， вкласти в голови людям "кого вони хочуть бачити президентом" та за допомогою одного фото чи фрази розв'язати невеличку війну десь на Сході чи між картелями у Мексиці。Сучасність легко перемережана з минулим。 Пропаганда в СРСР， тоді коли лиш соціалізм - "вершина всього"， "враги народа" та дисиденство。 Автор не з переказів розповідає не просту правду。 Як， що і коли， та чому вчення союзу досі не вмерло。Цікаво， актуально та отверезливо - саме те， що треба ✔️ 。。。more
Denise
，
We live in the era of "post-truth" and "alternative facts"， two phrases that are likely to haunt us for a long time to come。 This is an interesting and alarming look at information warfare， manipulation via social media， and propaganda in the digital age， a topic both timely and of considerable importance。 We live in the era of "post-truth" and "alternative facts"， two phrases that are likely to haunt us for a long time to come。 This is an interesting and alarming look at information warfare， manipulation via social media， and propaganda in the digital age， a topic both timely and of considerable importance。 。。。more
Roz Charles
，
An excellent path through information operations globally and over a broad span of time。 From the USSR to Brexit this book covers information warfare in detail， while still remaining engaging and enjoyable。 An excellent read。
Grayson Ruhl
，
A text that should probably be required for all political science students and anyone with an interest in the future of politics。 It touches on many major topics such as the begging of media manipulation and moves into populism and identity constructions。 Almost every chapter is linked with a story from the author’s parents’ experience as dissidents in Soviet Ukraine and their experiences after exile in the West。 Overall it’s a very relevant piece for the current times and is easy and fun to rea A text that should probably be required for all political science students and anyone with an interest in the future of politics。 It touches on many major topics such as the begging of media manipulation and moves into populism and identity constructions。 Almost every chapter is linked with a story from the author’s parents’ experience as dissidents in Soviet Ukraine and their experiences after exile in the West。 Overall it’s a very relevant piece for the current times and is easy and fun to read。 。。。more
Martina Seveso
，
Un libro che tutti dovrebbero leggere per capire il mondo in cui viviamo。 Magnifico
Jakub
，
This book reads like a long-form Adam Curtis documentary。 Intelligently draws on historical and contemporary stories to draw a picture of the modern "information abundance" without offerin many answers， leaving the reader to make up their own mind。 This book reads like a long-form Adam Curtis documentary。 Intelligently draws on historical and contemporary stories to draw a picture of the modern "information abundance" without offerin many answers， leaving the reader to make up their own mind。 。。。more
Grzegorz
，
Żyjemy， przynajmniej w części， w świecie postprawdy i postfaktów。 Łatwiej jest nam przyjąć na naszych kontach społecznościowych codzienną porcję tych postnewsów przygotowanych przez „researchera”， który nawet nie jest człowiekiem （a tylko jakimś botem， czy innym podobnym）， niż szukać i dociekać prawdy。。。 Być może „To nie jest propaganda。。。” to jeszcze jedno z ostatnich ostrzeżeń przed popadnięciem ludzkości w całkowity informacyjny zamęt。
Catherine
，
If anything gets me off twitter， it will be this book。 Holy smokes！
Max
，
A very strong focus on Russia。 With some excursions into other active measures initiators。 Would love to know more about China's way。 A very strong focus on Russia。 With some excursions into other active measures initiators。 Would love to know more about China's way。 。。。more
Alasdair
，
Pomerantsev sets out with chilling clarity how， instead of suppressing free speech， some governments or institutions now weaponise it instead and exploit an 'abundance of information' to drown out reasoned argument -and that even when we know they're doing it， on the whole we don't care as long as we like the message。 Pomerantsev sets out with chilling clarity how， instead of suppressing free speech， some governments or institutions now weaponise it instead and exploit an 'abundance of information' to drown out reasoned argument -and that even when we know they're doing it， on the whole we don't care as long as we like the message。 。。。more
Stephen Higham
，
Very readable， well researched， makes sense in a chaotic digital world。
Nicole Abiad
，
A timely discussion on the interconnected threads of global disinformation and authoritarian hijacking of nonviolent movement。 The information is not groundbreaking but provides insight into ongoing debate
Beppe Longo
，
Lettura interessante ma per raggiungere le 5 stelle avrebbe， a mio modesto avviso， affrontare anche il tema dei Whistleblowers e di come viene gestito il tentativo di fare luce sulla propaganda ufficiale o sull'occultamento delle informazioni。 Lettura interessante ma per raggiungere le 5 stelle avrebbe， a mio modesto avviso， affrontare anche il tema dei Whistleblowers e di come viene gestito il tentativo di fare luce sulla propaganda ufficiale o sull'occultamento delle informazioni。 。。。more
Denim
，
I appreciated the interspersing of politics with the stories from Pomerantsev's family being forced to leave Soviet Ukraine， his father working for BBC， moving to Germany and attending a "European School"。 Interesting insights into how Odesa resisted the "information war" that plunged the Donbas region into real， physical， civil war。 I appreciated the interspersing of politics with the stories from Pomerantsev's family being forced to leave Soviet Ukraine， his father working for BBC， moving to Germany and attending a "European School"。 Interesting insights into how Odesa resisted the "information war" that plunged the Donbas region into real， physical， civil war。 。。。more
Alex Bumpers
，
Favorite book I've read on disinformation。 Adds a personal touch by including letters from his parents who lived in the USSR。 Favorite book I've read on disinformation。 Adds a personal touch by including letters from his parents who lived in the USSR。 。。。more
Christian
，
This was pretty good， but I feel like you kind of get the idea a few chapters in。 I don't know if it's just that I'm personally a bit bored of post-truth kind of stuff， but I didn't really feel like I was learning anything that revolutionary。 Interesting refutation of the idea that this post-truth thing is a new phenomenon， and explanation of the way in which it is not intended to make people believe lies， but to believe nothing。 Made me distrust Russia more。 This was pretty good， but I feel like you kind of get the idea a few chapters in。 I don't know if it's just that I'm personally a bit bored of post-truth kind of stuff， but I didn't really feel like I was learning anything that revolutionary。 Interesting refutation of the idea that this post-truth thing is a new phenomenon， and explanation of the way in which it is not intended to make people believe lies， but to believe nothing。 Made me distrust Russia more。 。。。more
Sam Pidgeon
，
Did not like this book at all。 I found it very boring and I did not get on well with the narrator。 It was recommended to me as part of reading for a behavior change module at university but I don't think I learnt anything from it。 Maybe I have a better insight into Soviet Russia but that is it。 Maybe I knew too much prior to reading this that the contents did not shock me or compel me to keep reading。 I would have not finished it but it was a course requirement。 Did not like this book at all。 I found it very boring and I did not get on well with the narrator。 It was recommended to me as part of reading for a behavior change module at university but I don't think I learnt anything from it。 Maybe I have a better insight into Soviet Russia but that is it。 Maybe I knew too much prior to reading this that the contents did not shock me or compel me to keep reading。 I would have not finished it but it was a course requirement。 。。。more
Frank D'hanis junior
，
Bit of a mixed bag， interesting book， interviews with lots of interesting people， who were often involved in key political events of the last twenty years， but the total absence of some kind of theory turned it into a pretty reading experience。 The book didn't stick with me， and I'm sure I will have forgotten most of it already at the end of this week。 This non-stickiness is not due to a lack of trying on the part of the author， he has deliberately woven in （mercifully short） extra chapters abou Bit of a mixed bag， interesting book， interviews with lots of interesting people， who were often involved in key political events of the last twenty years， but the total absence of some kind of theory turned it into a pretty reading experience。 The book didn't stick with me， and I'm sure I will have forgotten most of it already at the end of this week。 This non-stickiness is not due to a lack of trying on the part of the author， he has deliberately woven in （mercifully short） extra chapters about the story of his Russian Sovjet emigré family to make thing narratively more appealing。 For me this was like adding an irrelevant， badly written novel to a book of non-fiction that could have been so much more。 A very telling part of the problem with the book reveals itself when in the final sentences he tells about the return of his family to London。 He stands questioningly on the hill in front of the kids' school wondering what "we" will be in the future。 Russian？ Ukranian？ English？ His children provide him with the answer they are respectively "batman" and "superman"。 The liberal dream of vanquishing the nation in favour of a hyperindividualist and consumerist form of identity surfaces most clearly at this final point。 The book seems blind for the capitalist roots for many of the politicial problems it describes and since its starting point and the only conceptual frame it seems to possess is that of the family uprooted by （sovjet） authoritarianism， this makes sense。 It is in the end， just another （neo）liberal elegy for a democratic world state that has never existed and probably never will， and wherein the only possible remaining value is freedom， to the detriment of everything else。 。。。more
Dan Squire
，
This is a chilling and really important read。 It's incredibly insightful if， like me， you're interested in how conspiracy theories propagate， how information war is carried out， how social media is used to radicalise people， how political operatives and foreign agents manipulate our own biases against us。I was concerned that the book would dwell too much on Trump and Brexit， instead of taking the wider view， but I was impressed by the scope。 Pomerantsev travels from the Philippines to Mexico， Es This is a chilling and really important read。 It's incredibly insightful if， like me， you're interested in how conspiracy theories propagate， how information war is carried out， how social media is used to radicalise people， how political operatives and foreign agents manipulate our own biases against us。I was concerned that the book would dwell too much on Trump and Brexit， instead of taking the wider view， but I was impressed by the scope。 Pomerantsev travels from the Philippines to Mexico， Estonia， Russia， Serbia， China and elsewhere， although the thrust of his argument is focused on Russia and the former USSR。 In particular， he investigates information war in the context of Russia's invasion of the Crimea， and genocide in the Syrian Civil War – the latter of which is especially heartbreaking。The book is at times terrifying but also touching， as he weaves in the story of his parents' flight from Soviet Ukraine。 I read the whole thing in less than 24 hours – highly recommended。 。。。more
Megan
，