The Instability of Truth: Brainwashing, Mind Control, and Hyper-Persuasion

by Rebecca Lemov, Patty Nieman (Narrator)

An acclaimed historian of science uncovers the hidden history of brainwashing—and its troubling implications for today.

Because brainwashing affects both the world and our observation of the world, we often don’t recognize it while it’s happening—unless we know where to look. As Rebecca Lemov writes in The Instability of Truth, “Brainwashing erases itself.” What we call brainwashing is more common than we think; it is not so much what happens to other people as what can happen to anyone.

The Instability of Truth exposes the myriad ways our minds can be controlled against our will, from the brainwashing techniques used against American POWs in North Korea to the “soft” brainwashing of social media doomscrolling and behavior-shaping. In our increasingly data-driven world, anyone can fall victim to mind control. Lemov identifies invasive forms of emotional engineering that exploit trauma and addiction to coerce and persuade in everyday life. Tracing the word “brainwashing” from deep in the files of an operative of the U.S. Office of Strategic Services in the 1950s to the pioneering research of Robert Jay Lifton, to the public trials of cult leaders and the case of Patty Hearst, Lemov also studies how the idea of mind control has spread across the globe and penetrated courtrooms, secret labs, military schools, and today’s digital sites.

The Instability of Truth offers lessons from mind-control episodes past and present. Truth is always subject to question in more mundane walks of life than most people believe, and Lemov equips us for the increasing challenges we face from social media, AI, and an unprecedented, global form of surveillance capitalism. The Instability of Truth develops a rigorous new understanding of both brainwashing’s paradoxes and its emotional roots, by giving voice to brainwashers, the brainwashed, and third-party observers alike.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Science, History, Politics, Audiobook, Female Authors

Audible Audio

Published March 25, 2025

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning of the novel focuses heavily on historical beliefs surrounding brainwashing, as well as the accuracy of those beliefs and practices. It's interesting to learn about. It also includes information about its use during modern history. The historical information seems well researched, and is explained well.
The book feels significantly dryer when tying back to the modern day with cryptocurrency. Comparisons are made between cryptocurrency and cargo cults, which is interesting and pretty apt. How technological advances and social media operate on similar base ideas to historical brainwashing is fascinating.
The book functions well in explaining how brainwashing and hyperpersuasion operate in the modern day, as well as how that came to be. Definitely a fascinating read!

[Rhea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting and alarming. A bit too much info crammed in at certain points. There were whole chapters that I felt could be their own book.

[Vicki C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Information rich but meandering/disorganized.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very useful if perhaps too wide-ranging look at the way truth can be manipulated to influence and control people.

Feels like the contemporary implications are less explored than they could be, while the historical pieces may be over articulated.

[Samantha DesLauriers · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Jeni Ferret · Rating 3 out of 5]

What began as a very interesting chronicle of mind control and its effect on humanity quickly became a repetitive and nonsensical collection of scenarios over the last century where humans or individuals have acted unpredictably. She misses several large CIA operations that study mind control directly, ie. MKULTRA and Chaos, as well as midnight climax. She brings in cryptocurrency and cargo cults for some obscure reason I’m still trying to wrap my head around, and the conclusion is anything but. If only the second half of the book was as enthralling and well researched as the beginning, it would have been a fascinating read.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not to brag, but it only took me four months to finish reading this book.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you still were trying to cling to the idea that evil originates outside humanity, this book should obliterate that hope. Not a happy read, particularly at this point in history.

That declarative statement of mine above is as closed to further consideration as I found many within this book. The author appears in my opinion to want to write the only book required on this topic; all conclusions already developed and drawn so one need simply to read and believe.

Slightly ironic (or intentional?) given the author’s topic is brainwashing.

When I slip into this know-it-all behavior myself, I label it “The world according to…” in an intentional effort to break out of the thinking pattern.

The book moves through interesting, often disturbing, examples of people’s thinking and actions being influenced by others (significantly? strongly? to the point in which the individuals are no longer responsible for their behaviors?)

As I worked my way through the book, I was reminded of a sensationalist omniscience found in my limited reading of true crime fiction. Scholarly research and impartial journalism of important topics seem to me to give way to dramatic license to appeal to readers drawn to that genre.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really interesting challenge to the assumption, among religious scholars especially, that "brainwashing" is mythological. Lemov argues that brainwashing is real but has been misunderstood because it's a response to traumatic experiences rather than some sort of cheat code to rewire someone's brain and force them to do things they otherwise wouldn't, or couldn't, do. This is really helpful, though I wonder if it risks redefining the term so broadly that almost anything could be considered brainwashing, especially when Lemov begins discussing hypersuasion through social media. After all, most (if not all) humans have experienced trauma, so are we all brainwashed to some extent?

I also struggled with the organization and overall writing style of the book; it feels disorganized and the last couple of chapters especially don't seem to connect as strongly to the book's thesis as it might have. But overall, lots of food for thought here, and definitely worth the read.

[Linda Sivertsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa. This is just the kind of mix of sociology, psychology, and history that I find compelling—the author has clearly spent the necessary time over two decades in archives seemingly left unplundered. The book manages to be both personal in its manner (and wit) while avoiding the over-generalizing of pop psychology. Even though some of the stories are dark, the book is a deeply enjoyable read. I just watched Rebecca—the author and Harvard professor—on a 3-hour episode of Joe Rogan's podcast. It was heartening to see so many glowing comments about her humility, likability, intelligence, and trustworthiness. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that much unanimous praise on a show, all reflecting the best in people.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book approaches brainwashing/mind control through a diverse set of examples (Korean War POWs, Patty Hearst's kidnapping, Leonard Kille's brain implant, the John Frum cargo cult, crypto astrology), all of which are fascinating in their own respects. my primary takeaways really have more to do with these than the overarching points about brainwashing. maybe I'm making a jump here, but Mao's discussion-criticism-unity method definitely seems to have some modern parallels. I'm not particularly interested in cults (if you've heard the story of one cult, you've pretty much heard them all), but the initiation process and concept of deprogramming could also be likened to other human relationships, though on a much different scale.

[Alyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not entirely what it seems. It is divided into 3 sections: The Korean War POWS, cults, and crypto currency for some reason. I had really hoped for more of a book about mass persuasion but that may be my fault. The writing is not unpleasant to read, but the author seems to have a resentment toward a particular scientist. The first 300 pages are just self-indulgent insults and jabs about him weaved in to seemingly irrelevant tangents. Needless to say, I got a little irritated at all the insults and peer-bashing. It seems like almost nobody she wrote about was left unscathed. I felt like I was reading the first 3 columns of her Fourth Step. All that being said, this book is more of a case-study in one on one brainwashing and the writing is nice and not boring or overly wordy.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well researched and written book and I can tell the author really knows her stuff. Most of the book is a history of the idea of brainwashing and how it came to be a term used in the medical community and how it has changed the cultural vocabulary.

She creates a throughline from the earliest use of the term in Korean POWs, to current cults and other cultish ideas.

Overall, this was a very interesting read and I have a much better understanding of the changes we as a society have gone through to get to our current views on PTSD and other traumas and abuse. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in those topics.

[shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great read, very scholastic yet with a personal voice, about the history of brainwashing and propaganda. I recently read Chaos by Tom O'Neill, and this follows up on the more interesting threads in that book. This book kept me riveted and makes me question many of the truths presented daily to me.

[Katie Dolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very well-researched and thoroughly educational read. Very academic and dense, there's a lot to chew on here, particularly when Lemov astutely points out that this isn't a new moment we find ourselves in even if the tools have shifted.

[david lampe · Rating 4 out of 5]

very insightful starting w korean prisoners of war brainwashing to military training to protect and prepare serviceman to same. Further comparisons to religious cults, bitcoin, and internet facebook likes contribute to how we relate to ourselves and others.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book after hearing the author on a podcast. I enjoyed the book but felt it went on a bit too long in certain areas. Maybe from a scientific perspective, that is/was necessary. All in all, if interested in the subject, worth the time to read.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come...

[Steven Ridgely · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting.

[Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting history, though some may find it somewhat dry.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting in parts.

[Letha · Rating 5 out of 5]

So well-researched and certainly well-written, but truly grim given the state and trajectory of all things, so it took me a long while to slog through it. That said, we should all read it.

[Reema Khadre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and well researched book. I’d love to read a part 2 where she delves more into modern day instances of brainwashing with the internet and politics.

[Lizzie Brackett · Rating 4 out of 5]

timely….

[ms.petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
In our increasingly digital and curated world, it is easy to be manipulated, brainwashed, influenced.
We are all susceptible.

[Delanee]

DNF @ Page 151 — This isn’t the book’s fault by any means. I’m just in a reading slump right now and this is incredibly research heavy, so it’s not working for me 🫠

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exzellent bridge between R.J. Liftons book on Chinese Thought Reform and B.v. Kolks "The Body keeps the Score".
Excellent

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting for sure… a little hard to follow :)