Reading that Coercion book right now. It’s pretty good. I like Rushkoff once he gets out of the way of himself.

In military decision making, it was also crucial to have a handle on the local or national psyche. For example, although Franklin Roosevelt had considered assassinating the emperor of Japan to force the nation’s surrender, his advisors learned through anthropological research that such a move would surely backfire. With no emperor, there would be no one with the authority to surrender. Moreover, the attack on the emperor would so infuriate the people that they would likely fight until the last man standing. Only a tremendous humiliation - such as that endured at Hiroshima - was deemed sufficient to force the Japanese emperor to admit defeat.

p. 138

And this one…

Frank Baum, the author of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz believed that the retail environment, like Oz itself, could help people realize their deepest desires. As if in a dream, taboos would be lifted and consumers could express themselves through the art of consumption. In his role as America’s first retail art director, Baum was hired by department stores to create lavish dreamlike environments where the consumption could take place. Baum enabled Americans to enact their utopian dream of a commercial paradise.

p. 69-70