Synopses & Reviews
Spin -- intentional manipulation of the truth -- is everywhere. It's in the White House, in the courtrooms, in headlines and advertising slogans. Even couples on dates -- not to mention book blurbs -- are guilty of spin. Here, colorful news analyst Bill Press freeze-frames the culture of spin to investigate what exactly spin is, who does it and why, and its impact on American society. Using examples drawn from recent history -- the Clinton presidency, the Florida recount, and the Bush White House -- Press first probes spin's favorite haunt: politics. He then surveys incarnations of spin in journalism, law, and advertising, and chews on the spin of sex and "dating," a word that has become the very embodiment of spin. Perhaps surprisingly, however, Press argues that spin isn't all bad, and that without it the harsh truths of our times might be unbearable. andlt;BRandgt; With a keen sense of humor, andlt;Iandgt;Spin This!andlt;/Iandgt; turns the tables on the prime purveyors of spin by highlighting some of their biggest blunders. Looking to the future, Press notes that the twenty-first century, beginning as it has with a president who was "spun into office," will be a fertile stomping ground for spin. Don't say you weren't warned.
Review
U.S. News & World Report A fascinating history of social lying.
Review
andlt;Iandgt;The Tampa Tribuneandlt;/Iandgt; A witty exploration of the art and attitude of spin, with a multitude of memorable quotes and special homage to the greats.
Review
Tucker Carlson from the right Bill Press on spin is like Julia Child on French cooking: master practitioners letting the rest of us in on the secrets of their craft. This book will tell you all you need to know about how master spinners slice and dice the truth. Plus Bill is funnier than Julia Child.
Review
James Carville from the left Press impresses. He takes the dizziness out of a spin. This book proves that you can't spin a spinner.
Review
andlt;Iandgt;U.S. News and World Reportandlt;/Iandgt; A fascinating history of social lying.
About the Author
andlt;Bandgt;Bill Pressandlt;/Bandgt; is the co-host of MSNBC's andlt;Iandgt;Buchanan and Press.andlt;/Iandgt; An award-winning commentator, he writes a nationally syndicated newspaper column and is a talk-show host on WMAL in Washington, D.C.
Table of Contents
andlt;Bandgt;Contentsandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Foreword by Bill Maherandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Introduction: Spinning This Bookandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;1 The Best Possible Lightandlt;BRandgt; andlt;iandgt;Spin Hall of Fame: Robert D. Novak on Al Goreandlt;/iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;iandgt;Spin Hall of Fame: Kate O'Beirne on Hillary Clintonandlt;/iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;2 It Didn't Start with Clintonandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;iandgt;Spin Hall of Fame: Cal Thomas on Satanandlt;/iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;3 All the Spin That's Fit to Printandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;4 Politics: Slippery Not Only When Wetandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;iandgt;Spin Hall of Fame: Margaret Carlson on Max Kennedyandlt;/iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;iandgt;Spin Hall of Fame: Hendrik Hertzberg on Jimmy Carterandlt;/iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;5 Clinton: The Man Who Broke the Spinning Wheelandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;iandgt;Spin Hall of Fame: Tony Blankley on Lanny Davisandlt;/iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;6 Campaign 2000: The Spin Derbyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;iandgt;Spin Hall of Fame: Paul Begala on George W. Bushandlt;/iandgt;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;iandgt;Spin Hall of Fame: Oliver North on Al Goreandlt;/iandgt;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;iandgt;Spin Hall of Fame: Al Franken on Karl Roveandlt;/iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;7 President Bush: New Spinner in the White Houseandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;8 Spinning the Legal Systemandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;9 Spinning to Sell a Productandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;10 Everyday People, Everyday Spinandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;iandgt;Spin Hall of Fame: Tucker Carlson on Joe Carolloandlt;/iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;iandgt;Spin Hall of Fame: Mary Matalin on James Carvilleandlt;/iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;11 Sex and Dating: Where Spin Begins...and Endsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;12 Closing Commentsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Acknowledgmentsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;