Why We Lie: The Evolutionary Roots of Deception and the Unconscious Mind by Davi

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Deceit, lying, and falsehoods lie at the very heart of our cultural heritage. Even the founding myth of the Judeo-Christian tradition, the story of Adam and Eve, revolves around a lie. Our seemingly insatiable appetite for stories of deception spans the extremes of culture from "King Lear" to Little Red Riding Hood, retaining a grip on our imaginations despite endless repetition. These tales of deception are so enthralling because they speak to something fundamental in the human condition. The ever-present possibility of deceit is a crucial dimension of all human relationships, even the most central: our relationships with our own selves."Why We Lie" elucidates the essential role that deception and self-deception have played in evolution and shows that the very structure of our minds has been shaped from our earliest beginnings by the need to deceive. Smith shows us how, by examining the stories we tell, the falsehoods we weave, and the unconscious signals we send out, we can learn much about ourselves and our minds.

FORMATPaperback LANGUAGEEnglish CONDITIONBrand New Publisher Description

Since our species first evolved, lying and deceit have been an integral part of our social existence. Now, for the first time, philosopher and evolutionary psychologist David Livingstone Smith elucidates the essential role that deception and self-deception have played in human evolution and shows that the very structure of our minds has been shaped by the need to deceive.Readers of Richard Dawkins and Steven Pinker will find this a fascinating book, which declares that our extraordinary ability to deceive others, and even deceive our own selves "lies" at the heart of our humanity.

Author Biography

Dr. David Livingstone Smith is the author of "Why We Lie" as well as a professor of philosophy and cofounder and director of the Institute for Cognitive Science and Evolutionary Psychology at the University of New England. He and his wife live in Portland, Maine.

Review

Self-deception is one of the most powerful ideas in psychology, indeed, in human affairs, and David Smith's "Why We Lie" is an excellent synthesis of this crucial topic. The biology is up-to-date and accurate, the psychological implications are clearly worked out, and the writing is inviting and accessible.--Steven Pinker, bestselling author of The Blank Slate and The Language Instinct "Why We Lie" is written with snap, panache, and the sort of insights that stop you in your tracks.--Howard Bloom, author of Global Brain and The Lucifer Principle David Smith has pulled off a beaut. "Why We Lie" is a wonderfully blended cluster of arguments to support the painful truth that we are a species whose skills at deceiving others is matched only by our ability to deceive ourselves.--Arthur S. Reber, author of The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology and The New Gambler s Bible" "Self-deception is one of the most powerful ideas in psychology, indeed, in human affairs, and David Smith's Why We Lie is an excellent synthesis of this crucial topic. The biology is up-to-date and accurate, the psychological implications are clearly worked out, and the writing is inviting and accessible." --Steven Pinker, bestselling author of The Blank Slate and The Language Instinct"With an 'aha!' moment on every page, Smith's inquiry is stimulating and unsettling." --Booklist"Deliciously tantalizing, with morality as the Grandest Deceit of them all." --Kirkus Reviews"Why We Lie is written with snap, panache, and the sort of insights that stop you in your tracks." --Howard Bloom, author of Global Brain and The Lucifer Principle "David Smith has pulled off a beaut. Why We Lie is a wonderfully blended cluster of arguments to support the painful truth that we are a species whose skills at deceiving others is matched only by our ability to deceive ourselves." --Arthur S. Reber, author of The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology and The New Gambler's Bible "Why We Lie is a fascinating book about a fascinating subject. . . . rich with stories, anecdotes, and psychological as well as sociological analyses." --Tamar Frankel, S.J.D., The Human Nature Review Self-deception is one of the most powerful ideas in psychology, indeed, in human affairs, and David Smith's "Why We Lie" is an excellent synthesis of this crucial topic. The biology is up-to-date and accurate, the psychological implications are clearly worked out, and the writing is inviting and accessible. Steven Pinker, bestselling author of The Blank Slate and The Language InstinctWith an aha!' moment on every page, Smith's inquiry is stimulating and unsettling. "Booklist"Deliciously tantalizing, with morality as the Grandest Deceit of them all. "Kirkus Reviews""Why We Lie" is written with snap, panache, and the sort of insights that stop you in your tracks. Howard Bloom, author of Global Brain and The Lucifer Principle David Smith has pulled off a beaut. "Why We Lie" is a wonderfully blended cluster of arguments to support the painful truth that we are a species whose skills at deceiving others is matched only by our ability to deceive ourselves. Arthur S. Reber, author of The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology and The New Gambler s Bible "Why We Lie" is a fascinating book about a fascinating subject. . . . rich with stories, anecdotes, and psychological as well as sociological analyses. "Tamar Frankel, S.J.D., The Human Nature Review"" "Self-deception is one of the most powerful ideas in psychology, indeed, in human affairs, and David Smith's "Why We Lie" is an excellent synthesis of this crucial topic. The biology is up-to-date and accurate, the psychological implications are clearly worked out, and the writing is inviting and accessible."---Steven Pinker, bestselling author of "The Blank Slate" and "The Language Instinc""t""" "With an 'aha!' moment on every page, Smith's inquiry is stimulating and unsettling.""- --Booklist" "Deliciously tantalizing, with morality as the Grandest Deceit of them all." ---"Kirkus Reviews" ""Why We Lie" is written with snap, panache, and the sort of insights that stop you in your tracks."---Howard Bloom, author of "Global Brain" and "The Lucifer Principle" "David Smith has pulled off a beaut. "Why We Lie" is a wonderfully blended cluster of arguments to support the painful truth that we are a species whose skills at deceiving others is matched only by our ability to deceive ourselves."---Arthur S. Reber, author of "The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology "and "The New Gambler's Bible " ""Why We Lie" is a fascinating book about a fascinating subject. . . . rich with stories, anecdotes, and psychological as well as sociological analyses."---Tamar Frankel, S.J.D., "The Human Nature Review" " Self-deception is one of the most powerful ideas in psychology, indeed, in human affairs, and David Smith' s "Why We Lie" is an excellent synthesis of this crucial topic. The biology is up-to-date and accurate, the psychological implications are clearly worked out, and the writing is inviting and accessible." ---Steven Pinker, bestselling author of "The Blank Slate" and "The Language Instinc""t""" " With an ' aha!' moment on every page, Smith' s inquiry is stimulating and unsettling." "- --Booklist"" Deliciously tantalizing, with morality as the Grandest Deceit of them all." ---"Kirkus Reviews"" "Why We Lie" is written with snap, panache, and the sort of insights that stop you in your tracks." ---Howard Bloom, author of "Global Brain" and "The Lucifer Principle" " David Smith has pulled off a beaut. "Why We Lie" is a wonderfully blended cluster of arguments to support the painful truth that we are a species whose skills at deceiving others is matched only by our ability to deceive ourselves." ---Arthur S. Reber, author of "The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology "and "The New Gambler' s Bible "" "Why We Lie" is a fascinating book about a fascinating subject. . . . rich with stories, anecdotes, and psychological as well as sociological analyses." ---Tamar Frankel, S.J.D., "The Human Nature Review"

Review Quote

With an 'aha!' moment on every page, Smith's inquiry is stimulating and unsettling.

Excerpt from Book

WHY WE LIE 1 Natural-Born Liars Lying is universal--we all do it; we all must do it. --Mark Twain

Details ISBN0312310404 Author David Livingstone Smith Short Title WHY WE LIE Pages 238 Language English ISBN-10 0312310404 ISBN-13 9780312310400 Media Book Format Paperback DEWEY 153.6 Year 2007 Publication Date 2007-08-31 Place of Publication California Country of Publication United States Edition 1st Imprint Saint Martin's Griffin,U.S. Birth 1953 Publisher Griffin Illustrations black & white illustrations Subtitle The Evolutionary Roots of Deception and the Unconscious Mind DOI 10.1604/9780312310400 Audience General/Trade AU Release Date 2007-08-23 NZ Release Date 2007-08-23 We've got this

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