Cracking the Code: How to Win Hearts, Change Minds, and Restore America's Original Vision

by Thom Hartmann

Millions of working Americans talk, act, and vote as if their economic interests match those of the megawealthy, global corporations, and the politicians who do their bidding. How did this happen? According to Air America radio host Thom Hartmann, the apologists of the Right have become masters of the subtle and largely subconscious aspects of political communication. It's not an escalation in Iraq, it's a surge; it's not the inheritance tax, it's the death tax; it's not drilling for oil, it's exploring for energy. Conservatives didn't intuit the path to persuasive messaging; they learned these techniques. There is no reason why progressives can't learn them too. In Cracking the Code, Hartmann shows you how. Drawing on his background as a psychotherapist and advertising executive as well as a national radio host, he breaks down the structure for effective communication, sharing exercises and examples for practical application.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Psychology

240 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2007

About the author

Thomas Carl Hartmann is an American radio personality, author, businessman, and progressive political commentator. Hartmann has been hosting a nationally syndicated radio show, The Thom Hartmann Program, since 2003 and hosted a nightly television show, The Big Picture, between 2010 and 2017.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very informative on communication styles. We communicate via touch, visiually and by talking. That makes sense and if you aren't getting through to people try one of the other methods. What I disagreed with is that Thom seems to be saying that we are one of these three styles and that is it. While I think that he is probably right that people do have primary styles of communication, I think he locks us down into one of these three. Personally I think we use all three of these styles depending on the context. A song will trigger and emotion, just as well as a hug, a picture, or reading words. Are we so one dimensional that the only way we can get through to each other is by finding their core type? Personally I think not.

There were some other good sections about not communicating well. The example of not getting the gooses message, and the guy on the bike flipping him off showed how if you take the other persons perspective (or at least look into things a bit more), you may actually understand them better.

The reason I only gave this 2 stars was that Thom likes to label people into a narrow box. I don't personally like labels (see Prometheus Rising by Robert Anton Wilson for a good explanation). Thom says all conservatives are like x, and lumps them all together. Rather than trying to label people and fight with them, why not focus on what we can agree on? There are Republicans such as Ron Paul (okay so really he is a Libratarian -so much for not labelling) that are opposed to the war, just as are many liberals. By talking down to people and lumping in Ron Paul with Rush Limbaugh you destroy a chance to find common ground with possible allies (at least at an issue level).

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Conservtives, believing Hobbes's view of human nature to be inviolable, cannot conceive of the possibility that civilizations can exist without constant warfare or an iron-fisted Church or State to prevent that warfare. This is the original modern conservative story. Conservatives believe in what Riane Eisler and others have called the dominator culture. The believe that human nature must be dominated for human societies to flourish because without constraint by domination the essentially evil nature of humans will emerge and society will dissolve into chaos."

Think you can change their minds? If you do, this book gives you tips on how to try. Me? I think they are beyond hope.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting study on communication in politics. Mr. Hartmann is a uber-intelligent political scientist. I listen to him on Air America Radio, he fascinates me. He always puts current political events into historical context so you can understand how we got this point. This book taught me about how politicians speak, how they use language to convince us and how we can communicate effectively in the political world. Sounds boring but it was actually an interesting and quick read...i read it in one day.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to communicate effectively in any context. Hartmann takes us through the history and ideology of conservative and liberals. Everyone has their own story and the way they view themselves in the world. Interesting, thought-provoking, illuminating. You can certainly see how propaganda has been used through-out our political history. Helps explain how we got into the mess we're in. Words ARE important.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Granted this might be a book about political communication, but it would be highly effective in communication generally.

No matter if you are liberal or conservative, you can learn something about the way to communicate better from this book.

And really, who doesn't want to win more debates and arguments?

[Sailor Pete]

Examines how the use of words is used to manipulate the masses. It leaves one hard to believe the sheeple are so easily manipulated/that we have allowed for this sort of thing to pass as the political norm. A decent book...good to be reminded of the fight for control of our minds.

[Adeyami Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazingly informative. In addition to explaining the psychological explanation for both liberal and conservative thought it gives a detailed explanation of how to change minds.

I finished it in a day, and I am going to restart it in a week to make sure I did not miss anything

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really fantastic and taught some interesting communication tactics. Thom's background in psychology really aids in this book. I expect to use some of these tactics in the near future when discussing things with friends.

[Spencer Proffit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great explanation of how politicians sell us policy that is bad for us. A bit heavy on the progressive rhetoric however.

[Tony Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talks about Neuro_Lingusitic Programming and the language of politics. How to communicate political ideas. Excellent book.

[Edmund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very edifying... so much so that I think I'll need to re-read it in the near future. This piece does much to explain some of linguist George Lakoff's work, but from a psychological perspective.

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although it is not as good as Lakoff's "Don't Think of an Elephant" it is a good read.

[Mom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thom explains the major ways we communicate with each other with interesting side notes from his advertising and NLP training.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is an important book though I often found it horrifying and discouraging. Sometimes funny. Sometimes uplifting. Always informative.

[Brian Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on deciphering political language and how to communicate it properly.