
The Echo Machine
How Right-Wing Extremism Created a Post-Truth America
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Narrated by:
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David Pakman
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By:
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David Pakman
About this listen
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER
"For anyone who wants to stand up to disinformation and deepen their understanding of politics without getting lost in jargon, this book is essential reading.”
—Brian Tyler Cohen, YouTuber and bestselling author of Shameless
From the host of The David Pakman Show comes a vital exploration of how right-wing extremism, media manipulation, and ideological echo chambers have eroded critical thinking and deepened political divisions —and how we can fight back to save our democracy
The 2024 election cycle made one thing clear: disinformation isn’t just a byproduct of our political system—it’s a weaponized force shaping public opinion. In The Echo Machine, popular radio and podcast host David Pakman unpacks how misinformation spreads, why people become trapped in ideological bubbles, and the real-world consequences of media echo chambers on democracy. With his trademark clarity and sharp analysis, Pakman offers a roadmap for breaking free from cycles of manipulation and reclaiming critical thinking.
Deeply researched and accessibly written, The Echo Machine is not just an exposé but a call to action. Beyond dissecting how we got to this point, Pakman also offers tangible solutions for how we can fix our broken system: increasing media literacy, cultivating intellectual humility, and consciously engaging with diverse viewpoints.
Whether you’re left-leaning, right-leaning, or somewhere in between, The Echo Machine challenges you to rethink the information you consume and recognize the forces shaping modern discourse. In an era where misinformation is rampant and democracy hangs in the balance, this book is an essential guide to navigating the political landscape with clarity and reason.
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Critic reviews
“Understanding how our political system has become broken in favor of reactionary ignorance is vital for saving our democracy. David Pakman accessibly explains how we got here and offers potential solutions for confronting the ongoing abandonment of critical thinking. In a time when political engagement is more crucial than ever, this is a must-read for every American looking to navigate the future of politics with clarity, purpose, and a commitment to preserving our democracy.”
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“David Pakman is a pioneer in digital media who has reshaped the way political news is presented. His book The Echo Machine is a masterpiece that exposes the rot in corporate media and offers a clear path forward to restore integrity and rebuild the Fourth Estate.” —Ben Meiselas, cofounder MeidasTouch Network
“David Pakman has been an inspiration of mine for a long time, and this book is a testament to why. David uses his sharp wit in The Echo Machine to confront and dismantle the right-wing tactics that have polarized our country and left so many disillusioned and doubtful about the prospect of progress. For anyone who wants to stand up to disinformation and deepen their understanding of politics without getting lost in jargon, this book is essential reading.” —Brian Tyler Cohen, YouTuber and author of Shameless
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Story
The media can't stop talking about the gridlock in Washington, as if a handful of stubborn Republicans are the only thing standing between us and a fully-functional democracy. The reality is that our government was taken over by big business and their allies in both political parties. The getaway driver in this heist was corporate media. The good news is that the American people are very progressive. And soon progressives will take over Washington as well! And when they do, the great majority of Americans will love it.
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Much better than expected
- By Tracy B on 09-23-23
By: Cenk Uygur
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Network of Lies
- The Epic Saga of Fox News, Donald Trump, and the Battle for America
- By: Brian Stelter
- Narrated by: Brian Stelter
- Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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In Network of Lies, New York Times bestselling author Brian Stelter answers these questions by weaving together private texts, unpublished emails, depositions, and other primary sources to tell the chilling story of Trump’s alleged conspiracy to steal the 2020 election, and the right-wing media’s mission to put him back in office in 2024.
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Eye opener .
- By catherine weaver on 11-21-23
By: Brian Stelter
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Mad House
- How Donald Trump, MAGA Mean Girls, a Former Used Car Salesman, a Florida Nepo Baby, and a Man with Rats in His Walls Broke Congress
- By: Annie Karni, Luke Broadwater
- Narrated by: Karen Murray
- Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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The United States Congress has always been messy and far-from-august, but as Annie Karni and Luke Broadwater show here, in scorching, shocking detail, it has reached some kind of chaotic bottom. The anarchy that reigned over Congress’s lower chamber in the wake of the January 6th attack on the Capitol Building—the election of serial liar and con-man George Santos, revenge porn being shown on the floor of the house, and the theatrical high jinks of Lauren Boebert—all were a sign of decay and dysfunction of the highest order.
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The crazy behind the scenes in DC
- By Charles Staten Island NY on 04-28-25
By: Annie Karni, and others
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Prequel
- An American Fight Against Fascism
- By: Rachel Maddow
- Narrated by: Rachel Maddow
- Length: 13 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Inspired by her research for the hit podcast Ultra, Rachel Maddow charts the rise of a wild American strain of authoritarianism that has been alive on the far-right edge of our politics for the better part of a century. Before and even after our troops had begun fighting abroad in World War II, a clandestine network flooded the country with disinformation aimed at sapping the strength of the U.S. war effort and persuading Americans that our natural alliance was with the Axis, not against it.
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The fight to keep democracy alive
- By Rex on 10-19-23
By: Rachel Maddow
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Abundance
- By: Ezra Klein, Derek Thompson
- Narrated by: Ezra Klein, Derek Thompson
- Length: 7 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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To trace the history of the twenty-first century so far is to trace a history of unaffordability and shortage. After years of refusing to build sufficient housing, America has a national housing crisis. After years of limiting immigration, we don’t have enough workers. Despite decades of being warned about the consequences of climate change, we haven’t built anything close to the clean-energy infrastructure we need. Ambitious public projects are finished late and over budget—if they are ever finished at all.
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Advice to the Democratic Party from Klein & Thompson
- By Betsy Fowler on 03-31-25
By: Ezra Klein, and others
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Revenge
- The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power
- By: Alex Isenstadt
- Narrated by: Alan Peterson
- Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Over the course of the last four years, the American public looked on as the former president faced a series of daunting obstacles to return to the White House. The lingering cloud of January 6, a shadow effort within the Republican establishment to defeat him in the primary, multiple indictments, assassination attempts, and an 11th hour change of his opponent all threatened to derail his return to power at any moment.
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if you followed the election, you already know most of it, but it's still a great listen.
- By Tony on 03-22-25
By: Alex Isenstadt
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Erasing History
- By: Jason Stanley
- Narrated by: Dion Graham
- Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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Combining historical research with an in-depth analysis of our modern political landscape, Erasing History issues a dire warning for America and the world: the worst fascist movements of humanity’s past began in schools; the same place so many of today’s right-wing political parties have trained their most vicious attacks. Yale professor Jason Stanley exposes the true danger of the right’s tactics and traces their inspirations and funding back to some of the most dangerous ideas of human history.
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The bias attitude of the author
- By Elizabeth ohanna on 09-30-24
By: Jason Stanley
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Cross Purposes: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy
- Politics and Culture
- By: Jonathan Rauch
- Narrated by: Asa Siegel
- Length: 6 hrs
- Unabridged
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What happens to American democracy if Christianity is no longer able, or no longer willing, to perform the functions on which our constitutional order depends? In this provocative book, the award-winning journalist Jonathan Rauch—a lifelong atheist—reckons candidly with both the shortcomings of secularism and the corrosion of Christianity. Thin Christianity, as Rauch calls the mainline church, has been unable to inspire and retain believers.
By: Jonathan Rauch
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Money, Lies, and God
- Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy
- By: Katherine Stewart
- Narrated by: Patricia Rodriguez
- Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Why have so many Americans turned against democracy? In this deeply reported book, Katherine Stewart takes us to conferences of conspiracy-mongers, backroom strategy gatherings, and services at extremist churches, and profiles the people who want to tear it all down.
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Describes a well funded international fascist cult
- By marwalk on 03-24-25
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Who Is Government?
- The Untold Story of Public Service
- By: Michael Lewis
- Narrated by: Michael Lewis, Sarah Vowell, John Lanchester, and others
- Length: 6 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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The government is a vast, complex system that Americans pay for, rebel against, rely upon, dismiss, and celebrate. It’s also our shared resource for addressing the biggest problems of society. And it’s made up of people, mostly unrecognized and uncelebrated, doing work that can be deeply consequential and beneficial to everyone. Michael Lewis invited his favorite writers, including Casey Cep, Dave Eggers, John Lanchester, Geraldine Brooks, Sarah Vowell, and W. Kamau Bell, to join him in finding someone doing an interesting job for the government and writing about them.
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Imagine what we could achieve if we actually understood
- By Anonymous User on 03-24-25
By: Michael Lewis
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Hate Won't Win
- Find Your Power and Leave This Place Better than You Found It
- By: Mallory McMorrow
- Narrated by: Mallory McMorrow
- Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Mallory McMorrow was on the verge of giving up. She knew the work of legislating wouldn’t be easy, but she hadn’t been expecting an insidious culture of sexual harassment, armed protestors storming the state Capitol, or colleagues who had zero interest in reaching across the aisle to get anything meaningful done—and things really needed to get done. Where could one even start? But then fate forced her hand.
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Great inspiring book! Love the Workshop!
- By Robert A. Laubach on 04-16-25
By: Mallory McMorrow
What listeners say about The Echo Machine
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- Bradley Smith
- 04-01-25
An smartly written take on the future of the US
A very smart book written by a smart guy without over the top predictions and fear-mongering. It has a lot of good ideas about the future of our country and what it can be if we manage to dig out of the hole we're in.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Derek Barclay
- 03-29-25
Speaking Truth to Delusion
Such an excellent read. Pakman continues to speak truth to delusion. Facts exist, and they matter.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Jana
- 03-30-25
very informative
pertinent information of our day, including historical facts that led to today's political environment. worth the time.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Spencer Miller
- 04-06-25
Excellent read
David Pakman’s The Echo Chamber is a sharp, insightful look into how media, technology, and political discourse have collided to create a landscape dominated by misinformation, polarization, and algorithm-driven echo chambers. With clarity and balance, Pakman unpacks complex issues like media bias and digital manipulation without resorting to sensationalism or partisan finger-pointing. His perspective is refreshingly nuanced, offering readers both a sobering view of the challenges we face and a hopeful call for media literacy and critical thinking. Thoughtful, timely, and engaging, The Echo Chamber is an essential read for anyone trying to make sense of today’s fractured information ecosystem.
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1 person found this helpful
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- fury
- 04-15-25
Timely
Offering solutions and perspective to meet these very challenging times, The Echo Chamber is a book we all can draw positive ideas from and build upon our own ideals.
Our Democracy as we know it is rapidly under increased threat, these are the kind of ideas that make a path forward possible.
Read it while you can.
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- Amazon Customer
- 04-09-25
With tears in my eyes...
As a BIG STRONG MAN I found this book a great overview of American POLITICS as it is now and the events that contributed to the CURRENT distopian hellscape. MANY people are saying it's the BEST book of the year or maybe ever.
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- Wilhelms23
- 04-10-25
engaging
The truth is hard to hear, yet the truths from this book was made easy.David pakman as the narrator to his book is perfect. As a fan of the David Pakman show I was glad to hear he had a book coming out. I didn't know where the book was going and as someone that's not much into reading in my spare time I can't complain. I learned alot and am happy I supported him.
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- Jon Mathews
- 04-13-25
Great Listen, Short Though - Maybe not for me?
I am a big fan of David Pakman, he is one of the first voices i started hearing in this online progressive/left media space. He has really great speaking skills + annunciation, so on that front the book is amazing on the ears. In terms of content, I guess maybe was expecting something longer, but as I wrote in the title maybe this book just isn't for me a daily viewer, I think it could be most helpful to someone who is still new to the space or average person who wants to be more well read on the toxic mess that is the echo machine of right wing Grift culture.
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- Tyler Koepkey
- 04-17-25
A fantastic first entry into nonfiction!
This was certainly a realistic eye opening view of how our society broadly reacts to basis political activities. David is an excellent communicator. I've been a podcast listener for 3 years now and I love how he can intelligently articulate nuanced viewpoints that the echo chamber can misconstrue.
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- just asking for some common sense
- 05-05-25
An excellent book
I rarely read political books but had been interested in this because I follow David Pakman on YouTube. When I found out that this was on a list of books that our current president wanted Amazon to stop selling. I had unused Audible credits so I purchased it. I expected it to be a rehashing of what I’d heard on YouTube but this book is much more than that. I was completely engrossed for the whole book and afterwards as well. I learned a lot. He reads his book which makes it more engaging. I suggest this book wholeheartedly as a call to action.
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