IS ANYBODY LISTENING?

by ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 7, 1952

Sub-titled ""A Layman's Report on Certain Communication Troubles of the Business World"", these articles- now in book form -- from Fortune (one of which reappeared in Life currently) studied the caste and social system of the modern corporation, had their origin in the anxiety of big business over the ""communication breakdown"" between business -- and the public. The result of this research, and the findings here which extend far beyond the ""communication breakdown"" to the whole satellite social sphere of the big corporation, should give business something to brood about -- far beyond their expectations. For this is an apt, acerb commentary on the extension of the belt-line into the American way of life and thought; the cult of conformity, adaptability and submissiveness in which all individualism and inspiration is forfeited. The young executive -- ""gelded into harmonious integration with his environment... will at last have become a complete bore"". His wife, ""good, low key stabilizing"" influence, will have sacrificed herself- and her children- to the social pattern of ascendancy. Group-think, as formulated by the social engineers and expressed by the prose engineers (Rudolph Flesch, etc.) and sold by the public relations man provides a uniform, unilateral code of conduct. And the smile of success has become the smirk of hypocrisy. ""Love that system""?

Pub Date: April 7, 1952

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1952

Categories: NONFICTION