This fascinating survey provides a comprehensive introduction to propaganda, its changing nature, its practitioners, and its impact on the past five centuries of world history. Written by leading experts, it covers the masters of the art from Joseph Goebbels to Mohandas Gandhi and examines enormously influential works of persuasion such as Uncle Tom's Cabin, techniques such as films and posters, and key concepts like black propaganda and brainwashing.

Case studies reveal the role of mass persuasion during the Reformation, and wars throughout history. Regional studies cover propaganda superpowers, such as Russia, China, and the United States, as well as little-known propaganda campaigns in Southeast Asia, Ireland, and Scandinavia. The book traces the evolution of propaganda from the era of printed handbills to computer fakery, and profiles such brilliant practitioners of the art as Third Reich film director Leni Riefenstahl and 19th-century cartoonist Thomas Nast, whose works helped to bring the notorious Boss Tweed to justice.

这本引人入胜的调查报告全面介绍了宣传、其不断变化的性质、其从业人员以及其对过去五个世纪的世界历史的影响。本书由知名专家撰写，涵盖了从约瑟夫-戈培尔到莫汉达斯-甘地的艺术大师，并研究了《汤姆叔叔的小屋》等具有巨大影响力的说服作品、电影和海报等技术，以及黑色宣传和洗脑等关键概念。

案例研究揭示了大众说服在宗教改革中的作用，以及历史上的战争。区域研究涵盖了宣传的超级大国，如俄罗斯、中国和美国，以及东南亚、爱尔兰和斯堪的纳维亚地区鲜为人知的宣传活动。本书追溯了从印刷传单时代到电脑造假时代的宣传演变，并介绍了第三帝国电影导演莱尼-里芬斯塔尔和19世纪漫画家托马斯-纳斯特等杰出的艺术从业者，他们的作品帮助将臭名昭著的特威德老板绳之以法。