A review by fiendfull
The Playbook: Protecting the Corporation from the Risks of Scientific Knowledge by Jennifer Jacquet

3.0

 The Playbook is a nonfiction book about how corporations deny science in order to make money, told in the format of a playbook aimed at these corporations telling them about all the techniques that can be used. The book explores concepts like engaging with academics and PR companies, dealing with statistics, and reframing arguments, as well as having a satirical glossary that looks at how particular words and ideas are used in this fight. 

 

This is high concept nonfiction that combines facts with satire, combining many actual business practices with a mocking tone in order to engage people with a topic that could come across as quite dry. I liked the concept and it did make the book easily digestible, though sometimes the tone would grate a bit. Due to the presentation as a playbook, there is more of a focus on what and how rather than why, so the book is a useful exposition but doesn't offer analysis of what could be done to combat these techniques, if anything.