935 Lies is a book given to me by a close family friend. Ostensibly a book about the 935 lies that the Bush Administration told to the media in the buildup to the Iraq War, this book delves more into the ideas of truth and journalism than anything else. It shows how politicians and businesses can spin the facts to sound the drumbeats of war, long before anyone starts marching. It emphasizes the necessity of an empowered and responsible fourth estate, and the effects that information and the truth can have on the world. Most importantly the book delves into the direction the truth is following; as it pertains to journalism, the government, and business. This book is well researched and conclusive analyses of political double speak for decades. We would all do well to heed the warnings of this book, and establish within ourselves a thirst for the unvarnished truth.

Lies are a huge part of what we as humans hear on a daily basis. Whether this is from the media, politicians, advertisements, our parents, teachers, and even our own self-talk. If we accept lies so easily on the things that do not matter, how will we ever expect the truth on the things that do matter. Having the right information to make a choice is important because it allows for clarity and reason to take over. Rather than hiding behind the guise of emotions. This can be under such simple procedures as what politician you are voting for, whether those cigarettes are safe for you, or if someone really is “fine.” (They are never just fine.) Living in acceptance of disinformation, half-truths, and falsities leads to doubt in all facets of life. Once this doubt creeps in anything is possible, but the worst is likely.

“In war, truth is the first casualty,” Aeschylus wrote almost 2500 years ago, and it is a statement that is true to this day. The drumbeats of war are sounded well in advance of any action. Those men and women, who plan for such actions, know well in advance of their intentions. This was displayed most directly by the story of Lyndon B. Johnson and the Vietnam War in the book, and I highly recommend reading this book for those chapters alone. They create situations that foster confusion, speculation and fear. With this as a backdrop, any picture can be painted that the people will believe, until a fever pitch arises and welcomes war with open arms. Never realizing that they are welcoming death, destruction and ruin into the world.

Propaganda is an important government tool, that has spun the truth for millennia, but it has been perfected and expanded in the last century. Edward Bernays and other “Engineers of Consent” have created spectacles in the business and political world that the people have gluttonously gorged themselves with. There are more public relation specialists than journalists in this country at a rate of 4:1, p.170. With such astonishing numbers and economization of spin, it is no wonder that truth has fallen by the wayside.

This book also shows that all hope is not lost for the truth. Charles Lewis and other great journalists have continued the fight for truth. There are many great organizations that have not given up on the people. Wikileaks, the Sunlight Foundation, Transparency International, and more have helped the truth shake off

the shackles of deception and falsity. These great organizations give me hope for the future.

This book will show you more about propaganda, truth, and how the government and business world works; that you will never look at information the same. It has increased my thirst for truth, and honesty. I recommend that you read this book with an open mind. It does not matter if you are Republican or Democrat, Liberal or Conservative, you will finish this book with a profound understanding of the Truth Tellers and Everyone Else. You should be a Truth Teller, because time brings all truth to light.