Trustworthy: How the Smartest Brands Beat Cynicism and Bridge the Trust Gap: Margot Bloomstein: [Book Review]

In the Introduction to this book, the author presents a picture of rampant mistrust of our organizations and institutions: Consumers, citizens, and corporate buyers are feeling a sweeping, protective skepticism that undermines the delivery of information, products, and services in every sector of the economy. How can an organization communicate effectively in this context? Through pithy case studies and interviews with communicators in those organizations, the author presents a blueprint for clear, effective communication that evokes trust, educates the audience, and supports the audience in effective decision-making. Case studies include private and public companies, individual communicators who are supporting a target constituency, and government agencies. The value of this book is in its presentation of real-world communication, a real world in which both internal and external circumstances change, a real world in which organizations must decide who they are and who they want to be to their audience, a real world in which determining your organization’s voice and tone may not be sufficient. The book is a notable addition to texts that support professional and business communication and content strategy, and is a valuable supplemental text for courses in those areas. The book includes resources for further reading, identities of individuals interviewed for the book, endnotes, and an index.