On Truth: The Tyranny of Illusion

by Stefan Molyneux

From a short-term, merely practical standpoint, you really do not want to read this book. This book will mess up your life, as you know it. This book will change every single one of your relationships - most importantly, your relationship with yourself. This book will change your life even if you never implement a single one of the proposals it contains.

This book will change you even if you disagree with every single idea it puts forward. Even if you put it down right now, this book will have changed your life, because now you know that you are afraid of change.

We are born to truth, yet everywhere we are enmeshed in error. Superstition, irrationality and patriotism all work to cripple our natural affinities to rationality and empiricism.

This book, by Stefan Molyneux, host of Freedomain Radio, examines and explodes all the propaganda that stands between you and the simple truth of life, the universe and everything. All the truths that you were born with, that were scrubbed out of your mind for the profit and fun of your elders, will be reawakened in this short but powerful book.

Begin the process of reclaiming your own reason, pick up this book, hold on for the ride, and arrive at the truth.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Politics

73 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Stefan Molyneux is the founder and host of Freedomain Radio, the largest and most popular philosophical show in the world. With more than 2,600 podcasts, 10 books and 50 million downloads, Stefan has spread the cause of liberty and philosophy to listeners throughout the world.

As the host of Freedomain Radio, Stefan has interviewed experts Noam Chomsky, Dr. Nathaniel Branden, Dr. Warren Farrell, Peter Schiff, Dr. Peter Boghossian, Dr. Mary J. Ruwart and many others.

Prior to launching Freedomain Radio, Stefan built a thriving career as a software entrepreneur and executive. In 2006, he left his work in the tech industry to devote his efforts to Freedomain Radio. Now a self-identified full-time parent and philosopher, Stefan speaks regularly at liberty-themed events all over North and South America. His speeches cover subjects ranging from politics, philosophy, science, atheism and economics to relationships, parenting and how to achieve real freedom in your life.

Stefan is the author of two novels, "Revolutions" and "The God of Atheists," as well as eight non-fiction books on relationships, government and religion.

Past live appearances include presentations at the New Hampshire Liberty Forum, the Porcupine Freedom Festival, Libertopia, Students For Liberty, FreedomFest, LibertyNow, Capitalism and Morality, LibertyFest West, the Brazilian Mises Institute's Idieas em Movimento, Freedom Summit, and the Global Escape Hatch.

Stefan has participated in a number of live debates, among them: "Bitcoin vs. Gold: The Future of Money" with Peter Schiff, "Zeitgeist Versus the Market" with Peter Joseph, "The Function of the State in Society" with Professor Vladimir Safatle and "How Much Government is Necessary?" with Michael Badnarik.

In addition to hosting his own regular show, Stefan has been a guest on audio and television programs such as RT America's "Breaking the Set" with Abby Martin, "Adam vs. The Man" with Adam Kokesh, "The Keiser Report" with Max Keiser and "The Joe Rogan Experience" with Joe Rogan.

Reviews

[John Wiswell · Rating 1 out of 5]

An insipidly self-righteous self-help book. At under a hundred pages, Molyneux doesn't get caught up in things like empirical evidence or thorough arguments for why he might be right about culture, religion, the human mind or your personal life. He thinks he's right, so if you disagree, you're delusional and should re-read this book until you “liberate” yourself. The irony of believing what he tells you instead of what everyone else has ever told you is totally lost on Molyneux. All religion and spirituality are lies, national pride is dead, families are unfortunate to even exist, emotional and rational motives apparently don’t cross, and anything except what he defines as totally rational behavior and thought is contemptible. Every topic and “hard question” he tackles has been approached with significantly greater depth, intelligence and research by people who both agree and disagree with him. He makes far too many sweeping statements and is far too antagonistic towards other value systems to merit a fair hearing, but damned if I didn’t try.

[Elizabeta · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There is nothing that is going to make people hate you more, and love you more, than telling the truth.”

Free Audiobook: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-coV...

[P · Rating 1 out of 5]

Having seen and appreciated Molyneux's YouTube videos a number of times, I was actually stunned at the dogmatism he exhibits in this book. It was incredulous to read how, after apparently seeing himself as being 'abused' as a child, he projects all kinds of spurious motives on (seemingly) everyone else for not trying hard enough to 'understand' him. In his view, the whole world is wrong: everyone is lying - both to us and themselves - and has evil motives, and are merely playing self-serving tricks on everyone else. Everyone that is, except for Molyneux himself, who can see the 'real' truth.
I'm not a big fan of psychoanalisis, but this guy needs help.

[John Mladenik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Molyneux is a philosopher that think like an Engineer. He is very precises and logical and very few flaws in his philosophy.

[Marwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't usually agree with everything Stefen says but I always get back for more, cause I have certain curiosity for what he got to say. He sometimes got some very strong and eye opening points that makes my head goes *BOOM*

This book is about parenting corruption and how those things affect children in adulthood, seeing those examples around me, experiencing such horrible life experiences myself. It baffles me how people esp in the arab world let parents get away with such abuse in the name of islamic teaching. cause along the way I noticed, analyzed and resented. I have so much anger towards parents, honestly.

And that book made me realize a lot of things I was blinded to see!

[Vladimir · Rating 5 out of 5]

After I read this book I immediately decided to translate it to my native language, Serbian, and give it to several people I find dear to me or important. This book has changed dynamics of my relationships for better, and I'm very happy about that.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book....I love Stefan, but I didn't agree with all his assertions here. Nevertheless, it was a thought provoking book.

[alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

It seems to me that some people tend to seek absolute truth, or at least the notion of it in some way; the rest are content with the truth that was handed to them and seeking either happiness directly or through fullfullment of some kind. Stefan is definitely seeking absolute truth and his ideals concerning our statist society are easy for me to connect with. However his views on love are in deep opposition to my understanding. It is from his misunderstanding of love that his concept of faith is misconstrued as well. Since is belief that love from others has alterior motives it cannot resemble love from god. His beliefs concerning the use of power and manipulation within the church seems accurate though. All in all I respect his ideas concerning the state but his past experiences are blinding his views of love.

[joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A narrowly argued philosophy book about honesty, goodness. Without trying to pick specific holes in it, ie offering only general criticism (more than a little unfair), it seems to be referring to a person somehow outside of time. The author talks about social relationships but leaves out the reflexive nature of these, ignores feedback. Maybe that's a deliberate focus. He's most interested in parent/child relationships where there's one unformed, weak participant - so maybe feedback is of a different sort compared to an adult/adult pairing - but in any case he doesn't consider how the parent is held in a wider web of relationships.
Sorry, Molyneux fans

[Luis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smart philosophical book. Easy to read for the most part. And one thing that I really liked is that the author explained me some stuff that I haven't ever thought, and that surprised me. It felt like I could jump to the next level of consciousness, for a little while. I felt that I became a lot smarter reading this short book.
Molyneux made me look at philosophy with another perspective, and this sentence resumes it perfectly:

The purpose of philosophy is not thought, but action –
just as the purpose of medicine is not treatment, but health.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

To find the answer first ask the question, then brace yourself and listen

This book was uncomfortable to read. That was just the beginning. Being exposed to a lifetime of toxicity can sensitize you to healing truth as if it were acid. Hang in there, and let the process progress naturally. I don't agree with all he said. I don't have to agree to have my eyes opened to concepts I need to become aware of. Thank you Stefan for writing this.

[Karin]

not sure what i think.

[Sol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente, muy claro en los conceptos! No apto para personas que no quieren encontrar la verdad!!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generally I enjoyed this disputation on truth, it is in many ways a solid gem.

What irritated men was that Molyneux abstracted away faith and mythology as falsehood. That is, by example, this became sort of a polemic against Christianity. Even though he is partly correct in his criticism, not to mention the cultural role the values of faith have attained, neither faith nor mythology equals untruth. Both have their sources in truth, or claim to have, either revealed or transferred from generation to generation. Both have a basis in ancient truths and ancient philosophy and thinking. By adding time, they do not become necessary untrue although they may become muddled. So the transfer from parent to child is a lesson of truth by generations, even if the parents themselves have not fully internalized it.

That we know, “deep down” is not an argument for it being untrue, only an argument that we really don’t know the truth of it. So, even though I find some of the example analogies weak, I still manage to grasp the overall points that in the whole do make sense.

Other than that the book sometimes feels a little bit like the author doing some self therapy, using his own childhood experiences as examples, but it is more fascinating than not - it gives a personal touch to the philosophical argument and makes it more real and grounded with a drive toward changing ones own thinking and practice.

[Harley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It would seem Molyneux did not have a very happy childhood, and he lashes out at that in this book. He makes many assertions, but few of them are qualified. Interesting book though. I do wonder how strongly he would hold to the opinions in this book today as compared to when he wrote it.

[Barry Gormley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Despite what the title implies, this book is mainly about convincing you to sever ties with "abusive" (read: anyone who rejects Stefan's political, philosophical, or psychological ideas) family members.

Words cannot describe how vile and cultish this man is.

[Kippi]

This guy starts off seeming full of himself and only gets worse. It was a quick read or I would not have finished it. His logic is simplistic to the point it borders on asinine. Skip this unless its the only thing in the bathroom to read. Check for shampoo first.

[Pontus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, listened to

[JP Magalhaes · Rating 3 out of 5]

O livro traz bons questionamentos sobre o que chama da mitologia na qual somos criados: o contexto cultural, moral e religioso em que somos inseridos desde criança; e bate incessantemente na tecla de que devemos quebrar estas 'algemas' através de raciocínio lógico, ciência e filosofia para evitar que nos tornemos escravos das mesmas e repliquemos os mesmos conceitos. Falha ao não desenvolver bem os temas ou apresentar uma visão mais aprofundada do problema e possíveis soluções. É uma leitura interessante para quem questiona estes pontos.

[Qué tal · Rating 1 out of 5]

part of this book does hit some good points.. there is also A lot though that i don't agree with. Also, based off what i read i can't help but feel bad that this author had to have had a pretty awful childhood. I don't understand how parents who carry and give birth and raise their children can be so horrible sometimes, just blows my mind.

[J V · Rating 5 out of 5]

We lose our curiosity as children. Once regained, we seek only the truth. This book is a short read but it's message is powerful. This book has helped me examine being curious about why something is instead of just being reactionary (which we all know too well).

[Julissa Dantes-castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stefan became a member of my authors hall of fame with this book

This deserve every star I gave, is the kind of book you wish had read sooner, and something life changing.