The subject that the writer chose to tackle is a very relevant one. The spreading of disinformation has always been a severe danger to the democratic system, and it is the duty of the neutral demography to devise ways to counter such tactics. As I mentioned above, falsehoods have the potential to corrupt not just our present way of living but even the future. One of the most significant lessons that I learned from the book is how the development of communication systems contributed to the volume of the spread of falsehoods. From stone tablets to social media, the phenomenal growth of networks has also contributed to the width and depth of the spread of disinformation.

That said, a book against propaganda should be devoid of using such tactics in its own pages. There is a need to appear unbiased and balanced in its approach for it to be taken seriously. The book turns from an informative study of disinformation to a personal attack on Trump during its ending chapters. I'm not batting for Trump here, but focusing on that alone and making it a single-point agenda made me severely undermine the effectiveness of this book. This tactic alone makes the book appear like an attempt to propagate a firehose of falsehood. The non-inclusion of one of the most notorious disinformation campaigns of recent times, the presence of WMD in Iraq, which led to a long and disastrous military campaign that opened Pandora's box, also makes one suspicious of its intentions.

"Truth is the antidote to fascism."

This book provides a fascinating look at propaganda and disinformation throughout history; how lies are used to manipulate public opinion, instill fear into the masses, and place dictators in positions of power. Much of it seems ripped from today's headlines.

"A fascist leader knows how to tell a good story. He tells the people that he a redeemer with a mystic connection to the nation and its destiny. He promises to restore the nation to its former greatness and vanquish its enemies."

Beware of a would-be leader who declares, "Only I can fix it." It is a phrase that has been uttered by dictators throughout history.

I've already ordered a copy of this for my library's young adult section, and I would offer my thoughts and prayers that the people who NEED to read this ACTUALLY DO . . . but I think we've all seen how well thoughts and prayers work.

This is a work I think every American should read, as we enter a time of unprecedented disinformation. We watch extreme political unrest, with propaganda at every angle. Almost every area of our life has someone trying to frighten us into a thought path that benefits them. This really opened my eyes to the different methods for which we can be manipulated by bigger entities. It really helped hone some media literacy skills I was weak on, and I learned a lot historical context for how this all developed, and how we are sliding backwards in our media honesty and bias.

One thing I found so powerful about this book is the use of color, using black, white, grey, and red to color all of the book. I think for me it symbolized the bleakness in all of this crap the world keeps pulling, and the blood shed via a lot of this manipulation. The art is a combination between satirical political cartoon and Cartoon Network. It flows with emotion and hyperbole that helps make the message clear. So much information and education is packed in, while making it accessible and fun to read.

Did you know that misinformation is not the same as disinformation? Or how the printing press was made to spread knowledge, but it could also spread unsavory rumors? Marie Antoinette didn't actually say, "Let them eat cake" but that image has pervaded the Western world. But why?

It's simple: we are taught stories and news anecdotes that aren't true. The ones that get repeated through history are the ones that people want us to know. It serves their narrative.

A Firehouse of Falsehood is more morose compared to other First Second Book wares, but necessary. No one is immune to propaganda, and seeing the history of it reminds us how easily we can let slanted announcements affect our viewpoint. The art is also on-point with showing crueler times, and the roots of current disinformation and conspiracies.

Trigger warning that this book does show onscreen torture, and blatant Anti-Semitism as documented in history. You have been warned.

Hot damn. What a book. I am so pleased that it exists. I am 100 percent going to use it in my classes and cover it on my podcast. I hope the right people actually read it. I am always worried that the people who should read things like this will not.

In addition to tackling a must-know topic, particularly these days, it’s also gorgeously illustrated in a throwback style. It starts with a history of key developments in propaganda, from Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union through rulers in Persia and India to Potemkin villages and the definition and rise of fascism with Benito Mussolini. Of course, the career and influence of Adolf Hitler is covered, as are definitions of various propaganda techniques and methods.

The art is clearly influenced by mid-century works, which I found made the book a real pleasure to read. It’s colored in black, white, and orange, which gives it a retro yet urgent look, with gorgeous crayon marks. A Firehose of Falsehood makes an excellent case for those not knowing history being doomed to repeat it. It’s a timely read.

This book takes a look at the history of Disinformation and how it has shaped our political landscape throughout the years and even today. I do feel like I learned a lot, especially about the psychology behind group mentality and why some of the things that we think shouldn't have worked did. The first half of the book was put together in a way that was not only linear on the timeline, but that showed the progression of disinformation and the way it influenced politics. The second half of the book, however, felt a bit heavy handed, jumbled, and repetitive. I was disappointed that some of the big events in American history that were based on disinformation were not even mentioned - like the Red Scare. I also felt that one of the points of the book - how to find and hold onto the truth - was such a short part of the book and at a point in the book where I was so overwhelmed with today's politics that I barely noticed it.

2.5 stars rounded up based on the learning element.

A decently well researched graphic novel depiction of how propaganda, misinformation, and disinformation is used by world leaders and the public to further their political and moral agendas.

I was impressed with the work put in to the end of our most recent dealings with this problem, specifically in the USA with our elections and in Russia and Ukraine. I was mildly surprised there was not much on the Bolsheviks and the Romanov family in the earlier section of the book.

A useful tool for those looking to understand the state of fake news media in our current political climate.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher First Second Books for an advanced copy of this graphic novel that looks at the use of disinformation and political lies throughout human history, and how one can best not be fooled. Or fooled again.

If diplomacy is war by other means, disinformation is war without having to make bullets, tanks or bombs. The use of words can be more destructive than the most powerful of nuclear weapons, able to confuse armies, disarm a populous, and cause great nations to fail. Ignoring disinformation, or thinking one is above it, well that just shows its working. I mean for everyone else, not you dear reader. You are so smart, visually attractive and wise in the ways of the world, like myself. Hit like and subscribe for more great things about yourself, and what is wrong with the others, the different and the wrong. And that's how one gets sucked in. I have been at family occasions staring at people I have known my whole life, saying the dumbest, most ignorant things. Things they get from their media. Facebook, Twitter (not X that's dumb) and more.We are a people who are lazy in many ways, doing our own research is finding someone who tells us what we want to know. That that is why things are going so odd. A Firehose of Falsehood: The Story of Disinformation is a graphic novel that tells the history of disinformation, propaganda and more written by Teri Kanefield with art by Pat Dorian.

The book begins with a history lesson about the uses of disinformation from the ancient past. Rulers hiring people, who worked in shadows and in secret. Sometimes assassinating enemies, but mostly, and more cheaply using the power of rumor. Spreading rumours about a ruler, getting people to act against him, spreading stories usually salacious about a ruler's family and companions. Or spreading rumors about great battles that never happened, causing the morale of the people to collapse when the truth came out. The book describes the different forms disinformation can take, propaganda used to make a country seem better than it is, and keep the people in line. Or attacking like I said other countries. The usual suspects are looked at Stalin, Mussolini, Putin and Trump. How these men would flood the zone with so much bull pattys one can never keep up, exhaustion making one just give up. The election interference of 2016 is looked at and explained much better than I have seen before. Also there are hints at what to look for, how to fight and how to change the system in many ways.

A graphic novel that should be read by just about everyone, as this country really has no sense of media awareness anymore. Combined with the usual American ignorance of the world, we are prime to believe anything that pops up on social media. This will probably mean the book will be banned from all school libraries in at least 21 states. The writing is very good, clear, concise full of information, incredibly useful and even more valid as the next election gets closer and closer. Kanefield is able to take complicated ideas and make it easy to understand, which is a real skill. The art too compliments the writing. Nice clear lines, nothing that gets in the way, that works well with the words and ideas. A really excellent book and one I hope that gets a lot of attention and sales.

Recommended for everyone. Completely age appropriate for anyone, filled with information that will help a lot of people. I see how easy it is to Doom Scroll on Twitter, and in my nephew believing if it is on YouTube it must be true. Complete with merch. A really well done book, and one I will be pushing on a lot of people.

The two-tone art perfectly offsets the sharp sentences and no punches pulled tone of this paean to discovering the truth under a mountain of lies.

Wow! This graphic novel lays out the clear bath of how disinformation and propaganda can take down a democracy. It was fascinating seeing how methods and terms from today actually have their roots in the ancient times. The idea of open wars (battlefields, guns, blood) versus concealed wars (disinformation, lies, trickery) dates back to the 300s BCE!

Kanefield does an amazing job laying out the historical milestones along the way to our current political climate. I saw myself several times, from unknowing participant (I'm sure we've ALL unintentionally passed along fake news once or twice) to the utter disbelief that logic could be cast aside in favor of a charismatic leader. I remember sitting with my colleagues in November 2016 just absolutely stunned that Trump won the election. Absolutely mind blown. Reading this book now, it makes more sense.

I was so grateful for the last chapter with solutions! So often books/media present problems, but no solutions. The state of our democracy is a HUGE problem, so I'm relieve that the book ended with clear action steps that everyone can take to better educate themselves, participate in government, and make an active, informed decision about whether you want to live in a democracy or under a Fascist leader.

I strongly urge others to read this book. Educating yourself is always a great start.

Thank you NetGalley and First Second Graphic Novels for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Fantastic. A well-written, highly-researched look at the history, present, and future of misinformation campaigns. I cannot think of many graphic novels I have read, even historical/non-fiction ones, that end with 14 pages of notes and bibliographical entries! I thought the author did a really nice job of delving into the nuances and complexity of how misinfromation truly works. Many of my students have an overly-simplified idea of what propaganda is; when they believe political lies are always blatant, they do not arm themselves against the more perfidious and manipulative strategies used today. I especially liked the last quarter, which focused on social media's influence and activist strategies. The artwork was phenomenal as well. All in all, an engaging and extremely important book.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC copy of the book.
The first half of the graphic novel dove into the history of leaders who used lies and deception to gain or keep control. It was really interesting to read and start to make connections to the world today.
The second half essentially covered the past 10 years, focusing on Trump. While I agree with most of what was written, I'm afraid that anyone who is following these lies will just ignore the facts presented. It became too heavy handed and seemed more like a graphic novel to attack maga instead of giving the history and letting people come to the conclusion on their own.
Again, I agree with what was mostly written, I just wish I could have others read this without feeling attacked and rejecting the material. Which, ironically enough, shows how successful the maga lie is.

I have mixed feelings, some explanations and parts are very good and well explained. But some parts feel just as too much politics. I know, it's part of the point and you need examples. I will share with my work colleague this one, we'll se what they think about it :)