
How to Win an Information War
The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler
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Narrated by:
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Matthew Waterson
From one of our leading experts on disinformation, this inventive biography of the rogue WWII propagandist Thomas Sefton Delmer confronts hard questions about the nature of information war: what if you can't fight lies with truth? Can a propaganda war ever be won?
In the summer of 1941, Hitler ruled Europe from the Atlantic to the Black Sea. Britain was struggling to combat his powerful propaganda machine, crowing victory and smearing his enemies as liars and manipulators over his frequent radio speeches, blasted out on loudspeakers and into homes. British claims that Hitler was dangerous had little impact against this wave of disinformation.
Except for the broadcasts of someone called Der Chef, a German who questioned Nazi doctrine. He had access to high-ranking German military secrets and spoke of internal rebellion. His listeners included German soldiers and citizens, as well as politicians in Washington DC who were debating getting into the war. And—most importantly—Der Chef was a fiction. He was a character created by the British propagandist Thomas Sefton Delmer, a unique weapon in the war.
Then, as author Peter Pomerantsev seeks to tell Delmer's story, he is called into a wartime propaganda effort of his own: the US response to the invasion of Ukraine. In flashes forward to the present day, Pomerantsev weaves in what he's learning from Delmer as he seeks to fight against Vladimir Putin's tyranny and lies. This book is the story of Delmer and his modern investigator, as they each embark on their own quest to manipulate the passions of supporters and enemies, and to turn the tide of an information war, an extraordinary history that is informing the present before our eyes.
©2024 Peter Pomerantsev (P)2024 PublicAffairsListeners also enjoyed...




















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Also, the parts about Russia and Ukraine were interesting and deserving of a separate book on that subject. But felt out of place in this book.
The attempts to tue in with current American propaganda and conspiracy beliefs seemed partisan. There were appropriate examples of disinformation and conspiracies embraced by Republicans voters and conservative media, eg the stolen 2020 election hoax. But this wasn’t balanced by comparable examples of disproven disinformation and propaganda from the other side, eg Trump Russia collusion hoax,
Interesting story but doesn’t live up to the title
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Astonishing and immediately relevant story
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That limited imitation is important, though, and Pomerantsev’s affection for his protagonist makes this an emotionally complex and compelling read as a literary manner, while his restraint and lack of hyperbole make it an excellent policy guide for those working in the information space. As you can tell from that last sentence, I’m not a wordsmith, but don’t let my inarticulacy delay your reading this wonderful work!
A charming but responsible take on a key issue
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Amazing and eye opening blend of historic and contemporay propaganda
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Timely and instructive
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fascinating story
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Engaging and informative
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Fantastic couldn't put it down
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Great book- wish it was more prescriptive
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Informative mix of history and current political events.
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