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Free Your Mind

The new world of manipulation and how to resist it

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About this listen

The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller

Learn how to recognise and resist the daily attempts to control and manipulate your mind.

There is a war on for your mind. You may not notice, but you are surrounded by manipulators: advertisers, politicians, big tech, even the humble waiter who asks, ‘Still or sparkling?’

Free Your Mind is your field manual to surviving the information battlefield. In this indispensable book, Laura Dodsworth and Patrick Fagan draw on interviews with mind-control experts ranging from monks to magicians, infiltrate cults and forums to uncover their most deceptive techniques and expose the hidden tactics used to influence you, from social media to subliminal messages.

Learn how to recognise the nudges, dispel efforts to brainwash you and always question those who say the choice is yours. If you don’t control your mind, someone else will.

©2023 Laura Dodsworth, Patrick Fagan
Communication & Social Skills Freedom & Security Media Studies Personal Development Politics & Government Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Psychology & Interactions Social Sciences Sociology

Critic reviews

‘Snappily written […] made me more aware of the nudges and persuasions that were part of my everyday life’ Mail on Sunday

‘An important new book […] Laura Dodsworth and Patrick Fagan have some great ideas for how to recognise Nudge Unit tactics and how to fight back’ Telegraph

‘An informative and engaging read’ Forbes

‘A gripping […] account of how the mind can both be manipulated and resist manipulation in the context of a range of contemporary phenomena’ Literary Review

‘An essential and entertaining read [..] a treasure trove of a book’ Critical Therapy Antidote

‘A sceptic’s charter. A thorough and entertaining guide for how to keep other people’s ulterior agendas out of your head.’ Lionel Shriver

Free Your Mind is an instant classic, full of wisdom about what it means to try and hang onto our humanity amidst the clamour of modern life. If you like the quirkily brilliant work of Malcolm Gladwell, you’ll love this book. I’m buying it for all my friends.’ Allison Pearson

‘We must all learn to spot the difference between useful and harmful persuasion. This book is a perfect place to start.’ Rory Sutherland

‘Free speech and free minds are inextricably linked and this book will help you achieve both.’ Toby Young, General Secretary of the Free Speech Union

‘During the pandemic, governments worldwide deployed sophisticated behavioral and psychological techniques. Now that Pandora’s Box has been opened, powerful entities will undoubtedly continue to use these tools to manipulate unwary populations. The best way to be immune to these techniques is to understand when they are being deployed; if you recognize it, you can do something about it. Dodsworth and Fagan provide a compendium of manipulation in the modern world. Their book is a primer on how to survive in an age of ubiquitous propaganda – and it’s great fun to read.’ Professor Jay Bhattacharya

All stars
Most relevant
Very insightful book show how the majority of people are manipulated
Worth learning how to spot it.

Everyone should read this.

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I really enjoyed listening to this! Patrick and Laura are utterly funny but have great tips on how to resist manipulation. There is a great mix of personal stories as well as research - I couldn’t stop listening. The narrator has a smooth voice which makes for easy listening. Would absolutely recommend.

A MUST download!

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does what it says on the tin. blue pill or red pill ?. why oh why didn't I choose the blue pill.

does what it says on the tin.

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If you'd really like to understand how advertisers, politicians and other parties influence your decision making on a daily basis this is the book for you. Explained in very simple terms using some helpful analogies and metaphors I found this book filled with insights and useful strategies to counter some of the methods used to manipulate people. Very well researched, I bought this book after listening to A State of Fear by Laura Dodsworth, which is also an excellent read focussed primarily on the Covid-19 pandemic. I'd strongly recommend listening to both books.

Very relevant in today's world!

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Good listen and informative.... When it comes to the media in its hydra like aspects..... ts all about control.

This book confirms your suspicions...

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