In 1953, at the end of the war, North Korea released the American prisoners it had been holding.

The surprise was when 21 prisoners refused to return to their country and decided to live in China.

This decision sparked panic in the West: Why didn't they want to return? And what exactly happened?

Daniel Peck delves into the murky world of brainwashing, dissecting the most dramatic cases in history from the Cold War to the present day: whether by governments, education, medicine, modern technology companies... or other forms of covert persuasion that are impossible to resist.

This book sheds light on the webs of lies and deception we are exposed to even when we enjoy a great deal of freedom.

'Brilliant, engaging, and compelling... Beck tackles the big philosophical questions with a deft touch.'
The Mail on Sunday

Daniel Beck is a British psychoanalyst, historian, and professor at the University of London. He has published several books on modern cultural history and the history of the humanities.