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Born Liars

On sale

11th May 2011

Price: £12.99

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Selected: ebook / ISBN-13: 9780857380432

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We all do it – how to be a better liar, spot a charlatan and tell the difference between truth and fiction


In Born Liars, Ian Leslie takes the reader on an exhilarating tour of ideas that brings the latest news about deception back from the frontiers of psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy, and explores the role played by lies – both black and white – in our childhoods, our careers, and our health, as well as in advertising, politics, sport and war. Drawing on thinkers as varied as Augustine, Charles Darwin, Sigmund Freud and Joni Mitchell, the author argues that, far from being a bug in the human software, lying is central to who we are; that we cannot understand ourselves without first understanding the dynamics of deceit.

After reading Born Liars you’ll never think about lies – or life – in quite the same way again.

Reviews

Daily Mail
'A consistently startling and fascinating book ... It's erudite yet wears its learning lightly and is full of terrific stories.' Daily Mail.
Jonah Lehrer
'An absolutely fascinating tour of this most uniquely human of talents: the ability to lie' Jonah Lehrer.
Kate Fox
'An illuminating, surprising and highly entertaining investigation of our daily lies' Kate Fox.
Richard Wiseman
'You'll be stimulated, surprised, and thoroughly entertained. Believe me' Richard Wiseman.
Steven Johnson
'Born Liars is a genuine achievement: a lively, engaging read that also makes a bold argument about the role of lying in our lives' Steven Johnson.
The Times
'His range of references is fascinating ... I loved the irony and ingenuity of this book' The Times.