Mind Control
Books
"Whatever games are played with us, we must play no games with ourselves, but deal in our privacy with the last honesty and truth."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Totalitarianism is not a coincidence and does not form in a vacuum. It arises from a collective psychosis that has followed a predictable script throughout history, its formation gaining strength and speed with each generation — from the Jacobins to the Nazis and Stalinists — as technology advances. Governments, mass media, and other mechanized forces use fear, loneliness, and isolation to demoralize populations and exert control, persuading large groups of people to act against their own interests, always with destructive results.
In The Psychology of Totalitarianism, world-renowned Professor of Clinical Psychology Mattias Desmet deconstructs the societal conditions that allow this collective psychosis to take hold. By looking at our current situation and identifying the phenomenon of "mass formation" — a type of collective hypnosis — he clearly illustrates how close we are to surrendering to totalitarian regimes.
With detailed analyses, examples, and results from years of research, Desmet lays out the steps that lead toward mass formation, including:
- An overall sense of loneliness and lack of social connections and bonds;
- A lack of meaning — unsatisfying "bullshit jobs" that don't offer purpose;
- Free-floating anxiety and discontent that arise from loneliness and lack of meaning;
- Manifestation of frustration and aggression from anxiety;
- Emergence of a consistent narrative from government officials, mass media, etc., that exploits and channels frustration and anxiety.
In addition to clear psychological analysis — and building on Hannah Arendt's essential work on totalitarianism, The Origins of Totalitarianism — Desmet offers a sharp critique of the cultural groupthink that exists throughout society. He cautions against the dangers of our current cultural landscape, media consumption, and reliance on manipulative technologies and then offers simple solutions — both individual and collective — to prevent the willing sacrifice of our freedoms."
"We can honor the right to freedom of expression and the right to self-determination without feeling threatened by each other," Desmet writes. "But there is a point where we must stop losing ourselves in the crowd to experience meaning and connection. That is the point where the winter of totalitarianism gives way to a spring of life."
"In the first book, Truman Verdun interpreted Desmet's compelling concept that had lit the internet ablaze with its provocative thesis anchored in both mass psychology and observations of the COVID pandemic. Since that time, the post-Omicron world has rolled on to other disasters, manias, and media-fueled distractions and inventions. This second "In Brief" by Truman Verdun covers a range of new material, including much original content and select syntheses of Desmet's later ideas that may have been only lightly treated in the first book. Like the nimble, clear, and common sense first volume, this one gets to the heart of the matter succinctly, and with a warmly humane and perceptive touch."
"An excellent digest of the essential ideas behind the otherwise mystifying behavior of mobs and crowds. A must-read." ~ James Howard Kunstler
"Truman Verdun draws upon authors including Gustav Le Bon, George Orwell, Eric Hoffer, Joost Meerloo, Jacques Ellul, and Hannah Arendt to help frame and interpret Desmet's message. Verdun presents Desmet's theory with care and respect, while also expanding the discussion in various places. A reader seeking a clear and insightful introduction would do well with this accessible and affordable treatment."
"Since the original publication of Nudge more than a decade ago, the title has entered the vocabulary of business people, policy makers, engaged citizens, and consumers everywhere. The book has given rise to more than 400 "nudge units" in governments around the world and countless groups of behavioral scientists in every part of the economy. It has taught us how to use thoughtful "choice architecture"—a concept the authors invented—to help us make better decisions for ourselves, our families, and our society.
Now, the authors have rewritten the book from cover to cover, making use of their experiences in and out of government over the past dozen years as well as an explosion of new research in numerous academic disciplines. To commit themselves to never undertaking this daunting task again, they are calling this the "final edition." It offers a wealth of new insights, for both its avowed fans and newcomers to the field, about a wide variety of issues that we face in our daily lives—COVID-19, health, personal finance, retirement savings, credit card debt, home mortgages, medical care, organ donation, climate change, and "sludge" (paperwork and other nuisances we don't want, and that keep us from getting what we do want)—all while honoring one of the cardinal rules of nudging: make it fun!"
"UPDATED IN 2026. A rare and penetrating account by a former CBC and Al Jazeera newsroom insider of how the news skews our perceptions and disorients society
In Veils of Distortion, John Zada draws on two decades of journalism experience to explain how and why the news has become broken. By depicting our world through a tiny sample of dramatized events that are often far-removed from our experiences, the news warps our picture of reality. What we see is not the world that actually is, but rather a caricature of it: a simple two-toned realm in which dangers and conflicts lurk around every corner. The societal angst that results can make the news a self-fulfilling prophecy, and can turn our minds into prisons of blinkered thought.
Zada walks us through the newsroom to reveal these distorting 'veils.' He offers suggestions on how to mitigate the effects of this coarse infotainment, which, if left unchecked will continue to dumb down and polarize our society, causing it to further unravel."
"You're Being Manipulated Without Knowing It - Here's How To Recognize Gaslighting!
Our intuition never lies. If something about a person's words or actions feels "off", they may very well be a toxic personality who's manipulating you into guilt and obedience.
Gaslighting is more serious than you think - even if your abuser says that "you're making everything up". Trust yourself and use the smart strategies presented in this book to confront the gaslighters around you and rebuild your self-esteem - if you don't break free now, you risk staying under your abuser's control for many, many years.
The smartest manipulators are good at choosing manipulation techniques that are very, very subtle so that you won't recognize them as abuse. But what can you do to protect yourself? This book will empower you with the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize and resist gaslighting."
"The media used to mean television, radio, newspapers, and magazines; but today it largely involves social media, which has swallowed up all of these other forms and is now controlled by a small group of Silicon Valley titans who decide what billions of people are able to see and hear online.
The convergence of old technology and new has centralized unimaginable power into the hands of a few gigantic corporations that now dictate how we communicate with each other and perceive the outside world.
Media analyst Mark Dice details how the rise of social media that tipped the balance of power regarding the production and distribution of information has also resulted in a massive backslash from those conspiring to regain the influence they once held.
The liberal media are using their monopolies to manipulate public opinion in order to further their aims of a socialist revolution."
"Nudge is about choices—how we make them and how we can make better ones. Drawing on decades of research in the fields of behavioral science and economics, the authors offer a new perspective on preventing the countless mistakes we make—ill-advised personal investments, consumption of unhealthy foods, neglect of our natural resources—and show us how sensible "choice architecture" can successfully nudge people toward the best decisions. Nudge is straightforward, informative, and entertaining—a must-read for anyone interested in our individual and collective well-being."
"In 1933 Meerloo began to study the methods by which systematic mental pressure brings people to abject submission, and by which totalitarians imprint their subjective "truth" on their victims' minds. In The Rape of the Mind he goes far beyond the direct military implications of mental torture to describing how our own culture unobtrusively shows symptoms of pressurizing people's minds. He presents a systematic analysis of the methods of brainwashing and mental torture and coercion, and shows how totalitarian strategy, with its use of mass psychology, leads to systematized rape of the mind."
"In The Crowd, Gustave Le Bon examines the psychology behind group behavior, offering timeless insights into how individuals behave differently when part of a collective. This groundbreaking work, first published in 1895, has influenced thinkers across disciplines, from sociology and psychology to politics and economics.
Key Insights from the Book:
- The Power of the Crowd: Le Bon explores how crowds can shape beliefs and behaviors, often leading individuals to act in ways they wouldn't alone;
- The Loss of Individual Identity: Learn about the psychological phenomenon of individuals losing their sense of self when submerged in a collective;
- Emotional Dynamics: Understand how emotions like fear, enthusiasm, and anger drive collective behavior;
- Leadership and Influence: Discover how leaders manipulate crowd psychology to steer collective actions and decisions.
Why read The Crowd?
- Gain insights into the behavior of crowds and their influence on society;
- Understand the psychological mechanisms behind movements, revolutions, and social change;
- Learn how mass behavior shapes politics, marketing, and media in the modern world.
Whether you're a student of sociology, a historian, or simply curious about human behavior, The Crowd provides a fascinating exploration of the dynamics that govern collective action.
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