Margalit and Sharon have written an eye-opening book — elegantly crafted, subtly argued, deeply persuasive, and overflowing with original insights. Their arguments about the meaning of manipulation and its central role in politics are of utmost importance for today’s democracies and demand our urgent attention.
This is an exceptional and original study of manipulation, marked by its depth, subtlety, and erudition. A theoretically dazzling and historically sumptuous account of how seduction and intimidation, among other insidious ploys, can supplant fair dealing and rational persuasion, corrupting the very channels of communication through which we attempt to govern ourselves, and transforming them into a deluge of malevolent, scheming machinations.
Margalit and Sharon give us a brilliant account of manipulation, showing it to be the central means of acquiring and exercising power today. By revealing how manipulation works, they enable us to work against it. Their book is a powerful call for democratic reason, beautifully illustrated with examples drawn from history and literature.
A brilliant work. Margalit and Sharon show how the tightening grip of manipulation in our politics and media poses a fundamental threat to our freedom. They offer a masterful and indispensable guide to how manipulation works, why we fall for it, and why we need new tools to fight back.
