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  • Mindf*ck

  • Cambridge Analytica and the Plot to Break America
  • Written by: Christopher Wylie
  • Narrated by: Graham Halstead
  • Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (84 ratings)

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Mindf*ck

Written by: Christopher Wylie
Narrated by: Graham Halstead
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Publisher's Summary

For the first time, the Cambridge Analytica whistleblower tells the inside story of the data mining and psychological manipulation behind the election of Donald Trump and the Brexit referendum, connecting Facebook, WikiLeaks, Russian intelligence, and international hackers.

Mindf*ck demonstrates how digital influence operations, when they converged with the nasty business of politics, managed to hollow out democracies.” (The Washington Post)

Named one of the Best Books of the Year by Evening Standard

Mindf*ck goes deep inside Cambridge Analytica’s "American operations", which were driven by Steve Bannon’s vision to remake America and fueled by mysterious billionaire Robert Mercer’s money, as it weaponized and wielded the massive store of data it had harvested on individuals - in excess of 87 million - to disunite the United States and set Americans against each other. Bannon had long sensed that deep within America’s soul lurked an explosive tension. Cambridge Analytica had the data to prove it, and in 2016 Bannon had a presidential campaign to use as his proving ground.

Christopher Wylie might have seemed an unlikely figure to be at the center of such an operation. Canadian and liberal in his politics, he was only 24 when he got a job with a London firm that worked with the UK Ministry of Defense and was charged putatively with helping to build a team of data scientists to create new tools to identify and combat radical extremism online. In short order, those same military tools were turned to political purposes, and Cambridge Analytica was born.

Wylie’s decision to become a whistleblower prompted the largest data-crime investigation in history. His story is both exposé and dire warning about a sudden problem born of very new and powerful capabilities. It has not only laid bare the profound vulnerabilities - and profound carelessness - in the enormous companies that drive the attention economy, it has also exposed the profound vulnerabilities of democracy itself. What happened in 2016 was just a trial run. Ruthless actors are coming for your data, and they want to control what you think.

©2019 Christopher Wylie (P)2019 Random House Audio

What listeners say about Mindf*ck

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Enlightening

A complex subject that has been very well written and narrated. When you have finished listening to Christopher’s story, you will wonder what every “accept”, “click” and “return” has been/is telling the world about yourself. The usual response is “well if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to worry about”, however, as this story outlines, you (we) all have a lot to be worried about because the wrong people/companies can (and do) completely misuse data.

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Eye opening

I had heard the facts that are the content of this book in the media but having it laid out in detail has brought the whole picture into view much more clearly. My perspective as to Facebooks role has changed dramatically. Well written and the narration was great.

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Will our direction always be for the worst?

Incredible story. Easy to read. Loved it all. Christopher Wylie is a hero and we should be proud to have good humans like him to blow the whistle on what is wrong.

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  • B.
  • 2019-11-07

Phenomenal!

This story is incredibly compelling and should be required reading for all young adults today. I enjoyed it immensely - highly recommend.

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Important book to understanding the world today.

This book should be essential reading in every high school and college. It's a well told story about one of the most important issues of our time.

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So good.

This story is incredible and well told. It’s many things, a mindfuck to be sure.

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Vital insights for anyone who considers themselves a free thinker.

An eye opening look into modern warfare, manipulation and Facebook’s role in empowering corrupt governments and operatives.

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Should be Required Reading

I thought I had a pretty good handle on this topic but WOW... this is not just a firehose of learning, it's a riveting story
(did I mention WOW?) If you care about your personal liberty and your ability to make informed decisions, read this book.

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Really gets you thinking about technology

Really enjoyed the book. Kept my interest from start to finish. It makes you question everything you see on social media. Are we are being manipulated by algorithms in our social media apps? You Decide

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like Facebook you'll like this book

very very interesting book that details the ongoings of Facebook and the lack of control of our own data about our lives worthwhile listening to or reading.

show on Netflix called the great hack is also about this company called Cambridge analytics

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