Brought to You By

Absolutely essential reading… This is no subtle cautionary tale; this is a blaring, screaming, flashing-red-lights emergency alert. * Booklist *
A gripping account of the corporate propaganda that has invaded our media, our democracy, and now the very nature of truth itself…Westervelt exposes the plot hidden within the familiar story of science denial. * The Revelator *
An investigative climate journalist by trade, Westervelt did some impressive archival research to introduce readers to some of the major players in corporate PR… What Westervelt makes clear is that we arrived here by design, not accident. From climate change to capitalism, American perceptions and attitudes have been molded and reinforced by a relentless information — and disinformation — campaign. * California Review of Books *
A must-read for anyone tracking the machinery of climate denial and delay. * DeSmog *
Urgent…Most edifying are Westervelt’s profiles of the individuals that built the modern PR machine…she convincingly conveys how dire corporate influence on knowledge production is for democracy. * Publishers Weekly *
There are few writers as dogged and skilled at identifying the endless lies that plague our society like locusts as Amy Westervelt. In this big and vital book she answers the big question: ‘where did all these lies come from and who profits from them?’ * Adam McKay, director of DON”T LOOK UP and THE BIG SHORT *
Well, thank heaven for this book. The indefatigable Amy Westervelt uncovers the spin at the base of so many of our current confusions, and in meticulous fashion she makes clear not only what’s gone wrong but how we might start to fix it. She diagnoses the function of reporting in the best possible way—with great reporting. * Bill McKibben, New York Times bestselling author of THE END OF NATURE *
Both daunting and empowering. Daunting to realize what we’re up against; empowering to learn the history, names, and playbook of those subverting truth and democracy. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to defend and advance both. * Annie Leonard, author of THE STORY OF STUFF *
In this brilliant and fascinating book, Amy Westervelt tells the important story of how large corporate interests have clouded the truth and twisted facts to the point that democracy itself is threatened. With scrupulous accuracy and vivid examples, Westervelt investigates the “information polluters,” unearthing stories that are original, colorful, and frightening. With her signature masterly reporting, she has created a book that every citizen needs to read. * Jill Abramson, first woman executive editor of the New York Times and author of MERCHANTS OF TRUTH *
A blistering indictment of the long history of corporate pollution and corruption of our information landscape. What Westervelt shows—with both justified anger and wit and charm—is that corporate American realized long ago that democracy was bad for business. And so they set out to undermine it, and undermine it they have. A must read for anyone trying to figure out how we begin to reclaim our democracy. * Naomi Oreskes, coauthor of MERCHANTS OF DOUBT *
In her deeply-researched and wide-ranging narrative, Westervelt mines the consequential ways corporate information pollution has eroded democracy and put us all in danger. A must-read full of moxie—motivating us to fight for each other before it’s too late * Elise Hu, author of FLAWLESS and host of TED Talks Daily *
A startling deep dive into how PR, of all things, has been leveraged to bring us to the brink of democratic collapse, all so the wealthy can stay wealthy and, most importantly, free from accountability. It’s fascinating, groundbreaking, and somehow still very, very fun. * Rhiana Gunn-Wright, architect of the Green New Deal *
Brought to You By is a remarkable, highly readable, somehow fun story of corruption and misinformation. No mere historical tome, it crackles with discoveries and illuminating reporting. Anyone in politics or policy, academia or media, or simply living in 2026 needs this illuminating book. * James Wheaton, founder of the First Amendment Project *

Amy Westervelt is an acclaimed investigative climate journalist and the author of Forget “Having It All”: How America Messed Up Motherhood—and How to Fix It. She is the founder and executive producer of the Critical Frequency network, which includes the award-winning podcasts Unfinished: Short Creek, This Land, and Drilled. Drilled has expanded from a podcast into a climate-focused global newsroom, co-publishing with The Guardian, ProPublica, Rolling Stone, and more. She lives in Costa Rica.

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