LIES!! DAMN LIES!!

I completely agree that J. Stauber and S. Rampton’s Toxic Sludge Is Good For You: Lies, Damn Lies, and the Public Relation Industry, “blows the lid off of today’s multi-billion-dollar propaganda-for-hire PR industry”. From start to finish I was amazed, boggled, outraged and thrilled. The book was an endless tale of secrets and hidden agendas. It really is an eye opener. Who would have thought that there was so much going on behind the backs of citizens across the continent?

I am very shocked at the number of people willing to participate in such an industry all for money. PR workers are placing people in danger at times, through the lies and propaganda they sell. Do they not know that this is wrong? Or do they at least feel a little guilty? The book was quite depressing in this manner.

Furthermore, the methods and risks these employees are willing to take is ridiculous! They pose as fake people, destroy evidence, harass people, cancel tours and manipulate the words of others! I was completely amazed. All of this is going on and no one knows!

It is amusing to see how completely oblivious people, including myself, are to the PR industry. I feel like I can’t trust any company without first looking into its background and motives now. Money really has become the soul of America. It is all the PR industry is about.
The novel was a great read with witty comments, amazing statistics and mind-blowing examples. I feel that the novel would speak to people more because it is comical, and easy to read. It speaks of recognizable companies and institutions and best of all, it speaks to the reader, not the PR industry.

Recently, I have found out that facebook may have been created by individuals connected to the CIA and the Information Awareness Organization (IAO), developing an easy, orderly system to keep tabs on people. This reminded me of the novel and the comment you made stating, “how much of what we think of as independent, unbiased news and information has its origins in the boardrooms of the public relations companies”. This is completely true. Facebook appears to be a simple, fun way of keeping in touch with family and friends, when in actuality the PR industry has done its job in hiding the boardroom secrets of the CIA and IAO.

I greatly enjoyed reading this book, and have looked into reading more of Stauber and Rampton’s work.


Stauber, John and Rampton, Sheldon. Toxic Sludge Is Good For You: Lies, Damn lies and the Public Relations Industry. Monroe MA, Common Courage Press, 1995.


Lipton, Mark. "Required Books: Lipton's Notes and Rationales."
University of GuelphHumber. Toronto. 7 September 2007.

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