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All the Worst Humans: How I Made News for Dictators, Tycoons, and Politicians
A bridge-burning, riotous memoir by a top PR operative in Washington who exposes the secrets of the $129-billion industry that controls so much of what we see and hear in the media―from a man who used to pull the strings, and who is now pulling back the curtain.
After nearly two decades in the Washington PR business, Elwood wants to come clean, by exposing the dark underbelly of the very industry that’s made him so successful. The first step is revealing exactly what he’s been up to for the past twenty years―and it isn’t pretty.
Elwood has worked for a murderer’s row of clients, including Gaddafi, Assad, and the government of Qatar―namely, the bad guys. In All the Worst Humans , Elwood unveils how the PR business works, and how the truth gets made, spun, and sold to the public―not shying away from the gritty details of his unlikely career.
This is a piercing look into the corridors of money, power, politics, and control, all told in Elwood’s disarmingly funny and entertaining voice. He recounts a four-day Las Vegas bacchanal with a dictator’s son, plotting communications strategies against a terrorist organization in Western Africa, and helping to land a Middle Eastern dictator’s wife a glowing profile in Vogue on the same time the Arab Spring broke out. And he reveals all his slippery tricks for seducing journalists in order to create chaos and ultimately cover for politicians, dictators, and spies―the industry-secret tactics that led to his rise as a political PR pro.
Along the way, Phil walks the halls of the Capitol, rides in armored cars through Abuja, and watches his client lose his annual income at the roulette table. But as he moved up the ranks, he felt worse and worse about the sleaziness of it all―until Elwood receives a shocking wake-up call from the FBI. This risky game nearly cost Elwood his life and his freedom. Seeing the light, Elwood decides to change his ways, and his clients, and to tell the full truth about who is the worst human.
After nearly two decades in the Washington PR business, Elwood wants to come clean, by exposing the dark underbelly of the very industry that’s made him so successful. The first step is revealing exactly what he’s been up to for the past twenty years―and it isn’t pretty.
Elwood has worked for a murderer’s row of clients, including Gaddafi, Assad, and the government of Qatar―namely, the bad guys. In All the Worst Humans , Elwood unveils how the PR business works, and how the truth gets made, spun, and sold to the public―not shying away from the gritty details of his unlikely career.
This is a piercing look into the corridors of money, power, politics, and control, all told in Elwood’s disarmingly funny and entertaining voice. He recounts a four-day Las Vegas bacchanal with a dictator’s son, plotting communications strategies against a terrorist organization in Western Africa, and helping to land a Middle Eastern dictator’s wife a glowing profile in Vogue on the same time the Arab Spring broke out. And he reveals all his slippery tricks for seducing journalists in order to create chaos and ultimately cover for politicians, dictators, and spies―the industry-secret tactics that led to his rise as a political PR pro.
Along the way, Phil walks the halls of the Capitol, rides in armored cars through Abuja, and watches his client lose his annual income at the roulette table. But as he moved up the ranks, he felt worse and worse about the sleaziness of it all―until Elwood receives a shocking wake-up call from the FBI. This risky game nearly cost Elwood his life and his freedom. Seeing the light, Elwood decides to change his ways, and his clients, and to tell the full truth about who is the worst human.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published June 25, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
February 23, 2024
I had many conflicting feelings when I read this book. First there was horror and disbelief as Phil Elwood told story after story of working with the eponymous "worst humans" (not an exaggeration, think: Muammar Gaddafi), but also an unhealthy fascination - people employed by dictators and foreign governments don't often share such details with the wider public. Then there was compassion, as I read about the impact this crazy job had on the author, leaving him with PTSD and severe depression. Towards the end I even began to cheer for him - but then I suddenly realised that I was reading the words of a man who is a master of manipulation, so I began to question how sincere his remorse was.
In the age of disinformation, it is certainly a timely and eye-opening read. And it is very well written - even the parts where you despise your narrator are maddeningly engaging.
Thanks to the publisher, Henry Holt and Co., and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
In the age of disinformation, it is certainly a timely and eye-opening read. And it is very well written - even the parts where you despise your narrator are maddeningly engaging.
Thanks to the publisher, Henry Holt and Co., and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
July 22, 2024
Before reading this book, I was unaware that its 'spine' is comprised of an element I already knew something about - from reading 'An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness', by a doctor (Kay Redfield Jamison) who, while being accomplished and respected n her work, nevertheless battled manic depression (the term apparently preferred to 'bipolar'). .
But there's a difference here. Whereas, overall, Dr. Jamison was more or less a problem unto herself, the author of 'All the Worst Humans' (Phil Elwood) seems to have had (for too long) no clue about his personal reality... and he became something of an international problem, which led to a rude awakening with the FBI.
The fact that he was not onto himself allowed him to 'prosper' as a PR 'operative': bouncing between acting with a good conscience - and acting not at all admirably, as a chaos agent.
Early on, Elwood gives us the rough outline of his professional milieu:
What the average American is unlikely to know is the way that American operatives can help shape a public opinion that follows misinformation:
Ultimately Elwood lands himself in serious kaka (esp. with the Mueller investigation), leading to a kind-of 'come-to-Jesus' moment akin to the one experienced by Michael Cohen prior to his imprisonment.
Not all that surprisingly, Elwood's trajectory also crossed over to T---p's ambition:
But let me go back to the idea of 'chaos agents' - which is what I mainly took away from this book. I was reminded anew that guys like Elwood are hardly rare in Washington DC. Elwood's eventual caregiving physician confirms that:
But there's a difference here. Whereas, overall, Dr. Jamison was more or less a problem unto herself, the author of 'All the Worst Humans' (Phil Elwood) seems to have had (for too long) no clue about his personal reality... and he became something of an international problem, which led to a rude awakening with the FBI.
The fact that he was not onto himself allowed him to 'prosper' as a PR 'operative': bouncing between acting with a good conscience - and acting not at all admirably, as a chaos agent.
Early on, Elwood gives us the rough outline of his professional milieu:
PR firms employ two types of people: bureaucrats and operatives. Bureaucrats are the accountants. The conference call leaders. The digital paper pushers. Operatives infect newsrooms. Call reporters. Do whatever it takes to get ink.Operatives, Elwood tells us, are 'invisible' players who vie for secret information that's hot enough to become a news story after being passed on to journalists. That info can sometimes be true (and a branch of pure motives) but it doesn't necessarily have to be; it can certainly be false (and a calculated spin) - but that doesn't always matter. Operatives can engage in both shedding light and in fabrication for the sake of appearance.
What the average American is unlikely to know is the way that American operatives can help shape a public opinion that follows misinformation:
Foreign governments hire American PR firms because they've seen how skillfully we protect American politicians and corporations.That's where Elwood's undiagnosed (for too long) illness enters the picture. The recklessness of his manic behavior blinds him to the easy transitioning to (putting it mildly) territory written about by the likes of Kafka or a politically-oriented Hunter S. Thompson.
Operators like me oil the machines that prop up authoritarian power all over the world. I help those machines function by laundering the sins of dictators through the press. I attack their enemies. Provide backdoor access to Washington.
Ultimately Elwood lands himself in serious kaka (esp. with the Mueller investigation), leading to a kind-of 'come-to-Jesus' moment akin to the one experienced by Michael Cohen prior to his imprisonment.
Not all that surprisingly, Elwood's trajectory also crossed over to T---p's ambition:
As an anonymous source, I filled in BuzzFeed's team on the golf games I helped set up in Florida for the Libyan ambassador, and on how Trump tried to gain access to Libya's sovereign wealth fund.(When Elwood first meets T---p, it's whispered to him that he should not shake hands, since T---p is a "germaphobe". To me, it's always been a fascinating giving-away-the-game reveal that The Giant Germ itself is afraid of germs - or he simply hates himself as much as he hates people.)
But let me go back to the idea of 'chaos agents' - which is what I mainly took away from this book. I was reminded anew that guys like Elwood are hardly rare in Washington DC. Elwood's eventual caregiving physician confirms that:
... many of [his] patients have high-level security clearances. They work on the Hill and at the Pentagon. Dr. Oliver has a hypothesis that high-stress jobs burn out neural pathways at an alarming rate, and though this hypothesis hasn't been scientifically proven it certainly mirrors my experience.'All the Worst Humans' is a testament to DC's (basic) defining reality: it attracts those who sincerely desire to make a positive difference - and it's equally a magnet for those who (diagnosed or not) live only to bulldoze through with the biggest, ugliest mess they can make.
June 23, 2024
The first time Phil Elwood told me a story about babysitting Gaddafi’s son in Las Vegas, I thought, “There’s no way this guy is for real.” It turns out, Phil is the real deal - and All the Worst Humans has the receipts, for the Vegas bender and so much more.
The breezy tone of the opening chapters is a trap: Phil has worked for some of the most evil people alive the past few decades, burnishing their images and helping them do their dastardly deeds to the world’s applause (or at least, fewer sanctions). He’s wielded influence and connections to shape reputations and change the course of history. He openly admits to taking advantage of reporters to “win” words for his clients. Having been both a journalist and a public relations pro (although of a very different sort than Phil’s), I found much of this book deeply unsettling. I suspect that’s exactly the reaction he’s going for. People’s dim view of reporters (their motives, their intelligence) and the media (just there to do the bidding of the rich and powerful) certainly isn’t helped by hearing how a guy like Phil uses reporters to get a favorable outcomes for people who have the means to pay lots for it.
Like Darth Vader the cat, Phil bites the hand that feeds him: All the Worst Humans peels back the curtain on his many shady clients, his former firms, the journalists who allowed Phil to use their bylines to launder his clients’ reputations. PR dark arts has real consequences. It’s to Phil’s credit that he unflinchingly acknowledges the harms his work facilitated, and his remorse over his role. He names names. (The reporters actually come out looking alright.)
As much as this is about the wild stories of Phil’s career, this is also a deeply intimate look at his personal demons, some that come from that wild history, some that are simply part of his brain chemistry. There is no vice Phil hasn’t experimented with and procured for clients. He explores the opioid crisis through the lens of his own near-miss with being overprescribed Oxy post-surgery, and through Perdue Pharma’s marketing of “legal heroin” by employing McKinsey. And includes a frank discussion of his own battles with bipolar II and PTSD, and works his reputational magic on ketamine as a life-saving treatment for depression.
As a full disclosure, I’m not exactly an unbiased reviewer here: I’m friendly with Phil and his wife, Lindsay, whom I previously worked with and who features prominently through these pages (I’ve also pet Darth Vader the cat and seen the subpoena from the Mueller investigation that hangs on the bathroom wall in Phil and Lindsay’s apartment). But while I may have picked up a galley of this book because of that personal connection, that’s not what kept me reading. This is not your typical This Town tell-all. It’s a wild ride, laugh-out-loud funny, and a punch to the gut, and well worth your time.
CW: This memoir discusses all manner of real, evil people and events. It also includes an on-the-page, graphic descriptions of suicidal ideation, drug and alcohol use, and untreated mental illness.
Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The breezy tone of the opening chapters is a trap: Phil has worked for some of the most evil people alive the past few decades, burnishing their images and helping them do their dastardly deeds to the world’s applause (or at least, fewer sanctions). He’s wielded influence and connections to shape reputations and change the course of history. He openly admits to taking advantage of reporters to “win” words for his clients. Having been both a journalist and a public relations pro (although of a very different sort than Phil’s), I found much of this book deeply unsettling. I suspect that’s exactly the reaction he’s going for. People’s dim view of reporters (their motives, their intelligence) and the media (just there to do the bidding of the rich and powerful) certainly isn’t helped by hearing how a guy like Phil uses reporters to get a favorable outcomes for people who have the means to pay lots for it.
Like Darth Vader the cat, Phil bites the hand that feeds him: All the Worst Humans peels back the curtain on his many shady clients, his former firms, the journalists who allowed Phil to use their bylines to launder his clients’ reputations. PR dark arts has real consequences. It’s to Phil’s credit that he unflinchingly acknowledges the harms his work facilitated, and his remorse over his role. He names names. (The reporters actually come out looking alright.)
As much as this is about the wild stories of Phil’s career, this is also a deeply intimate look at his personal demons, some that come from that wild history, some that are simply part of his brain chemistry. There is no vice Phil hasn’t experimented with and procured for clients. He explores the opioid crisis through the lens of his own near-miss with being overprescribed Oxy post-surgery, and through Perdue Pharma’s marketing of “legal heroin” by employing McKinsey. And includes a frank discussion of his own battles with bipolar II and PTSD, and works his reputational magic on ketamine as a life-saving treatment for depression.
As a full disclosure, I’m not exactly an unbiased reviewer here: I’m friendly with Phil and his wife, Lindsay, whom I previously worked with and who features prominently through these pages (I’ve also pet Darth Vader the cat and seen the subpoena from the Mueller investigation that hangs on the bathroom wall in Phil and Lindsay’s apartment). But while I may have picked up a galley of this book because of that personal connection, that’s not what kept me reading. This is not your typical This Town tell-all. It’s a wild ride, laugh-out-loud funny, and a punch to the gut, and well worth your time.
CW: This memoir discusses all manner of real, evil people and events. It also includes an on-the-page, graphic descriptions of suicidal ideation, drug and alcohol use, and untreated mental illness.
Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 14, 2024
All The Worst Humans by Phil Elwood is a book about Mr. Elwoods rise as a publicist and spin doctor for some of the worst people on the planet. While reading this book like a lot of other reviewer‘s I almost got caught up in feeling sorry for the author but then I reminded myself how one of his first jobs was trying to get people to skew their own professional opinion. He wanted academic professionals to claim tuna wasn’t as harmful to embryos and fetuses as it was, so pregnant woman would eat more tuna. He lied and attached hisself to One of Michelle Obama‘s legitimate campaigns to get leverage on a corrupt country getting the world soccer tournament he got the Syrian leaders wife into vogue just days before it went public that he killed his own people and on and on the stories do not stop the only reason he’s even feigning remorse is because he got caught. He would even have no problem with people talking bad about America he didn’t care what side he was on as long as they were paying him. I know this review it so I can say whether I think other people would find it enjoyable and the answer is yes. It is well written and tells a great story and although throughout it sounds more like he’s boasting as a pose to being shamefaced and like OMG I can’t believe I did that. The book really shows how the world works I mean when a college dropout can become an intern for a major senator when hard-working students probably applied for the same job that his friend just gave him it really says nothing good about America. The book is interesting however and I do recommend it for many reasons. I do want to say I have no respect for this man whatsoever I’m glad he’s nice to Darth Vader, his cat but don’t like him at all and can’t believe he has a girlfriend shame on her. I want to thank Henry Holt and Company for my free Arc copy via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
July 14, 2024
This memoir would fit right in with being a case study in Tavris and Aronson's Mistakes Were Made, but Not by Me: Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts. Elwood has made a living enabling and facilitating horrible actions by horrible people, yet he paints himself as not a villain or a bad actor in his own right (which he is), just a poor guy trying to get out of debt and struggling to make a living in an industry where he's rightfully alienated so many.
My statistics:
Book 150 for 2024
Book 1753 cumulatively
My statistics:
Book 150 for 2024
Book 1753 cumulatively
July 18, 2024
El libro de All the Worst Humans de Phil Elwood, es un trabajo sobre confesiones del trabajo sucio que juegan las relaciones públicas y la publicidad muchas veces para manipular a sus audiencias. El dinero parece comprar el silencio de los medios aunque ocurran cosas atroces. No existe tal cosa como una noticia objetiva por lo general siempre se mira desde una óptica de intereses.
Phil Elwood, es publicista de Washington, en el libro confiesa ese trabajo sucio de blanquear pecados de sus clientes que como el título lo dice son los peores humanos como por ejemplo dictadores. Los hombres más poderosos y adinerados logran comprar a los medios para cambiar la narrativa. Se menciona el soborno recibido para limpiar los honorarios de los árabes por casos como la muerte del columnista del Washington Post Jamal Khashoggi.
Y también confiesa toda la maquinaria informativa que hubo para que se dieran algunos eventos específicos como la cuestionada organización del mundial de fútbol en Catar. O temas aislados como la guerra comercial entre Walmart y Amazon. Todas esas campañas poco honestas que simplemente se pagan para generar daño la competencia. Con cero ética y profesionales cuestionados, incluso a veces muertos.
En general es un libro que nos acerca a la versión más oscuro de los medios. La manipulación de la información y como todos trabajan a favor de los malos por el dinero.
Elwood relata su experiencia en las consultoras mundialmente famosos en las que trabajó especializadas en relaciones públicas. Y también dice abiertamente muchas de las técnicas de manipulación que empleó para poder acercarse más a los hombres más malos.
Aunque Elwood confiesa haber hecho muchos trucos sucios y que estuvieron al margen de lo legal. En esta propuesta busca su redención para desnudar el periodismo, las relaciones públicas y la publicidad. Un campo minado de la información que posee una narrativa por encima de la verdad, que responde a los intereses de sus clientes.
Además acepta que ahora mismo sólo está viendo el daño que hicieron muchas de sus noticias y como la manipulación de la narrativa termina por degenerar en caos y tensiones.
Quizás el elemento más interesante de la narración, es que muchas veces uno siente que está leyendo el diario de un villano, pero a su vez y cerca del final vemos una metamorfosis hacia un ser que se vuelve más compasivo. El libro nos hace reflexionar, porque si vivimos en una época donde la gente ha perdido la veracidad de los medios, una confesión como está, sólo nos hace recordar porque cada noticia e información, debería ser tomada con pinzas.
Un 4/5 porque estas versiones al desnudo del trabajo sucio de los medios, generan mucho morbo.
Phil Elwood, es publicista de Washington, en el libro confiesa ese trabajo sucio de blanquear pecados de sus clientes que como el título lo dice son los peores humanos como por ejemplo dictadores. Los hombres más poderosos y adinerados logran comprar a los medios para cambiar la narrativa. Se menciona el soborno recibido para limpiar los honorarios de los árabes por casos como la muerte del columnista del Washington Post Jamal Khashoggi.
Y también confiesa toda la maquinaria informativa que hubo para que se dieran algunos eventos específicos como la cuestionada organización del mundial de fútbol en Catar. O temas aislados como la guerra comercial entre Walmart y Amazon. Todas esas campañas poco honestas que simplemente se pagan para generar daño la competencia. Con cero ética y profesionales cuestionados, incluso a veces muertos.
En general es un libro que nos acerca a la versión más oscuro de los medios. La manipulación de la información y como todos trabajan a favor de los malos por el dinero.
Elwood relata su experiencia en las consultoras mundialmente famosos en las que trabajó especializadas en relaciones públicas. Y también dice abiertamente muchas de las técnicas de manipulación que empleó para poder acercarse más a los hombres más malos.
Aunque Elwood confiesa haber hecho muchos trucos sucios y que estuvieron al margen de lo legal. En esta propuesta busca su redención para desnudar el periodismo, las relaciones públicas y la publicidad. Un campo minado de la información que posee una narrativa por encima de la verdad, que responde a los intereses de sus clientes.
Además acepta que ahora mismo sólo está viendo el daño que hicieron muchas de sus noticias y como la manipulación de la narrativa termina por degenerar en caos y tensiones.
Quizás el elemento más interesante de la narración, es que muchas veces uno siente que está leyendo el diario de un villano, pero a su vez y cerca del final vemos una metamorfosis hacia un ser que se vuelve más compasivo. El libro nos hace reflexionar, porque si vivimos en una época donde la gente ha perdido la veracidad de los medios, una confesión como está, sólo nos hace recordar porque cada noticia e información, debería ser tomada con pinzas.
Un 4/5 porque estas versiones al desnudo del trabajo sucio de los medios, generan mucho morbo.
June 30, 2024
JeSUS. What a tangled web we weave.
Bridge Burning? That’s one way to put it. But this feels more like an inferno of, “fuck all y’all.”
I commend Phil Elwood for having the balls to share these stories, although I’m not completely sold on his remorse. This book is about a man who was a true Master of Manipulation for profit. If anything, All The Worst Humans has taught me to look deeper and think critically about the information offered. This book is for profit ($14.99 on Kindle). I can look at it like a man who wants to repent, but he could have been a whistle blower without the mad money attached. I think the true intentions are somewhere in between. But hey, do what you need to for self preservation, man ☮️
My truth- I totally binged this entire book.
Bridge Burning? That’s one way to put it. But this feels more like an inferno of, “fuck all y’all.”
I commend Phil Elwood for having the balls to share these stories, although I’m not completely sold on his remorse. This book is about a man who was a true Master of Manipulation for profit. If anything, All The Worst Humans has taught me to look deeper and think critically about the information offered. This book is for profit ($14.99 on Kindle). I can look at it like a man who wants to repent, but he could have been a whistle blower without the mad money attached. I think the true intentions are somewhere in between. But hey, do what you need to for self preservation, man ☮️
My truth- I totally binged this entire book.
July 5, 2024
This book sucked me in and took me on an unexpected ride through extremely sketchy political PR antics, a peek at the machine at work, mental health, and ultimately—hope.
Many quotes will stay with me, including this one:
“The United States is the only democracy in the history of humanity that believes as a matter of law that money is speech.” (Buckley v Valeo, 1976 Supreme Court ruling that spending money to influence elections is constitutionally protected free speech)
June 13, 2024
Interesting look behind the scenes at international PR. I think I would have liked it more if I was reading it rather than listening. I felt the narrator made the author seem more unlikeable.
I was provided a free librarian ALC by Libro.fm.
I was provided a free librarian ALC by Libro.fm.
June 29, 2024
I never thought PR could be so wicked.
July 17, 2024
Eye opening account into the devious machinations shaping public opinion around very significant events. Elwood is a natural raconteur, deadpan humour even in the darkest of times.
July 7, 2024
I don’t even know what to say… there are so many messed up things told in this book.. this was a fascinating read
July 2, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up. Entertaining enough.
April 6, 2024
Thanks to the publisher for access to this book! I very much enjoyed it - both the description of a world I'm not too familiar with (PR) as well as the author's examination of his struggles with mental illness and substance use.
May 9, 2024
My thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for an advance copy of this memoir of a person who worked for some of the worst people in the world, helping them influence public opinion, ie get the media to either support or ignore much of what made these people bad, for money, influence, or for fun.
When people look at the current state of the world and wonder why things are as bad as they are, it all just comes down to both human greed and ego. People will do a lot of nasty things for money, sometimes selling out their morals, ethics, even futures for surprisingly little amounts. One can't forget the lure of power. Being around the powerful is its own heady allure, capturing people who know they are not that smart, or would ever have any pull on their own into an orbit where the can be something. Players in a game of lowering the bar as quickly and as deeply as possible. Darn the consequences. I got mine, fudge everyone and everything. And abetted by a journalism class who wants both the cachet of being the people who call people to task, while inviting them to correspondent's dinners, and writing books. Into this world stepped Phil Elwood, who quickly became very good at what he was doing. Until it all went bad for him. All the Worst Humans: How I Made News for Dictators, Tycoons, and Politicians is a story about a man, a series of plans, willing journalists, and politicians, and how cheaply people sell themselves for.
The book begins with a come to Jesus moment for our narrator Phil Elwood. Though this Jesus works for the FBI and they have a few questions, which is something no one wants to hear. The book flashes back to a younger Elwood losing himself in college, but finding a job as an intern to than Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a place that seemed to teach young Elwood that real things get done in backrooms with lots of booze. Readers follow his slow ascent to buying drugs for the sons of dictators. Or getting the county of Qatar the World Cup, whose stadiums were built by slave labor. There are deals, pitches, and willing journalists who settle for complete stories given to them, so they don't have to work. To a lot of people this will be revelatory, but to anyone paying attention, many of our last wars played out like this.
I was never a fan of The Wolf of Wall Street, which seemed a more how awesome is this kind of story about excess, while omitting the people who suffered so one guy could get Margot Robbie. Nor have I ever been a fan of Tucker Max, which seems to be a white guy thing in all these books. The writing is good, one would hope a PR man would be a good writer, or could find a good collaborator to do the typing. One can get wrapped up in the narrative, until one remembers again, this is a PR guy, so the truth, the feeling bad and discussing of guilt might be a little fake. One should read this to find out why governments get away with what they do. Why money seems to go everywhere but to places like Flint, Michigan that need clean water. To many this is all a game, omitting that quite a few people get wiped off the board, not knowing they are playing.
Recommended for people who took their ethics classes at the Kennedy School as a pass/fail. I felt nothing for the narrator, but I did enjoy learning more about the situations and politics that went around behind the scenes on a few things. Books like this show the rot that is apparent to all, but to make change takes work. It's easier to just take the money.
When people look at the current state of the world and wonder why things are as bad as they are, it all just comes down to both human greed and ego. People will do a lot of nasty things for money, sometimes selling out their morals, ethics, even futures for surprisingly little amounts. One can't forget the lure of power. Being around the powerful is its own heady allure, capturing people who know they are not that smart, or would ever have any pull on their own into an orbit where the can be something. Players in a game of lowering the bar as quickly and as deeply as possible. Darn the consequences. I got mine, fudge everyone and everything. And abetted by a journalism class who wants both the cachet of being the people who call people to task, while inviting them to correspondent's dinners, and writing books. Into this world stepped Phil Elwood, who quickly became very good at what he was doing. Until it all went bad for him. All the Worst Humans: How I Made News for Dictators, Tycoons, and Politicians is a story about a man, a series of plans, willing journalists, and politicians, and how cheaply people sell themselves for.
The book begins with a come to Jesus moment for our narrator Phil Elwood. Though this Jesus works for the FBI and they have a few questions, which is something no one wants to hear. The book flashes back to a younger Elwood losing himself in college, but finding a job as an intern to than Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a place that seemed to teach young Elwood that real things get done in backrooms with lots of booze. Readers follow his slow ascent to buying drugs for the sons of dictators. Or getting the county of Qatar the World Cup, whose stadiums were built by slave labor. There are deals, pitches, and willing journalists who settle for complete stories given to them, so they don't have to work. To a lot of people this will be revelatory, but to anyone paying attention, many of our last wars played out like this.
I was never a fan of The Wolf of Wall Street, which seemed a more how awesome is this kind of story about excess, while omitting the people who suffered so one guy could get Margot Robbie. Nor have I ever been a fan of Tucker Max, which seems to be a white guy thing in all these books. The writing is good, one would hope a PR man would be a good writer, or could find a good collaborator to do the typing. One can get wrapped up in the narrative, until one remembers again, this is a PR guy, so the truth, the feeling bad and discussing of guilt might be a little fake. One should read this to find out why governments get away with what they do. Why money seems to go everywhere but to places like Flint, Michigan that need clean water. To many this is all a game, omitting that quite a few people get wiped off the board, not knowing they are playing.
Recommended for people who took their ethics classes at the Kennedy School as a pass/fail. I felt nothing for the narrator, but I did enjoy learning more about the situations and politics that went around behind the scenes on a few things. Books like this show the rot that is apparent to all, but to make change takes work. It's easier to just take the money.
Read
July 21, 2024NOTE: Goodreads deleted my original review of this book (see below) saying that I attack the author and/or focus on his behavior. This is ironic in that the Goodreads gatekeepers seem oblivious to the fact that contents of the book—a memoir—are ALL ABOUT THE AUTHOR and his glorification of his amoral acts as a PR person for dictators. His actions were reprehensible. So, are readers to ignore this while reading or reacting to his account of those acts? Am I wrong to criticize someone who worked to promote Muammar Gaddafi, the Assad regime, and a shady Israeli group that secretly and illegally tried to influence the 2016 election for Trump? Is this cancel culture from Goodreads, its owner (Amazon), or the PR people with whom the author works and published this book? Goodreads’s action is all the more confusing considering the many excessively nasty and profanity-laden one-star reviews on its platform!
Goodreads’s claim: “Your review of All the Worst Humans: How I Made News for Dictators, Tycoons, and Politicians was brought to our attention. As stated in our Review Guidelines, we do not allow reviews that contain personal attacks or that primarily focus on an author's behavior rather than the content of the book.”
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My review:
All the Worst Humans highlights the worst of American government and America more broadly. Inherent throughout the book are stories of how greed, backroom deals, bribery, the “framing” (aka lying about issues) by high-priced PR firms, and an unbridled grab for power affect American policies. Phil Elwood, the author and former PR “operative,” tries throughout the book to both distance himself from the people and ideologies he relentlessly represented while also acknowledging his complicity in making them successful. Elwood has a knack for lighthearted storytelling (a good talent for a PR pro) and he entertains in his explanation of how he came to represent terrible people to the US government and to the world more broadly. He engenders reader interest in his success and talent as a Faustian character. Largely absent from the book, however, are authentic insights into how he justifies his work and advocacy for horrible people. He touts his respect for journalists at the same time that he talks about feeding them fake news. He lauds journalists’ “uncomplicated relationship with the truth” as if that relationship is naive (and as if there are “alternate truths”). He highlights his love for his wife—the only person in his story who has a moral compass—while also describing how he put her career and their relationship at risk. When he is caught doing dirty work for a shadowy Israeli group that sought to influence the 2016 election, he quickly flips and then justifies this by slyly equating himself as a whistleblower a la Daniel Ellsberg. He ironically talks about “bottom feeders” without acknowledging that he perfectly represents that very group. In short, he’s a nerdy asshole who sought power and thrills in a profession with virtually no ethical foundations. While Elwood does describe his mental health issues, they result (or are precipitated) not because he has repeatedly sold his soul but because he got caught doing so. In a handy deflection of responsibility, he even blames his unethical choices on bipolar disorder rather than on his own selfishness and desire for power (as if being bipolar means being amoral). Upon being medicated and seeking a way out of his troubles, he goes back to making fake news via another PR job because, he claims, PR is the only kind of work he could possibly get. Now he’s cashing in via a book that lacks genuine introspection.
Goodreads’s claim: “Your review of All the Worst Humans: How I Made News for Dictators, Tycoons, and Politicians was brought to our attention. As stated in our Review Guidelines, we do not allow reviews that contain personal attacks or that primarily focus on an author's behavior rather than the content of the book.”
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My review:
All the Worst Humans highlights the worst of American government and America more broadly. Inherent throughout the book are stories of how greed, backroom deals, bribery, the “framing” (aka lying about issues) by high-priced PR firms, and an unbridled grab for power affect American policies. Phil Elwood, the author and former PR “operative,” tries throughout the book to both distance himself from the people and ideologies he relentlessly represented while also acknowledging his complicity in making them successful. Elwood has a knack for lighthearted storytelling (a good talent for a PR pro) and he entertains in his explanation of how he came to represent terrible people to the US government and to the world more broadly. He engenders reader interest in his success and talent as a Faustian character. Largely absent from the book, however, are authentic insights into how he justifies his work and advocacy for horrible people. He touts his respect for journalists at the same time that he talks about feeding them fake news. He lauds journalists’ “uncomplicated relationship with the truth” as if that relationship is naive (and as if there are “alternate truths”). He highlights his love for his wife—the only person in his story who has a moral compass—while also describing how he put her career and their relationship at risk. When he is caught doing dirty work for a shadowy Israeli group that sought to influence the 2016 election, he quickly flips and then justifies this by slyly equating himself as a whistleblower a la Daniel Ellsberg. He ironically talks about “bottom feeders” without acknowledging that he perfectly represents that very group. In short, he’s a nerdy asshole who sought power and thrills in a profession with virtually no ethical foundations. While Elwood does describe his mental health issues, they result (or are precipitated) not because he has repeatedly sold his soul but because he got caught doing so. In a handy deflection of responsibility, he even blames his unethical choices on bipolar disorder rather than on his own selfishness and desire for power (as if being bipolar means being amoral). Upon being medicated and seeking a way out of his troubles, he goes back to making fake news via another PR job because, he claims, PR is the only kind of work he could possibly get. Now he’s cashing in via a book that lacks genuine introspection.
June 30, 2024
Where to start?
The book and the stories Phil Elwood shares are fascinating, horrible, repulsive and compel you to keep reading. For anyone who has ever liked a good conspiracy theory, this book will provide plenty of evidence that those of us living simple lives with very little power have no clue what is really happening in the halls of power. It's sickening to see the underbelly.
I spent time in DC when I was just out of college and left when I realized how status-conscious every single aspect of life was. I knew I had the ability to thrive in that environment, but I also had a sense that I would be miserable, so I left. Phil was in the same situation and leaned into the game.
His story is well-told, but I had to recognize it for what it is - another spin piece by someone who readily admits that PR is embedded in his DNA. After chapters explaining his heinous behavior in helping some of the world's worst humans, he decides to drop the nugget that he has a legitimate mental health disorder. It's supposed to merit sympathy and, for me, it does to a small extent. Enough to feel differently about the many morally-bankrupt actions he's taken over time? That's something I'd still need (as he says) time and information to determine.
From a standpoint of moral philosophy, I like the questions this book unearths. I think, from his PR perspective, that was the point. That shows Elwood's skill at his craft.
The book and the stories Phil Elwood shares are fascinating, horrible, repulsive and compel you to keep reading. For anyone who has ever liked a good conspiracy theory, this book will provide plenty of evidence that those of us living simple lives with very little power have no clue what is really happening in the halls of power. It's sickening to see the underbelly.
I spent time in DC when I was just out of college and left when I realized how status-conscious every single aspect of life was. I knew I had the ability to thrive in that environment, but I also had a sense that I would be miserable, so I left. Phil was in the same situation and leaned into the game.
His story is well-told, but I had to recognize it for what it is - another spin piece by someone who readily admits that PR is embedded in his DNA. After chapters explaining his heinous behavior in helping some of the world's worst humans, he decides to drop the nugget that he has a legitimate mental health disorder. It's supposed to merit sympathy and, for me, it does to a small extent. Enough to feel differently about the many morally-bankrupt actions he's taken over time? That's something I'd still need (as he says) time and information to determine.
From a standpoint of moral philosophy, I like the questions this book unearths. I think, from his PR perspective, that was the point. That shows Elwood's skill at his craft.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2024
Phil Elwood’s All the Worst Humans offers an entertaining and eye-opening exploration into the world of political PR and manipulation. As a reader, I found the book particularly enlightening regarding the tactics politicians use to sway public opinion. The behind-the-scenes glimpses into political machinations were compelling and provided a unique perspective on the often unseen aspects of governance. However, as the narrative progressed, Elwood’s tone shifted, portraying him as increasingly childish and unaware of the gravity of his actions. This approach, which seemed to trivialize the serious consequences of his work, came off as disingenuous, as if he was in denial about the harm he caused.
Despite these issues, the book has its merits. Elwood’s storytelling is engaging, and his insider knowledge offers valuable insights. However, the incessant mentions of his girlfriend, Lindsey, became a significant drawback. These personal anecdotes felt out of place and detracted from the book’s overall focus, making it seem like a public apology rather than a professional recounting of events. This repetitive focus was frustrating and led me to skip portions towards the end. Additionally, the audiobook narrator’s delivery made Elwood seem unlikable, which further impacted my enjoyment. Nonetheless, I would recommend All the Worst Humans to anyone interested in the inner workings of political PR and the darker side of world politics.
Despite these issues, the book has its merits. Elwood’s storytelling is engaging, and his insider knowledge offers valuable insights. However, the incessant mentions of his girlfriend, Lindsey, became a significant drawback. These personal anecdotes felt out of place and detracted from the book’s overall focus, making it seem like a public apology rather than a professional recounting of events. This repetitive focus was frustrating and led me to skip portions towards the end. Additionally, the audiobook narrator’s delivery made Elwood seem unlikable, which further impacted my enjoyment. Nonetheless, I would recommend All the Worst Humans to anyone interested in the inner workings of political PR and the darker side of world politics.
July 13, 2024
Wow, what a ride this book is! I'm actually surprised it's not making more waves or news right now... maybe because it makes so many people in the media look bad. Now, I put 5 stars because it's hugely informative about PR, and extremely entertaining, however I'm also repulsed by it. The author is definitely one of these 'worst humans' he's talking about (he admits it), and his life choices are difficult to comprehend. I feel especially bad for his wife who was by his side this whole time, while he wasn't helping himself at all. Another bittersweet aspect is that this book is actually a PR initiative itself. I really got that feeling in the concluding chapters. PR for himself, and a couple of other things (e.g. the 'cure' he mentions near the end... I really feel like he vastly underestimates the impact of alcoholism on his life and choices). Lastly, I'm not sure he's actually learned much at the end of the day, and he might actually go back within the 'loop' he's talking about. But again, I can't give less than 5 stars because I devoured it, and I do think it's a must-read for anyone who wants to know how power works in the public sphere.
July 11, 2024
This is 90% dark humor and 10% real talk about serious, as in life-threatening, mental health struggles (brave, honest, could be hard for some readers).
The writing is quick and vivid. To make it a screenplay, all you need to do is change the format.
Washington DC is a character--its bars and steakhouses, and its outlines from the rooftops of apartment buildings, at night, with a joint or a drink or both.
To my surprise, my favorite character, the one that the author gave the best lines to, was Preston, the kind of guy who owns as many guns as I own books. Preston is supposedly an old friend, more likely a device. Doesn't matter if he's real, his asides and explanations were hilarious.
While I never get tired of shows about adrenaline junkies doing gonzo things in DC, Hollywood might think there's been enough of that. After all, this is really the same story as Thank You for Not Smoking, just 20 years later (as the author recognizes). Too bad b/c he might need some money.
The writing is quick and vivid. To make it a screenplay, all you need to do is change the format.
Washington DC is a character--its bars and steakhouses, and its outlines from the rooftops of apartment buildings, at night, with a joint or a drink or both.
To my surprise, my favorite character, the one that the author gave the best lines to, was Preston, the kind of guy who owns as many guns as I own books. Preston is supposedly an old friend, more likely a device. Doesn't matter if he's real, his asides and explanations were hilarious.
While I never get tired of shows about adrenaline junkies doing gonzo things in DC, Hollywood might think there's been enough of that. After all, this is really the same story as Thank You for Not Smoking, just 20 years later (as the author recognizes). Too bad b/c he might need some money.
July 17, 2024
As a public relations professional, I was both mesmerized and incensed when I first hear about Phil Elwood’s tell-all as a PR operative. When I began reading his book, I was entertained by how nonchalant he was about his work in the dark, but that soon channeled into anger as someone who follows the ethical guidelines of our industry.
However, toward the latter half of his memoir, my anger gave way to empathy. Phil went into great detail about his mental illness (I too have a mental illness) and how he had suicidal ideations (as have I). Our work in PR can be high-stress, high-octane, and I am sure many in PR have depression or anxiety.
The fact that Phil saw that he needed to switch sides and join the “good guys” in the PR industry is a testament that he grew as a person. He has stories to tell for the rest of his life, and I don’t think I would have believed him had I not read this book.
However, toward the latter half of his memoir, my anger gave way to empathy. Phil went into great detail about his mental illness (I too have a mental illness) and how he had suicidal ideations (as have I). Our work in PR can be high-stress, high-octane, and I am sure many in PR have depression or anxiety.
The fact that Phil saw that he needed to switch sides and join the “good guys” in the PR industry is a testament that he grew as a person. He has stories to tell for the rest of his life, and I don’t think I would have believed him had I not read this book.
June 25, 2024
I won a copy of All the Worst Humans by Phil Elwood from Goodreads.
If you ever consider compromising your values for money, first read All the Worst Humans: How I Made News for Dictators, Tycoons, Nd Politicians by Phil Elwood. With brutal honesty, the author shares his experiences working on behalf of evil people, admitting that he knew exactly what he was doing. Despite his candid, no self-delusion insight, he did not foresee the effect his work had on his mental health, and the reader grows to comprehend that devastating effect as the writer reveals his own growth and understanding. All the Worst Humans is an important book for our time.
If you ever consider compromising your values for money, first read All the Worst Humans: How I Made News for Dictators, Tycoons, Nd Politicians by Phil Elwood. With brutal honesty, the author shares his experiences working on behalf of evil people, admitting that he knew exactly what he was doing. Despite his candid, no self-delusion insight, he did not foresee the effect his work had on his mental health, and the reader grows to comprehend that devastating effect as the writer reveals his own growth and understanding. All the Worst Humans is an important book for our time.
June 25, 2024
🎧4.5/5 ⭐️
This book reminds me of a cross between the book Red Notice and the movie Thank You for Smoking. These stories are crazy! I learned so much about public relations, especially around political situations.
Some of the reviews comment on how they don’t feel sorry for him. In no way do I think he wants you to read this book feel sorry for him. The author excels at switching a story, that is his life. This is a series of parts in his life and what he has learned from it.
Trade compliance nerds, it talks about ITAR at the 95% mark.
Highly recommend. Enjoyable behind the scenes of public relations for the bad guys. Perfect length that actually left me wanting more!
This book reminds me of a cross between the book Red Notice and the movie Thank You for Smoking. These stories are crazy! I learned so much about public relations, especially around political situations.
Some of the reviews comment on how they don’t feel sorry for him. In no way do I think he wants you to read this book feel sorry for him. The author excels at switching a story, that is his life. This is a series of parts in his life and what he has learned from it.
Trade compliance nerds, it talks about ITAR at the 95% mark.
Highly recommend. Enjoyable behind the scenes of public relations for the bad guys. Perfect length that actually left me wanting more!
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July 2, 2024
It’s one thing to know that there are people, good and bad, behind the scenes of major deals and media stories. It’s an entirely other to have it laid out so plainly. In short, Phil Elwood is a puppet master who isn’t afraid to name names. I appreciated how he detailed the various assignments he’s had as a PR fixer while also being open about his struggles with BiPolar Type 2 and Drug-Resistant Depression. A fast paced read, this is the type of memoir that will keep you up at night & make you question ever news article you read all in the same breathe.
Thank you Henry Holt for the gifted ARC.
Thank you Henry Holt for the gifted ARC.
July 9, 2024
This read like a political thriller. A gripping journey through the dark arts of PR, as Elwood spins public image for dictators and ruined the 2022 World Cup for everyone. The book is full of shocking revelations, with Elwood seemingly willing to leave no bridge unburnt in this account of his life work, an opening my already skeptical eyes further on the ethics and scandals of the PR industry.
However, as he outlines in the book he is an expert in repetitional crisis management. He knows how to make you feel differently about people. And so how much of this is a real redemption act, and how much is spin?
However, as he outlines in the book he is an expert in repetitional crisis management. He knows how to make you feel differently about people. And so how much of this is a real redemption act, and how much is spin?
March 28, 2024
I read "All the Worst Humans" on a 8 hour plane ride and couldn't put it down for the entire flight. As someone who has worked in newsrooms for the last 15 years, I've always wanted an inside look into the "dark side" of the PR industry and boy did I get it. As a DC operative, Elwood details his dealings with questionable clients--running around Vegas with Gaddafi's son and transferring large sums of money for mysterious Israel spies.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the news industry and how stories get made, pitched, and told to the world.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the news industry and how stories get made, pitched, and told to the world.
June 24, 2024
An eye opening account of the how and why of many news stories, of what a PR person can really do for a client and just how sleazy it can be. It’s an ugly story, but I’m glad to be more informed on the subject. Elwood worked at firms that were willing to represent clients, no matter how harmful or murderous. He did his job and it took it’s toll as he describes. The book is fast reading, although there were times I got a bit lost following the various machinations. The information is worth the read.
I received a digital advanced copy of this book compliments of Heny Holt and Net Galley.
I received a digital advanced copy of this book compliments of Heny Holt and Net Galley.
July 2, 2024
A great book! Elwood is an adrenaline junkie who has had a wild ride and is willing to share it with us. First working on The Hill and then being hired by a number of PR firms he has been hired to put out a lot of fires or, as he puts it, “by people with serious representational problems “.
It starts with Muammar Gaddafi and babysitting his out of control son Muttassima in Las Vegas. He moved to another world favorite, Bashar al-Assad. We get to see how Qatar rigged FIFA to get the World Cup. It continues until Elwood gets caught up in the Mueller investigation for his involvement with rigging Trumps election in 2020.
Fast paced and hilarious. This man is totally nonjudgmental. Loved every page. 5.0
It starts with Muammar Gaddafi and babysitting his out of control son Muttassima in Las Vegas. He moved to another world favorite, Bashar al-Assad. We get to see how Qatar rigged FIFA to get the World Cup. It continues until Elwood gets caught up in the Mueller investigation for his involvement with rigging Trumps election in 2020.
Fast paced and hilarious. This man is totally nonjudgmental. Loved every page. 5.0
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2024
An amazing, eye-opening, harrowing, yet so engaging, look at the world of public relations and the authors journey to advocate for his clients, no matter whom, and in some ways, no matter how. As I read, I keep think no way, followed by, it all makes sense, and I can see the narratives today as I watch the cable news. A story or redemption by the author to becoming a better human, after serving some of the worst. Not the usual book I would pick up, but I am glad I did, the more I read, the more I wanted to know, I just could not put it down.
June 3, 2024
Intriguing insight about politics, media, governments, and how money makes the world go. With the right twist of the tongue, it can make problems go away and Elwood's experiences illustrate that in a fast moving memoir. There were times were things seemed to lose track or focus, but everything tied together through is brief tangents and explanations for this interesting career path.
If you are interested in the dark underbelly of politics, pick this one up.
If you are interested in the dark underbelly of politics, pick this one up.
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