Edward S. Herman

Edward S. Herman is one of the most respected and influential authors when it comes to books about politics and the economy. A writer, speaker, and professor emeritus of finance at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, he has authored a number of influential books, including Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media, Beyond Hypocrisy: Decoding the News in an Age of Propaganda, and The Political Economy of Human Rights.

A distinguished scholar, Herman earned his undergraduate degree from Brown University and his Ph.D. in economics in 1954 from Harvard University. He then went on to serve as a professor at various universities and research institutions, including the University of Massachusetts, the University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and the University of Amsterdam.

Herman is known for his work in economic theory, media analysis, and foreign policy. His publications are regularly cited by academics and policy makers due to their effective combination of intellectual rigor and political insight.

In Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media, Herman and co-author Noam Chomsky addressed the media bias and its implications for democracy. The two argued that the media plays a vital role in informing citizens and that its power to shape opinions should not be taken for granted. By analyzing corporatist control and foundations, the authors examined how certain perspectives are privileged over others in the media.

In Beyond Hypocrisy: Decoding the News in an Age of Propaganda, Herman took a closer look at the national media institutions and discussed the ways in which they have become biased and manipulated due to their commercial interests. He argued that the media's “McCarthyism”—or its tendency to “wave the flag”—prevents citizens from critically engaging with the news.

Perhaps Herman’s most influential book is The Political Economy of Human Rights. A must-read for those interested in international politics and the economy, Herman used firsthand sources and political science research to analyze the use of economic sanctions and military intervention in regulating human rights. He argued that the modern human rights system has effectively become a tool to pursue U.S. foreign policy objectives and to strengthen the economy of powerful nations.

Herman has also authored numerous articles in academic journals, including the Journal of Economic Literature and the Wharton Business Journal. He has also co-authored books, including The Global Wage System, The Real Terror Network, and The Political Economy of Trade and Investment.

To honor his contribution to academic research, Herman has received numerous awards, including the Peter Drucker Award for Non-Fiction Book of the Year in 2004 for Manufacturing Consent and the World Association for Public Opinion Research People’s Choice Award in 2006 for Beyond Hypocrisy.

Edward S. Herman is an outstanding author, lecturer, and professor. His books are essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the political economy of today’s world. While his publications may be dense, they provide invaluable insight into the ways in which economic forces shape our lives and our environment.