Industrial Strength Denial: Eight Stories of Corporations Defending the Indefensible, from the Slave Trade to Climate Change

by Barbara Freese

How corporate denial harms our world and continues to threaten our future.

Corporations faced with proof that they are hurting people or the planet have a long history of denying evidence, blaming victims, complaining of witch hunts, attacking their critics’ motives, and otherwise rationalizing their harmful activities. Denial campaigns have let corporations continue dangerous practices that cause widespread suffering, death, and environmental destruction. And, by undermining social trust in science and government, corporate denial has made it harder for our democracy to function. 

Barbara Freese, an environmental attorney, confronted corporate denial years ago when cross-examining coal industry witnesses who were disputing the science of climate change. She set out to discover how far from reality corporate denial had led society in the past and what damage it had done. 

Her resulting, deeply-researched book is an epic tour through eight campaigns of denial waged by industries defending the slave trade, radium consumption, unsafe cars, leaded gasoline, ozone-destroying chemicals, tobacco, the investment products that caused the financial crisis, and the fossil fuels destabilizing our climate. Some of the denials are appalling (slave ships are festive). Some are absurd (nicotine is not addictive). Some are dangerously comforting (natural systems prevent ozone depletion). Together they reveal much about the group dynamics of delusion and deception. 

Industrial-Strength Denial delves into the larger social dramas surrounding these denials, including how people outside the industries fought back using evidence and the tools of democracy. It also explores what it is about the corporation itself that reliably promotes such denial, drawing on psychological research into how cognition and morality are altered by tribalism, power, conflict, anonymity, social norms, market ideology, and of course, money. Industrial-Strength Denial warns that the corporate form gives people tremendous power to inadvertently cause harm while making it especially hard for them to recognize and feel responsible for that harm.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, History, Science, Climate Change, Economics, Environment

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2020

About the author

Barbara Freese is the author of Coal: A Human History, a New York Times Notable Book. She is an environmental attorney and a former Minnesota assistant attorney general. Her interest in corporate denial was sparked by cross-examining coal industry witnesses disputing the science of climate change. She lives in St. Paul.

Reviews

[Sumit Gouthaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read. Gives you some insight into how science-denial got so pervasive in our culture.

Each chapter will leave you angry and confused about how resistant humans can be, even in the presence of overwhelming scientific proof.

Highly recommended!

[Dallyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educational, throughly researched and deliberately written. The book covers both the psychological and practical implications of how profit driven incentivisation can bias leaders of large industries to go against the logic and data of their impact on society and the planet. It also dips its toes into how the large scale denials have detoriated society’s trust in government and science, fueling radical groups that spinoff into creating a culture of fake news and polarisation. The book draws out historical facts that highlight the techniques, tools and propaganda used and reused by industries ranging from slave trade to tobacco, and culminating in present day climate change. A must read for anyone attempting to understand how society can be polarised by propaganda on no-brainer scientifically backed topics in todays information rich society.

[Vince McManus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nuanced take on what leads individuals to deny wrongdoing within corporate settings. I found the chapters detailing self contained 20th century scandals to be quite illuminating.

[Matt Jorgensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A historical, psychological, and scientific approach to eight examples of some of the worst denial campaigns of corporations in history. This book lays down the facts in a comprehensible, even enjoyable manner. Highly recommend it for anyone looking for an excellent overview of industrial psychosis.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book really puts into perspective what it means to participate in a “free” marketplace. If you don’t know the private and public battles waged in America throughout history, don’t expect to be able to keep up with the deceptive libertarian narratives today. This is a must read before considering yourself a real adult and/or wolf.

[Finn Haberkost · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Radium for several years has been given internally and by injection in large doses with absolutely no disturbing symptoms. It is accepted as harmoniously by the blood stream as is sunlight by plant life."
~ C. Everett Field, Standard Chemical Company

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed and obviously well researched. Interesting stories. Only thing I found a bit odd was the author's mentioning of certain psychological phenomena which felt a bit random/ unnecessary/ forced.

[Gregg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched and well written.

[Francois · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's one of the best investigative journalism books there is. Strongly recommended!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly valuable and very readable study of corporate and political behavior throughout US history.

[Jamie K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well researched and well written. I need to stop reading things that make me angry.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

corporations sure are Really Really Really bad (also i will be breaking out of this reading funk: one book in one month is not sufficient!!)