The manipulators: America in the media age

by Robert Sobel

In today's age of information the media expert - not the politician, bureaucrat or military officer - has taken command. The Manipulators describes how the media have come to power. Robert Sobel chronicles the growth of America's five information and entertainment newspapers, radio, movies, television and college (itself a form of showbiz). He follows the careers of William Randolph Hearst, Joseph Pulitizer, Samuel Goldwyn, Louis B. Mayer, David Sarnoff, William S. Paley, Edward R. Murrow, Eric Sevareid, Walter Cronkite and other movers and shakers of the industries. He charts the rise of the peep show, wireless, nickelodeon, talkies, film and videotape. And he explains how media experts are suck skillful creators of illusions.

458 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Robert Sobel was an American professor of history at Hofstra University, and a well-known and prolific writer of business histories. He was also a chess Master, who represented the United States at the 1957 and 1958 Student chess Olympiads; he defeated thirteen-year-old future World Champion Bobby Fischer at Montreal 1956.

Despite his prolific writings in business history, he is most famous for his single novel, For Want of a Nail, an alternate history of the United States.