Powerhouse marketing expert, narrator of Netflix's Buy Now documentary, shows how today's biggest brands are using cult-like tactics to capture not just your wallet, but your devotion. From viral leggings to must-have apps, Dr. Mara Einstein exposes the hidden parallels between cult manipulation and modern marketing strategies in this eye-opening investigation. Drawing from her unique background as both a former MTV marketing executive and a respected media studies professor, she reveals how companies weaponize psychology to transform casual customers into devoted followers. This groundbreaking book uncovers: How social media platforms use anxiety-inducing algorithms to keep you trapped in a purchase-panic cycle The secret playbook marketers use to create "brand religions" around everyday products Why even the most rational consumers fall prey to scarcity marketing and manufactured FOMO Practical strategies to break free from manipulative digital marketing tactics With compelling real-world examples and insights from industry insiders, Hoodwinked equips you with the knowledge to recognize and resist these sophisticated manipulation techniques. Dr. Einstein's expertise has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Harvard Business Review, making her the perfect guide through the maze of modern marketing manipulation. Break free from the cult of consumerism—discover how to make mindful choices in an increasingly manipulative digital marketplace. "Easy to read, and such a good peek behind the curtain of for-profit companies and the ways they influence and manipulate us," —Daniella Young, author of Uncultured