January 1, 2018
In this provocative study, journalist Ball offers an explanation of the current political morass--both in the United States and Great Britain. For Ball, the culprit is pervasive "bullshit." The author has chosen this earthy term as a "catch-all word to cover misrepresentation, half-truths, and outrageous lies alike." Ball blames politicians (of course) for the spread of misinformation, but also social media and even the mainstream media. The latter receives harsh reviews for its inability to counter effectively rampant lying by public officials and dubious websites. Ball delves into the presidential campaign of Donald Trump and the Brexit vote in Britain as examples of the success of bullshit but also looks at broader cultural issues (such as "our casual attitude to truth" and the economics of online news publishing). The book is filled with stories of fake news and the public's gullibility to demonstrate exactly how bullshit works. While admitting that there is no easy solution to this trend, Ball ends with a list of practical suggestions that might help. VERDICT This work will appeal to anyone interested in current politics and the misuse of information. [See "Editors' Fall Picks," LJ 9/1/17, p. 34].--Thomas Karel, Franklin & Marshall Coll. Lib., Lancaster, PA
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