All the Worst Humans

How I Made News for Dictators, Tycoons, and Politicians

De: Phil Elwood

Narrado por: Holter Graham

Duración: 6 h y 42 m

Resumen del Editor

This program is ready by Audie Award-winning narrator Holter Graham.

A bridge-burning, riotous memoir by a top PR operative in Washington who exposes the secrets of the $129-billion industry that controls so much of what we see and hear in the media—from a man who used to pull the strings, and who is now pulling back the curtain.

After nearly two decades in the Washington PR business, Elwood wants to come clean, by exposing the dark underbelly of the very industry that’s made him so successful. The first step is revealing exactly what he’s been up to for the past twenty years—and it isn’t pretty.

Elwood has worked for a murderer’s row of questionable clients, including Gaddafi, Assad, and the government of Qatar. In All the Worst Humans, Elwood unveils how the PR business works, and how the truth gets made, spun, and sold to the public—not shying away from the gritty details of his unlikely career.

This is a piercing look into the corridors of money, power, politics, and control, all told in Elwood’s disarmingly funny and entertaining voice. He recounts a four-day Las Vegas bacchanal with a dictator’s son, plotting communications strategies against a terrorist organization in Western Africa, and helping to land a Middle Eastern dictator’s wife a glowing profile in Vogue on the same time the Arab Spring broke out. And he reveals all his slippery tricks for seducing journalists in order to create chaos and ultimately cover for politicians, dictators, and spies—the industry-secret tactics that led to his rise as a political PR pro.

Along the way, Phil walks the halls of the Capitol, rides in armored cars through Abuja, and watches his client lose his annual income at the roulette table. But as he moved up the ranks, he felt worse and worse about the sleaziness of it all—until Elwood receives a shocking wake-up call from the FBI. This risky game nearly cost Elwood his life and his freedom. Seeing the light, Elwood decides to change his ways, and his clients, and to tell the full truth about who is the worst human.

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt & Company.

©2024 Phil Elwood (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Hilarious and harrowing, and hard to put down. Indeed, I didn't put it down."—Christopher Buckley, author of Thank You for Smoking

"Journalists often wonder what spinmasters are doing to influence them. The reality Phil Elwood reveals is worse—and more interesting—than we usually imagine. All the Worst Humans is an exhilarating ride through the underbelly of global power structures."—Ben Smith, author of Traffic and editor in chief of Semafor

"If Hunter S. Thompson billed clients by the hour, it would look like All The Worst Humans by Phil Elwood. The pacing and storytelling propel the book's epic sweep across the darkside of DC and global hotspots. Even the most experienced in PR will learn things they did not know, and Elwood's gripping personal story is an unexpected and wild ride."—Bill McCarren, former Executive Director, National Press Club

Riveting storytelling!

Gaddafi, ketamine, the New York Times, Donald Trump, and too much booze- all the ingredients for a juicy story of a life on the inside of DC’s PR power hitters. I laughed, shed a few tears, and was mouth-agape at the insane mechanics of getting the stories of “the worst humans” in newspapers and on cable news programs.

The man is LITERALLY the Forest Gump of Modern Geopolitical History

First & foremost, his relationship with his wife & his own mental health will forge a very personal connection w/ countless listeners/readers as it will certainly echo their own lives. Makes this book more than just a collection of crazy awesome, mind blowing stories. Speaking of stories, MY GOD THE STORIES! This man hasn't just "been there" for every major event anyone between the ages of 25-55 can remember, he was very literally shaping & in many many cases was the person who we have to thank for our perception of those events. It's genuinely fascinating to hear how those in his profession basically design our collective realities. This book gives phenomenal insight into how journalism, government, geopolitics, weapons running, the pullers levers of power & so so much more actually works. This is a genuine case where you're going to want (and I'd argue NEED) to know how the sausage is actually made. I've read & listened to hundreds of books & never written a single review but after listening to this, I felt like it was my responsibility to do what I can to let as many people as I can know that this book is well worth your time & money. I simply cannot recommend it more highly. What an insane life this man has lived.

Wow, what a story!

This gives such an insight into how the real world works. We always wonder about what happens inside the machine and this book is such an honest look inside. Listened as an Audiobook and the narration was great and kept me interested the whole time.

this book is awesome, listen now!

words aren’t needed, read now. words aren’t needed, read now. words aren’t needed, read now. words aren’t needed, read now. seven unique words, come on

Entertaining walk through a crazy corner of the media world p ok

Having crossed a few of those pathes, I can attest to Elwood’s insight and talent. He’s a terrific arsonist as he puts it. The Qatar Olympics example was wiiiild. Glad he’s putting his talents to use for good now.

Intriguing and captivating

A first hand look at the underbelly of world leaders, politics and global corruption. Fascinating!

Binge-worthy. Every worried citizen needs to hear this story.

Every American red and blue needs to hear this powerful primer on the political power broker industry, the narrative-spinners that keep the silenced majority divided and the monied in power, and the infection of the media industry by a business model that profits by dividing Americans in fear, anger and hate. Elwood was caught up deeply in it, and while he’s no model of virtue, he is an honest insider who names names, and he represents thousands who continue to exploit the system, some with and some without remorse.

The Best Book About the Worst Humans

What happens when you take a bipolar, depressive, former high school debate champ, college flunkee, and give him a job doing PR for dictators and spy agencies? Hilarious mayhem ensues in this well written and well read memoir. This is one of the most enjoyable audio books I’ve heard since COVID.

Sorry to give this POS a dime.

Absolutely amoral person who thinks he’s just great. He hasn’t got the ability to feel shame . Evil.