The word “disinformation” might sound like a buzzword that slowly insinuates itself into the lexicon, but the word has been
around for a long time. With the advent of the Internet and social media, the word has become quite significant to current political discourse. Exploring the damage disinformation can do to democracy, author Teri Kanefiled and illustrator Pat Dorian discuss the history of disinformation and how to combat it in their book A Firehose of Falsehood: the Story of Disinformation.
Early on, Kanefield offers the distinction between misinformation and disinformation. Misinformation has the initial intent to inform but get the facts wrong. Disinformation, on the other hand, is knowingly spreading false information, typically for nefarious purposes. Disinformation, according to Kanefield, has been used by leaders for thousands of years and has been used in military operations to help destabilize armies and topple kingdoms. Kanefield traces the history of disinformation from its use by Darius I in ancient Persia to today’s use by political leaders like Vladamir Putin and Donald Trump.
Like any good work of nonfiction, Kanefield is thorough in exploring all aspects of her subject. By starting back to disinformation’s humble beginnings in Persia and establishing a timeline going through well-known leaders like Josef Stalin, she establishes that the concept has been around for millenia. Eventually, when she starts discussing the election of 2016 and Donald Trump’s presidency, Kanefield shows that, while the concept of disinformation is nothing new, it has gained a new sense of urgency when a leader or a movement decides to weaponize disinformation to muddy any and all debates. She ultimately ends this book with tips on how individuals can combat disinformation.
Despite disinformation being such a vital topic and Kanefield establishing it as a threat to our democracy, it’s also a topic that can come off as dry and dense as any academic tome about, say, tectonic plates or Brussel’s economy. Presenting the work as a graphic novel helps alleviate that problem by presenting Kanefield’s information into smaller chunks interspersed with Dorian’s images. Dorian’s drawing style also emphasizes a more cartoonish look to the book’s characters, which provides an entertaining bit of sugar to help readers consume what might be a bitter pill otherwise.
This book would make a great companion piece to the book Dictatorship: It’s Easier Than You Think! since both books cover the Machiavellian methods leaders use to get and stay in power. This book would also be a great addition for academic or public libraries that like nonfiction graphic novels and want books about information literacy.
A Firehose of Falsehoods The Story of Disinformation Vol.
By Teri Kanefield
Art by Pat Dorian
Macmillan First Second, 2023
ISBN: 9781250790439
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+)
