# Propaganda by Edward Bernays

4 Hacker News commenters recommended Propaganda by Edward Bernays and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 4 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Bernays's 1928 book gives a behind-the-scenes view of how propaganda works, and people call it a good place to start.

## Why people recommend it

- Explains how propaganda works (2 comments): "makes several compelling arguments that propaganda is omnipresent and difficult for the great part of public to counter" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47663236)) "or Bernay's Propaganda (1928) at giving you that backstage at Disney world feeling." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48448162))
- Strong opening, good starting point (2 comments): "One of the best opening sentences, from the book Propaganda by Edward Bernays" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46157314)) "Propaganda is a good place to start." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49450063))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [The Cuckoo's Egg by Cliff Stoll](https://hackerapproved.com/p/cuckoo-s-egg.md): 40 recommend
- [Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman](https://hackerapproved.com/p/amusing-ourselves-to-death.md): 36 recommend
- [The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt](https://hackerapproved.com/p/anxious-generation.md): 24 recommend
- [Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber](https://hackerapproved.com/p/bullshit-jobs.md): 20 recommend
- [Enshittification by Cory Doctorow](https://hackerapproved.com/p/enshittification.md): 19 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0970312598?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780970312594) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Propaganda by Edward Bernays", https://hackerapproved.com/p/propaganda/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).