Title: Trust Me, I’m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator
Author: Ryan Holiday
First published January 1, 2012
259 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9781591845539 (ISBN10: 159184553X)
Rating: 3.87
Overview
Ever wonder how news stories get to be so big? The answer isn’t always organic.
Sometimes, it’s the result of a media manipulator pulling the strings behind the scenes. In Trust Me, I’m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator, Ryan Holiday exposes the world of blog-driven news and the role manipulators play in it.
With blogs like “Gawker,” “Buzzfeed,” and the “Huffington Post” controlling much of the media agenda, manipulators can shape what you read, see, and watch both online and off. But why would anyone do this?
Holiday explains that bloggers are often slaves to money, technology, and deadlines, making them easy targets for manipulation. In this revealing book, Holiday gives readers an inside look at the tactics used by media manipulators and reveals the truth about how news really gets made.
About the Author
Ryan Holiday has an impressive resume as a media strategist, having worked with high-profile clients such as Tucker Max and Dov Charney. He began his career at a young age, leaving college at 19 to learn from the renowned strategist Robert Greene.
Since then, he has advised numerous bestselling authors and successful musicians. As the Director of Marketing at American Apparel, Ryan’s advertising work gained international recognition.
His innovative strategies have been studied by major companies like Twitter, YouTube, and Google, and have been featured in notable publications such as AdAge, the New York Times, Gawker, and Fast Company. Ryan is also a published author, with his book *Trust Me, I’m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator* set for release in July.
In his free time, he resides in New Orleans with his mischievous pup, Hanno.
Editoral Review
Trust Me, I’m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator by Ryan Holiday is a startling expos into the world of modern-day media, where fact and fiction are blurred and outrage drives clicks. The author, Ryan Holiday, is a former marketing director at American Apparel and a self-confessed media manipulator who sets out to reveal the inner workings of the online media machine.
The book provides a detailed analysis of how blogs, online news sites and social media can be manipulated to create fake news, and how this manipulation has consequences beyond the online sphere. Within the book, the author shares his own experiences and techniques, from planting stories in gossip blogs to creating fake viral campaigns, all to drive traffic to his clients’ websites.
Trust Me, I’m Lying is written in a conversational and engaging style. The author employs a combination of personal anecdotes, case studies and theoretical analysis to keep the reader engaged.
The book is divided into two parts, with the first half focusing on the techniques used to manipulate the media, and the second half exploring the effects and consequences of this manipulation. The book highlights the flaws and limitations of the modern-day media system, including how easy it is to buy online influence, how unchecked power can distort the truth, and how easy it is for false narratives to spread across the media landscape.
In addition, the book provides insights into the role of media in shaping public opinion and the impact of fake news on the public consciousness. The author underscores the contemporary significance of his book, making a powerful argument for media literacy, underscoring that the public should be aware of the mechanisms for manipulating mass opinion.
However, the book is not without its flaws. Some readers may find the author’s approach overly self-aggrandizing and his tactics ethically dubious.
Additionally, the book may be more relevant to media professionals or those with a deep interest in the topic, as it is not a breezy, light read. Overall, Trust Me, I’m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator is a potent and thought-provoking book that sheds light on the dark side of the media machine.
This book is highly recommended, particularly for readers interested in contemporary media and its role in shaping public opinion.
