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Doublespeak
The groundbreaking expose on exactly how bureaucratic language is deliberately employed to deceive.
300 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 10, 2015
I'm bias because the author is my uncle-in-law. One great thing I liked was that he didn't beat every point until it was dead in the ground. He made his point then moved on to his next point.
I think he should do an update of this book; he'd a have a TON of great new material.
I think he should do an update of this book; he'd a have a TON of great new material.
April 4, 2020
A thorough examination and indictment of doublespeak in all fields. Sectors covered range from education to business to government and beyond. I derived the most value from the first few chapters, which served as the exposition to doublespeak and some notorious examples. From there the book became a rapid-fire sequence of instances of doublespeak. This is where the book shows its age, as many examples are from the Reagan era and before. Despite this, the main ideas persist, perhaps more so now than at the time of its publication. There is much to be learned here, though at times it is not the most engaging for the modern reader.
June 21, 2020
Doublespeak as defined by the author is 'language that avoids or shifts responsibility, language that is at variance with with its real or purported meaning. It is language that conceals or prevents thought; rather than extending thought, doublespeak limits it.'
Jargon can also be doublespeak when 'used to given an air of profundity, authority, and prestige to speakers and their subject matter. Jargon as doublespeak often makes the simple appear complex, the ordinary profound and the simple insightful. In this sense it is used not to express but impress.'
The third kind outlined by the author is doublespeak that comprises of 'piling on words, of overwhelming the audience with words.' These words are often bigger and longer and may sound impressive but when examined later would not make sense. This can also be laced with jargon.
The final kind of doublespeak outlined 'is inflated language that is designed to make the ordinary seem extraordinary; to make everyday things seem impressive; to give an air of importance to people, situations, or things that would not normally be considered important; to make the simple seem complex.'
All of us would have met some people in our lives who have used doublespeak in these contexts. While it can just just be annoying when used by acquaintances, it can often be harmful when used by governments, military, politicians, corporations and bureaucrats.
The book is primarily filled with examples of real life doublespeak used in America in the 1980s, as the editions I read was published in 1989. As doublespeak is still and even more aggressively used nowadays, it is still relevant and any of the incidents referred to in the book could have occurred today. It is also fascinating to note which doublespeak terms have gone out of usage and which ones have stuck around.
The book also takes inspiration and pays tribute to Orwell and his ideologies.
Jargon can also be doublespeak when 'used to given an air of profundity, authority, and prestige to speakers and their subject matter. Jargon as doublespeak often makes the simple appear complex, the ordinary profound and the simple insightful. In this sense it is used not to express but impress.'
The third kind outlined by the author is doublespeak that comprises of 'piling on words, of overwhelming the audience with words.' These words are often bigger and longer and may sound impressive but when examined later would not make sense. This can also be laced with jargon.
The final kind of doublespeak outlined 'is inflated language that is designed to make the ordinary seem extraordinary; to make everyday things seem impressive; to give an air of importance to people, situations, or things that would not normally be considered important; to make the simple seem complex.'
All of us would have met some people in our lives who have used doublespeak in these contexts. While it can just just be annoying when used by acquaintances, it can often be harmful when used by governments, military, politicians, corporations and bureaucrats.
The book is primarily filled with examples of real life doublespeak used in America in the 1980s, as the editions I read was published in 1989. As doublespeak is still and even more aggressively used nowadays, it is still relevant and any of the incidents referred to in the book could have occurred today. It is also fascinating to note which doublespeak terms have gone out of usage and which ones have stuck around.
The book also takes inspiration and pays tribute to Orwell and his ideologies.
June 12, 2023
Doublespeak is a formidable essay on the use of language in politics, essentially, although it covers other areas thoroughly. Based on Orwellian imaginary, the prose reaches its true potential revealing the frauds and tribulations behind the information that is present in our day to day life. My only critic would be the ammount of examples given. They illustrate everything the author theorizes about perfectly, but at some point --rather quick-- the book ends up feeling rather a collection of examples than the insightful essay it really is. An update would be very much welcomed, as there must be not one single bone left of Reagan, but doublespeak's found new incarnations, as it's always.
Four stars out of five
and that's unheard of.
Four stars out of five
and that's unheard of.
December 23, 2020
The book presents a series of examples, this is done via different chapters each with an own theme. What is missing is a synthesis in some form. There is simply no real summary which makes the read a bit sluggish.
July 6, 2016
What a find this book was, who knew there was a Chair of the Committee on Public Doublespeak? Well there is and this is an expose, an indictment of the intentional misuse and twisting of language for deception. This is almost like investigative journalism, countless examples of doublespeak all throughout the public realm in government, the military, business, education, advertising, medicine, you name it. There is thankfully a moral tone to this book, he calls the users of doublespeak liars and manipulators with their words having real impact on our society and lives. This is an important book that I will hold onto, written in 1989 well before the internet so what he describes has multiplied exponentially. Here's an example from page 250 concerning Reagan, Oliver North, and John Poindexter - "All three men used doublespeak to mislead their audiences, avoid answering questions, and construct a reality at variance with the facts. All three men used language that pretended to communicate but didn't, language designed to make the bad seem good, the negative appear positive. Their language did not extend thought but thought to limit it." In other words, these guys are lying weasels. If you've ever wanted to know why clear and direct language is so rare, this book will open your eyes.
April 5, 2016
In Doublespeak, William Lutz does an excellent job of applying the ideas George Orwell set forth in "Politics and the English Language" to our everyday lives. This book showcases the doublespeak used by the government and by companies to "communicate" with the public. The book includes both harmless examples of doublespeak, like "vertical transportation corps" for a group elevator operators, as well as more concerning examples of doublespeak used in advertising, and by the government. I was fascinated to learn about the ways that advertisers can twist language to seem to make a claim, when in reality nothing is promised. An example I found both humorous and worrying was a claim made by Ford about a new vehicle. Ford claimed that the car was "700% quieter." When asked by the FTC to clarify, Ford stated that the car was 700% quieter on the inside than on the outside. Lutz has filled the book with interesting examples such as this, and I would highly recommend it to anyone.
June 15, 2020
A definitive understanding on doublespeak used in most industries and everyday life. Chock full of examples. This book can help with your understanding strongly (see what I did there?).
September 17, 2020
It's an interesting book, however, after around a hundred pages the message is clear and it just becomes a really long list of examples without any more depth to the subject.
February 9, 2024
This is the worst book I have ever read to completion. That's not saying much because I haven't read *that* many books, but it is nonetheless true. I only finished it because I didn't realize how bad it was until I had already made substantial progress, and I wanted to check the first book off my 2024 Reading Challenge for my efforts.
The biggest, fatal flaw of this book is that it defines "doublespeak" in a specific way, yet too many examples in the book do not fit this definition. In Chapter 1, Lutz defines doublespeak:
"Doublespeak is language that pretends to communicate but really doesn’t. It is language that makes the bad seem good, the negative appear positive, the unpleasant appear attractive or at least tolerable. Doublespeak is language that avoids or shifts responsibility, language that is at variance with its real or purported meaning. It is language that conceals or prevents thought; rather than extending thought, doublespeak limits it."
He then says there are "at least four kinds of doublespeak": euphemisms, jargon, gobbledygook/bureaucratese, and inflated language (think of the "Increasingly Verbose" meme).
Of course, many of the examples Lutz gives do match his definition and neatly fit into one of his four listed kinds. But with some of them, you have to wonder if he forgot his own definition or if that qualifier "at least" in "at least four kinds" is doing more heavy lifting than you expected. He calls blatant lies—the equivalent of responding to "Did you just fart?" with, "No, I did not," when you did—doublespeak. He considers clumsily worded, obtuse legal documents doublespeak. He thinks a TV weather forecaster calling himself a "meteorologist" is doublespeak. He labels subjective adjectives in coffee commercials doublespeak. He even throws the term "doublespeak" at terms he clearly doesn't understand, like when he says "attention deficit disorder" is doublespeak for "children who disrupt class."
On that note, some of the examples are simply wrong. Near the end of chapter 4, which covers doublespeak in business and the corporate world, Lutz says, "Sometimes doublespeak can cost not just a lot of money but things more important than money." He closes the chapter, "While doublespeak may make money for some people, it can also cost other people a lot of money, if not their lives." These two sentences bookend the example of the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster, an incident with a death toll of zero. And most scientific research—which, in fairness, postdates this book's publication—concludes that there were no long-term health effects from the radiation released at Three Mile Island. Surely there was a better example of doublespeak in business leading to injury and death?
I think the book would have been better if it was either significantly shorter or went into more detail with fewer examples. Too often in this book, Lutz overwhelms the reader with tons of alleged doublespeak phrases in just a paragraph or so. He doesn't contextualize them or tell you enough about them to come to your own conclusion, and he rarely provides a proper citation. He simply says doublespeak turns "X" into "Y". This made fact-checking anything in the book difficult and aggravating.
He will sometimes break down a historical example of doublespeak (or general dishonesty that happens to include doublespeak), showing how people used language to deceive or mislead people while appearing to say something thoughtful and important. I wish Lutz wrote more of the book like this. It would have made the book useful and practical rather than a catalog of doublespeak (and things that aren't doublespeak but Lutz says are doublespeak). Chapter 3, on advertising, isn't perfect, but I do feel like I learned something valuable by reading it that I can apply through the rest of my life. I can't say that about the majority of the book.
Finally, I cannot stand Lutz's attitude. His style of humor isn't to my taste, which isn't his fault. But I get real Reddit Atheist vibes from him. He will often open a section not just by introducing a topic or context for doublespeak, but also by insulting the reader's intelligence. For example:
"Even the ads politicians run on television can’t be trusted. It’s not just the doublespeak in these ads you have to watch out for, but the pictures themselves. If you think the camera doesn’t lie, then you might want to buy shares in a cheese-mining company on the moon."
A joke like that might make sense *after* he discusses the topic in depth, but *before?* No, that doesn't work. It makes him sound like a pretentious knob. Not everybody reading this book will know everything he knows; if they did, they probably wouldn't be reading in the first place.
Overall, you can read chapters 1 and 3 and skip the rest of the book. Chapter 1 gives you a concrete understanding of the doublespeak concept, and chapter 3 gives you things to look out for in advertisements. The remainder is dated, low-quality, or downright dubious. I was immensely disappointed because I had heard great things about this book, but I came away annoyed and frustrated more than anything.
The biggest, fatal flaw of this book is that it defines "doublespeak" in a specific way, yet too many examples in the book do not fit this definition. In Chapter 1, Lutz defines doublespeak:
"Doublespeak is language that pretends to communicate but really doesn’t. It is language that makes the bad seem good, the negative appear positive, the unpleasant appear attractive or at least tolerable. Doublespeak is language that avoids or shifts responsibility, language that is at variance with its real or purported meaning. It is language that conceals or prevents thought; rather than extending thought, doublespeak limits it."
He then says there are "at least four kinds of doublespeak": euphemisms, jargon, gobbledygook/bureaucratese, and inflated language (think of the "Increasingly Verbose" meme).
Of course, many of the examples Lutz gives do match his definition and neatly fit into one of his four listed kinds. But with some of them, you have to wonder if he forgot his own definition or if that qualifier "at least" in "at least four kinds" is doing more heavy lifting than you expected. He calls blatant lies—the equivalent of responding to "Did you just fart?" with, "No, I did not," when you did—doublespeak. He considers clumsily worded, obtuse legal documents doublespeak. He thinks a TV weather forecaster calling himself a "meteorologist" is doublespeak. He labels subjective adjectives in coffee commercials doublespeak. He even throws the term "doublespeak" at terms he clearly doesn't understand, like when he says "attention deficit disorder" is doublespeak for "children who disrupt class."
On that note, some of the examples are simply wrong. Near the end of chapter 4, which covers doublespeak in business and the corporate world, Lutz says, "Sometimes doublespeak can cost not just a lot of money but things more important than money." He closes the chapter, "While doublespeak may make money for some people, it can also cost other people a lot of money, if not their lives." These two sentences bookend the example of the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster, an incident with a death toll of zero. And most scientific research—which, in fairness, postdates this book's publication—concludes that there were no long-term health effects from the radiation released at Three Mile Island. Surely there was a better example of doublespeak in business leading to injury and death?
I think the book would have been better if it was either significantly shorter or went into more detail with fewer examples. Too often in this book, Lutz overwhelms the reader with tons of alleged doublespeak phrases in just a paragraph or so. He doesn't contextualize them or tell you enough about them to come to your own conclusion, and he rarely provides a proper citation. He simply says doublespeak turns "X" into "Y". This made fact-checking anything in the book difficult and aggravating.
He will sometimes break down a historical example of doublespeak (or general dishonesty that happens to include doublespeak), showing how people used language to deceive or mislead people while appearing to say something thoughtful and important. I wish Lutz wrote more of the book like this. It would have made the book useful and practical rather than a catalog of doublespeak (and things that aren't doublespeak but Lutz says are doublespeak). Chapter 3, on advertising, isn't perfect, but I do feel like I learned something valuable by reading it that I can apply through the rest of my life. I can't say that about the majority of the book.
Finally, I cannot stand Lutz's attitude. His style of humor isn't to my taste, which isn't his fault. But I get real Reddit Atheist vibes from him. He will often open a section not just by introducing a topic or context for doublespeak, but also by insulting the reader's intelligence. For example:
"Even the ads politicians run on television can’t be trusted. It’s not just the doublespeak in these ads you have to watch out for, but the pictures themselves. If you think the camera doesn’t lie, then you might want to buy shares in a cheese-mining company on the moon."
A joke like that might make sense *after* he discusses the topic in depth, but *before?* No, that doesn't work. It makes him sound like a pretentious knob. Not everybody reading this book will know everything he knows; if they did, they probably wouldn't be reading in the first place.
Overall, you can read chapters 1 and 3 and skip the rest of the book. Chapter 1 gives you a concrete understanding of the doublespeak concept, and chapter 3 gives you things to look out for in advertisements. The remainder is dated, low-quality, or downright dubious. I was immensely disappointed because I had heard great things about this book, but I came away annoyed and frustrated more than anything.
August 31, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this unique book on the subject of doublespeak and learned a great deal from it. At its worst, doublespeak, like George Orwell's "Newspeak" in 1984, is a language designed to limit thought. At its best, doublespeak is inflated language that gives importance to the mundane. Doublespeak isn't just an annoyance: It can be deadly. When defective cars are recalled, the language used may not convey adequately that the defect could be fatal and thus must be fixed promptly. Ford once announced that the rear axle bearings of Torino and Mercury Montago cars "can deteriorate" and that continued driving can "adversely affect vehicle control." It is quite possible that some recipients of this notice did not take their cars to be fixed, thinking that the problem was noncritical.
Lutz divides doublespeak into the four categories of euphemism, jargon, gobbledygook, and inflated language.
- Euphemism: An inoffensive or positive word or phrase used to avoid a harsh, unpleasant, or distasteful reality, such as the US State Department's use of "unlawful or arbitrary deprivation of life" in lieu of "killing." This kind of doublespeak should not be confused with tactfulness or sensitivity, such as when we use "passed away" for "died."
- Jargon: A verbal shorthand that when used properly can lead to precision and communication efficiency. But using "organoleptic analysis" for "smelling" reeks (pun intended) of doublespeak.
- Gobbledygook: Piling on words to confuse or overwhelm the audience. Here is an example from the then US Senator Dan Quayle: "Why wouldn't an enhanced deterrent, a more stable peace, a better prospect to denying the ones who enter conflict in the first place to have a reduction of offensive systems and an introduction to defensive capability?" Alan Greenspan is also masterful in creating such "word salads."
- Inflated language: Making the ordinary sound extraordinary. Examples include calling a car mechanic "automotive internist" and elevator operators "vertical transportation corps."
In the preface to the 2015 edition, Lutz notes a marked increase in the use of doublespeak: "Doublespeak that once prompted disbelief or in some cases outrage now passes unnoticed and without comment. Doublespeak has become part of the working vocabulary of public discourse.
Politicians are fond of doublespeak. Here's a striking example from US President Ronald Reagan: "I will not stand by and see those of you who are dependent on Social Security deprived of the benefits you've worked so hard to earn." This statement was interpreted by the public as Reagan being opposed to cuts in Social Security benefits. However, later clarification from the White House revealed that Reagan had chosen his words very carefully. He was reserving the rights to judge who was "dependent" on Social Security and who had "earned" the benefits.
Another major offender is the government. Thousands of people are killed in misdirected drone strikes. The countless children or entire wedding parties killed are referred to as "collateral damage." Similarly, we do not torture but use "enhanced interrogation techniques." Government support for religion is camouflaged as "faith-based initiatives" and helping the rich by reducing or eliminating estate taxes is sold to the public as reforming the deplorable "death tax."
The book is replete with examples of doublespeak in different domains, as evident from its chapter titles, listed below. Following the nine chapters, there are three appendices: "Quarterly Review of Doublespeak," "Recipients of Doublespeak Award," and "Recipients of the George Orwell Award for Distinguished Contributions to Honesty and Clarity in Public Language."
- Involuntary conversions, preemptive counterattacks, and incomplete successes: The world of doublespeak
- Therapeutic misadventures, the economically nonaffluent, and deep-chilled chicken: The doublespeak of everyday living
- Virgin vinyl, real counterfeit diamonds, and genuine imitation leather: With these words I can sell you anything
- Negative deficits and the elimination of redundancies in the human resources area: Business communication, sort of
- Protein spills, vehicle appearance specialists, and earth-engaging equipment: Doublespeak around the world
- Predawn vertical insertion and hexiform rotatable surface compression units: The Pentagon word machine grinds on
- Nothing in life is certain except negative patient care outcome and revenue enhancement: Your government at work
- Winnable nuclear wars and energetic disassemblies: Nuclear doublespeak
Everyone should read this book. You will learn a lot and either smile or cringe as you read some of the more-preposterous examples. Comedian George Carlin had a super-funny routine about words & phrases that help hide the truth, apparently taking many of his examples from this book.
https://www.facebook.com/OpenVoicePag...
Lutz divides doublespeak into the four categories of euphemism, jargon, gobbledygook, and inflated language.
- Euphemism: An inoffensive or positive word or phrase used to avoid a harsh, unpleasant, or distasteful reality, such as the US State Department's use of "unlawful or arbitrary deprivation of life" in lieu of "killing." This kind of doublespeak should not be confused with tactfulness or sensitivity, such as when we use "passed away" for "died."
- Jargon: A verbal shorthand that when used properly can lead to precision and communication efficiency. But using "organoleptic analysis" for "smelling" reeks (pun intended) of doublespeak.
- Gobbledygook: Piling on words to confuse or overwhelm the audience. Here is an example from the then US Senator Dan Quayle: "Why wouldn't an enhanced deterrent, a more stable peace, a better prospect to denying the ones who enter conflict in the first place to have a reduction of offensive systems and an introduction to defensive capability?" Alan Greenspan is also masterful in creating such "word salads."
- Inflated language: Making the ordinary sound extraordinary. Examples include calling a car mechanic "automotive internist" and elevator operators "vertical transportation corps."
In the preface to the 2015 edition, Lutz notes a marked increase in the use of doublespeak: "Doublespeak that once prompted disbelief or in some cases outrage now passes unnoticed and without comment. Doublespeak has become part of the working vocabulary of public discourse.
Politicians are fond of doublespeak. Here's a striking example from US President Ronald Reagan: "I will not stand by and see those of you who are dependent on Social Security deprived of the benefits you've worked so hard to earn." This statement was interpreted by the public as Reagan being opposed to cuts in Social Security benefits. However, later clarification from the White House revealed that Reagan had chosen his words very carefully. He was reserving the rights to judge who was "dependent" on Social Security and who had "earned" the benefits.
Another major offender is the government. Thousands of people are killed in misdirected drone strikes. The countless children or entire wedding parties killed are referred to as "collateral damage." Similarly, we do not torture but use "enhanced interrogation techniques." Government support for religion is camouflaged as "faith-based initiatives" and helping the rich by reducing or eliminating estate taxes is sold to the public as reforming the deplorable "death tax."
The book is replete with examples of doublespeak in different domains, as evident from its chapter titles, listed below. Following the nine chapters, there are three appendices: "Quarterly Review of Doublespeak," "Recipients of Doublespeak Award," and "Recipients of the George Orwell Award for Distinguished Contributions to Honesty and Clarity in Public Language."
- Involuntary conversions, preemptive counterattacks, and incomplete successes: The world of doublespeak
- Therapeutic misadventures, the economically nonaffluent, and deep-chilled chicken: The doublespeak of everyday living
- Virgin vinyl, real counterfeit diamonds, and genuine imitation leather: With these words I can sell you anything
- Negative deficits and the elimination of redundancies in the human resources area: Business communication, sort of
- Protein spills, vehicle appearance specialists, and earth-engaging equipment: Doublespeak around the world
- Predawn vertical insertion and hexiform rotatable surface compression units: The Pentagon word machine grinds on
- Nothing in life is certain except negative patient care outcome and revenue enhancement: Your government at work
- Winnable nuclear wars and energetic disassemblies: Nuclear doublespeak
Everyone should read this book. You will learn a lot and either smile or cringe as you read some of the more-preposterous examples. Comedian George Carlin had a super-funny routine about words & phrases that help hide the truth, apparently taking many of his examples from this book.
https://www.facebook.com/OpenVoicePag...
August 20, 2024
First published in 1989, Doublespeak is not dated. In fact it has come to be more applicable today than ever. Lutz's book presents types of doublespeak as well as examples in various avenues of life and presents the topic for what it is: a way of lying.
While most of us would assume that we are immune to such persuasion this book, and rightly so, proves that none of us are above the weaknesses of our desires for ease and comfort. To the point, Doublespeak is a collection of psychological evidence that leads to the inevitable conclusion that doublespeak not only exists, but works.
This book is becoming more important as we race towards corporate-led societies and politics, AI-enhanced realities, and general public ignorance and apathy towards such things. Doublespeak is an important book for anyone who wants to dive down the deep, dark hole that we have dug for ourselves by allowing unadulterated consumerism to rule our lives.
For anyone interested in trying to free themselves from the constant influence and intrusion of sales and forced social norms this book is a must.
While most of us would assume that we are immune to such persuasion this book, and rightly so, proves that none of us are above the weaknesses of our desires for ease and comfort. To the point, Doublespeak is a collection of psychological evidence that leads to the inevitable conclusion that doublespeak not only exists, but works.
This book is becoming more important as we race towards corporate-led societies and politics, AI-enhanced realities, and general public ignorance and apathy towards such things. Doublespeak is an important book for anyone who wants to dive down the deep, dark hole that we have dug for ourselves by allowing unadulterated consumerism to rule our lives.
For anyone interested in trying to free themselves from the constant influence and intrusion of sales and forced social norms this book is a must.
February 6, 2025
You won't look at language the same way again. Words are surprisingly easy to manipulate, and can be paired together to form misleading or outright false statements in the most convincing way. People, corporations, and governments can influence your perception or decision of something by the very language they use to describe it. Which is scary, but after reading this book you will have an eye for detecting this "doublespeak". I'd highly recommend this book, which aims to raise awareness of this very important topic.
I particularly liked the chapter on advertising.
My one issue with the book though, is that it's a little example-heavy. And while the examples help highlight doublespeak techniques for the most part, at one point it just becomes a string of examples with little takeaway from them. I understand the contemporary examples gave the reader of the 80s a relatable application of the techniques, but the examples (Nixon, Reagan, the Soviet Union, etc) have lost their relevance over time. I suppose that can't be helped though.
I particularly liked the chapter on advertising.
My one issue with the book though, is that it's a little example-heavy. And while the examples help highlight doublespeak techniques for the most part, at one point it just becomes a string of examples with little takeaway from them. I understand the contemporary examples gave the reader of the 80s a relatable application of the techniques, but the examples (Nixon, Reagan, the Soviet Union, etc) have lost their relevance over time. I suppose that can't be helped though.
October 14, 2022
Had no idea what doublespeak really was or how much it has invaded our everyday life until I read this book. By reading this you will notice the use doublespeak more often, from the health industry, education, food industry, military, government etc etc and from that you will learn that the people and organisations who say they are helping are also deliberately using language that keeps them from ever being honest to you.
My only critic on this book is that it tends to ramble on, going over the same points but with different examples.
My only critic on this book is that it tends to ramble on, going over the same points but with different examples.
June 3, 2025
An important topic that is done a disservice by this book. Too many of the examples seem to be personal gripes or political commentaries and attacks on certain political topics. In many cases, the examples are not examples of doublespeak but are actual clarifications on a nuanced topic (especially the engineering examples). It seems that if he had done some minimal asking around he could see that just because he doesn't recognize the importance of a detail, doesn't mean it is doublespeak.
July 13, 2023
I suspect that this book would have been much more interesting to me if I had been more interested in this particular genre. I was trying something new and stepping out of the box a little bit. But overall I did not really care for this book. Although some of the information is interesting, it just wasn't for me. Perhaps others may enjoy it.
November 7, 2019
Although the book was written long time ago, it is useful to understanding nowadays doublespeak.
February 16, 2021
Important book for this day and age
August 29, 2022
Good ideas and well written. It is oppressively long, though
November 26, 2022
This book has not aged well. It was really hard to read. The author gives many examples but hardly no analysis of the phenomenon.
February 5, 2025
Decent book, but this was not the time to read it. Definitely need something a bit less gloomy for now.
April 27, 2024
I went into this book expecting more theoretical explanations about double speak concepts. So I was a little disappointed by lack of it. Still, there were many interesting examples of double speak in everything from politics to b2c interactions.
April 3, 2008
Fantastic for defining and understanding modern language and it's use in manipulation.
August 19, 2018
Great book about our language
March 14, 2024
Great book would recommend
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews