Invisible Rulers

This book is an eye-opening exploration of how influencers and their audiences have shaped our current information ecosystem, for better or worse (and it’s mostly for worse). DiResta’s clear writing makes even complex concepts easy to understand, but the book’s disturbing implications about our current information culture in the United States can be a difficult pill to swallow. It’s rare that I consider quitting a book because of the content over the writing, but I definitely struggled. In the end, if knowledge is power, the book has been worth the struggle.

One of the book’s strengths is its detailed examination of the history and development of the post-truth society. DiResta begins with the anti-vaccine movement and the measles outbreak, then moves through the evolution of propaganda from the printing press to the internet. She also explores the role of influencers in shaping culture, politics, and society, and how their unchecked power has led to the spread of disinformation and the erosion of trust in traditional institutions.

The book also delves into the psychological and social factors that make people susceptible to propaganda and misinformation. DiResta discusses the phenomenon of crowd behavior and how it can lead to the formation of “bespoke realities” where individuals only see and hear information that confirms their existing beliefs. She also examines the role of algorithms in amplifying and spreading disinformation, and how they can be used to manipulate public opinion.

While “Invisible Rulers” is a sobering read, it also offers some hope for the future. DiResta discusses potential solutions to the problems she outlines, including the need for better education, more transparency from social media platforms, and a greater emphasis on critical thinking skills. She also highlights the importance of individual responsibility in combating the spread of disinformation and the need for a shared desire to live in the same reality.

Overall, “Invisible Rulers” is a must-read for anyone concerned about the state of our information culture. It is a chilling reminder of the power of propaganda and the importance of critical thinking in the digital age. While the book’s conclusions may be depressing, they also serve as a call to action for individuals and society as a whole to work towards a more informed and truthful future.

–This review was partially drafted by A.I. (Gemini) with a fairly lengthy prompt containing my opinions and the notes I took while reading. Much of the review is rewording of the prompt I entered and my notes. –

I studied and worked in the advertising industry for 30 years and during that time I never saw anything as effective in brainwashing people's mind as what social media and skewed mass media has been able to do within 15 years time. Social media and biased news medias have allowed foreign influence campaigns, disinformation, misinformation and propaganda to worm its way into people's heads with enough echo chamber confirmation bias, that half our country lives in bespoke realities that have no basis in truth. These people are easily swayed to vote against, or purchase against, their own economic and political best interest.
The book "Invisible Rulers" does a great job at documenting how this happened, the tactics that propagandists use to achieve their evil goals, and how society has fallen prey to beliefs that are dangerous to its own existence. The book also offers ways to fight back against the strategies of influence so that we can fight back and maintain sanity in our society. If there's one book to buy that will help you to recognize all the various ways of propaganda, and then defend yourself against it, Invisible Rulers is the book to read.