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Invisible Rulers
The People Who Turn Lies into Reality
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Narrated by:
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Anna Caputo
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By:
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Renee DiResta
About this listen
A brilliant, original analysis of the radical shift in the dynamics of power and influence, revealing how the machinery that powered the Big Lie works to create bespoke realities revolutionizing politics, culture, and society.
Renée DiResta’s powerful, original investigation into the way power and influence have been profoundly transformed reveals how a virtual rumor mill of niche propagandists increasingly shapes public opinion. While propagandists position themselves as trustworthy Davids, their reach, influence, and economics make them classic Goliaths—invisible rulers who create bespoke realities to revolutionize politics, culture, and society. Their work is driven by a simple maxim: if you make it trend, you make it true.
By revealing the machinery and dynamics of the interplay between influencers, algorithms, and online crowds, DiResta vividly illustrates the way propagandists deliberately undermine belief in the fundamental legitimacy of institutions that make society work. This alternate system for shaping public opinion, unexamined until now, is rewriting the relationship between the people and their government in profound ways. It has become a force so shockingly effective that its destructive power seems limitless. Scientific proof is powerless in front of it. Democratic validity is bulldozed by it. Leaders are humiliated by it. But they need not be.
With its deep insight into the power of propagandists to drive online crowds into battle—while bearing no responsibility for the consequences—Invisible Rulers not only predicts those consequences but offers ways for leaders to rapidly adapt and fight back.
©2024 Renee DiResta (P)2024 PublicAffairsListeners also enjoyed...
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- By: Mercury Studios, Treefort Media
- Narrated by: Lonnie Ali, John Ramsey
- Length: 3 hrs and 31 mins
- Original Recording
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Muhammad Ali, never afraid to express himself loudly and boldly, stays true to form in Ali in Me, an eight-part audio series that explores his life and legacy, guided by his own words through never-before-heard audio recordings. Hosted by Muhammad’s widow, Lonnie Ali, and his close friend, award-winning broadcaster John Ramsey, Ali in Me goes beyond the boxing ring to delve deeply into the extraordinary life and lasting contributions The Champ made to individuals around the world.
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He went hard on everything, especially love
- By 🔥 Phx17 🔥 on 01-31-25
By: Mercury Studios, and others
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Helter Skelter
- The True Story of the Manson Murders
- By: Vincent Bugliosi, Curt Gentry
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 26 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Prosecuting attorney in the Manson trial Vincent Bugliosi held a unique insider's position in one of the most baffling and horrifying cases of the 20th century: the cold-blooded Tate-LaBianca murders carried out by Charles Manson and four of his followers. What motivated Manson in his seemingly mindless selection of victims, and what was his hold over the young women who obeyed his orders? Now available for the first time in unabridged audio, the gripping story of this famous and haunting crime is brought to life by acclaimed narrator Scott Brick.
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Everything I remembered about the case was wrong..
- By karen on 06-22-12
By: Vincent Bugliosi, and others
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Medieval Myths & Mysteries
- By: Dorsey Armstrong, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Dorsey Armstrong
- Length: 5 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
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The 10 enlightening (and often humorous) lectures of Medieval Myths and Mysteries will show you how far from the “dark” times of legend these centuries were. Uncover the facts about the Knights Templar. Reveal the truth behind the tales of legendary creatures like the Questing Beast and the unicorn. Trace the events of the Black Death and the ways it altered the world in its wake, and much more. With Professor Armstrong, you will dig deep into the ways that later generations reshaped the narrative of the medieval years and perpetuated the myths.
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Interesting, but centered on Britain
- By Ximena on 04-10-20
By: Dorsey Armstrong, and others
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The Thin Line
- Hope vs. Reality in the Era of Weight-Loss Drugs
- By: Scaachi Koul
- Narrated by: Scaachi Koul
- Length: 4 hrs and 31 mins
- Original Recording
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Over the next five years, millions of more Americans are expected to take Ozempic and other GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, which are rapidly being recognized as the miracle drugs of this century. If you’re not on them, you’ll probably know someone who is. What are the implications of the widespread use of these drugs, both on our bodies and our society? In this show, you’ll meet people across America who are either taking the jab or thinking about it, and the shocking intentional and unintentional results they are seeing.
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More balanced than expected and very comprehensive
- By Summer Rodriguez on 01-03-25
By: Scaachi Koul
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I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t)
- Telling the Truth about Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power
- By: Brené Brown
- Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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Based on seven years of ground-breaking research and hundreds of interviews, I Thought It Was Just Me shines a long-overdue light on an important truth: Our imperfections are what connect us to each other and to our humanity. Our vulnerabilities are not weaknesses; they are powerful reminders to keep our hearts and minds open to the reality that we're all in this together.
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I'm sure its great if you are a mother ....
- By Leslie A Hill on 08-09-11
By: Brené Brown
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Mythology: Mega Collection
- Classic Stories from the Greek, Celtic, Norse, Japanese, Hindu, Chinese, Mesopotamian and Egyptian Mythology
- By: Scott Lewis
- Narrated by: Madison Niederhauser, Oliver Hunt
- Length: 31 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Do you know how many wives Zeus had? Or how the famous Trojan War was caused by one beautiful lady? Or how Thor got his hammer? Give your imagination a real treat. This Mega Mythology Collection of eight audiobooks is for you....
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An interesting set of introductions.
- By Kevin Potter on 05-30-19
By: Scott Lewis
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High conflict is what happens when discord distills into a good-versus-evil kind of feud, the kind with an us and a them. In this state, the brain behaves differently. We feel increasingly certain of our own superiority, and everything we do to try to end the conflict, usually makes it worse. Eventually, we can start to mimic the behavior of our adversaries, harming what we hold most dear. In this book, New York Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist Amanda Ripley investigates how good people get captured by high conflict—and how they break free.
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Perspective and Tools for Conflict-Drenched Times
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The rise of the new far right has left the world grappling with a profound misunderstanding. While the spotlight often shines on the actions of charismatic leaders, the true peril lies elsewhere. Defeating these people will not stem the tide driving them forward. They are merely the embodiment of profound forces that are rarely understood. Propelled through the vast networks of social media and fueled by far-right influencers, enthralled by images of disaster and fantasies of doom, they have emerged from a reservoir of societal despair, fear, and isolation.
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Why are so many of us wrong about so much? From COVID-19 to climate change to the results of elections, millions of Americans believe things that are simply not true—and act based on these misperceptions. In Wrong: How Media, Politics, and Identity Drive Our Appetite for Misinformation, expert in media and politics Dannagal Goldthwaite Young offers a comprehensive model that illustrates how political leaders and media organizations capitalize on our social and cultural identities to separate, enrage, and—ultimately—mobilize us.
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Eye opening and very informative
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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, and most importantly, a character created by the British propagandist Thomas Sefton Delmer, a unique weapon in the war.
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Environmental Sustainability Analysis
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Foreign Agents
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For years, one group of Americans has worked as foot-soldiers for the most authoritarian regimes around the planet. In the process, they've not only entrenched dictatorships and spread kleptocratic networks, but they've secretly guided U.S. policy without the rest of America even being aware. And now, some of them have begun turning their sights on American democracy itself. These Americans are known as foreign lobbyists, and many of them spent years ushering dictatorships directly into the halls of Washington, all while laundering the reputations of the most heinous regimes in the process.
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Should be read by everyone
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Autocracy, Inc.
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We think we know what an autocratic state looks like: There is an all-powerful leader at the top. He controls the police. The police threaten the people with violence. There are evil collaborators, and maybe some brave dissidents. But in the 21st century, that bears little resemblance to reality. Nowadays, autocracies are underpinned not by one dictator, but by sophisticated networks composed of kleptocratic financial structures, surveillance technologies, and professional propagandists, all of which operate across multiple regimes, from China to Russia to Iran.
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A Triumphant Work -Puts It All Together With Laser Clarity
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By: Anne Applebaum
What listeners say about Invisible Rulers
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- Gina S.
- 07-01-24
the more things change...
Propaganda is not new but has morphed and expanded. Essential insight into the wierding of online and offline communication by lucrative tale-spinning influencers. How propaganda ate the internet. Some helpful hints on doing some things but more on how it unfolded and laying out and connecting the elements than providing a complete set of fixes. Especially valuable for gaining a sense of orientation as to what is going on and what types of responses haven't been working so as to help figure out more options for the future and not dispair. Getting a grip on what is going on is in itself empowering and that is a direct counter to the purpose of the propaganda to disorient, and cause disengagement. So the overall effect of the book feels to me hopeful and a foundation for staying engaged and figuring out better options for future communication world, Kind of like pulling one boot out of the mud and looking for a better place to put it down, while being very aware of the other boot still being deep in the mire. Since the author didn't read the book, I was very glad to hear her voice on the Moderated Content podcast June 12, 2024, during which she discusses the book and interacts with Annalee Newitz, author of Stories are Weapons (apparently not yet available as an audiobook) as well as Alex Stamos and Evelyn Douek on the book's topics. I think on the podcast their interactions add a bit more about what to do. As the two authors respond to one another and to questions, they expand a bit more on some points.
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- Westanna
- 11-06-24
explains a lot
Cogent analysis explaining a new, near insurmountable, barrier to an informed citizenry. Recommend to your friends buried in social media
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- Matt
- 06-27-24
Timely and important
Understanding how information travels has never been more important, but the internet often feels like a black box, hidden behind walls constructed by big corporations. Invisible Rulers pulls back the curtains and reveals the ongoing death spiral of our information ecosystem, as well as its history going back over a decade. It breaks down the historical and philosophical origins underpinning the spread of propaganda, as well as how modern propagandists leverage the tools and techniques of virality to influence masses and create the illusion of unanimity.
This book ties together crucial ideas to help us understand viral misinformation and gives us the tools to fight back. It also provides an incredibly up close and insightful analysis of some of the most destructive ideas being spread across the internet today. As we head into another election, in a year marked by the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence, and the bolstering of its usage to fool and deceive, this book could not have come at a better time.
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- KC-web-wri
- 02-05-25
Analysis of contemporary communications from a structural starting point to explore societal reflexes.
Disinformation is the original sin. I like how the author demonstrates that media manipulation is not new in itself, but the world has more channels and communities than ever before which are open to bad-faith actors dealing out lies. The data-driven content analysis exposes outlandish loudmouths who peddle lies for personal gain. The media landscape has changed in recent times and may agree with the author's conclusion that the fractures cannot be reversed.
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- Pedro Antonio Cartagena
- 10-25-24
Very informative
The best piece is getting know how misinformation is used and how to counter the impact by recognizing the genre.
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- Diana
- 01-06-25
Eloquent prose
Was fascinated by the social media terminology and very impressed with the explanations. I don’t use or much appreciate social media. So found this most enlightening as well as sadly disturbing.
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- T
- 08-15-24
high quality, very academic.
dense book. we'll researched. unfortunately no one who really needs to hear this book will listen to it. important info nonetheless.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Virginia A. Clark
- 10-19-24
Distortions in public opinion on social media
Serious analysis of problems and advantages of new media platforms and how to combat their worse tendencies
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- Anonymous User
- 12-08-24
This booked wrecked me emotionally and I’m grateful it did.
This was an emotional rollercoaster type of experience. At moments, the intensity of my feelings made me want to stop (or throw my airpods away), yet I couldn’t—and I’m so glad I didn’t. The last chapter, left me feeling more informed, self-aware, and, surprisingly, optimistic. I highly recommend it.
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- Todd Blume
- 07-24-24
The best book on the topic
Read this and you’ll understand how we got into this mess, and some steps to take to fix it.
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1 person found this helpful