Disinformation: The Nature of Facts and Lies in the Post-Truth Era

by Donald A. Barclay

Does the idea of a world in which facts mean nothing cause anxiety? Fear? Maybe even paranoia? Nature of Facts and Lies in the Post-Truth Era cannot cure all the ills of a post-truth world, but by demonstrating how the emergence of digital technology into everyday life has knitted together a number of seemingly loosely related forces–historical, psychological, economic, and culture–to create the post-truth culture, Disinformation will help you better understand how we got to where we now are, see how we can move beyond a culture in which facts are too easily dismissed, and develop a few highly practical skills for separating truth from lies.

Disinformation

How human psychology—the very way our brains work—can leave us vulnerable to disinformation.How the early visions of what a global computer network would and should be unintentionally laid the groundwork for the current post-truth culture.The ways in which truth is twisted and misrepresented via propaganda and conspiracy theories. How new technology not only spreads disinformation but may also be changing the way we think.The ways in which the economics of information and the powerful influence of popular culture have contributed to the creation of the post-truth culture.Unlike the far-too-numerous one-sided, politically ideological treatments of the post-truth culture, Disinformation does not seek to point the finger of blame at any individuals or groups; instead, its focus is on how a number of disparate forces have influenced human behaviors during a time when all of humanity is struggling to better understand and more effectively control (for better or worse) challenging new technologies that are straining the limits of human intellectual and emotional capacity.

Genres: Audiobook, Politics, Nonfiction

275 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 15, 2022

About the author

Donald A. Barclay has been an academic librarian since 1990, holding library positions at New Mexico State University, the University of Houston, the Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center, and the University of California, Merced. His interests in librarianship include the history of print and digital information, the role of information in the Digital Age, and the evaluation of information. At UC Merced he was instrumental in planning the library for the first (and, to date, only) new U.S. research university of the twenty-first century.

During his career Donald has published numerous books and articles on such topics as fake news, library construction and maintenance, library management, and the literature of the American West. His books include:

--Fake News, Propaganda, and Plain Old Lies: How to Find Trustworthy Information in the Digital Age

--Serving Online Customers: Lessons for Libraries from the Business World

--The Library Renovation, Maintenance, and Construction Handbook

--Into the Wilderness Dream: Exploration Narratives of the American West, 1500-1805

--A Rendezvous Reader: Tall, Tangles, and True Tales of the Mountain Men, 1805-1850

Besides working as a librarian, Donald has taught college English and worked as a fire fighter on a U.S. Forest Service hotshot crew.

Reviews

[Nicholas Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little long winded, but a good book that can help people to understand the different things that effect your day to day thinking and hopefully will help cope with the amount of information out there.

[Ryan Holder · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There is always a danger that the fundamental social changes wrought by digital technology will ultimately, and possibly already have, become as imperceptible to humans as water is to fish.”

This entire book is a sobering account of the need for objectivity while navigating our increasingly interconnected world.

This is an absolute must read for anyone with a social media account, or anyone who just wants to understand the forces that influence our thoughts and behaviours with a little more clarity.

[Electric Dreams]

"Disinformation: The Nature of Facts and Lies in the Post-Truth Era" by Donald A. Barclay is a timely and essential read in an era where the distinction between truth and falsehood is increasingly blurred. As someone deeply concerned with the proliferation of misinformation in our modern society, I found Barclay’s book to be an invaluable resource. It’s a thorough, insightful exploration of the mechanisms and impacts of disinformation in today’s digital and politically charged climate.

Barclay’s approach to dissecting the phenomenon of disinformation is both comprehensive and accessible. He delves into the historical context of disinformation, tracing its evolution and illustrating how it has been amplified in the digital age. This historical perspective is enlightening, providing a clear understanding of how we arrived at our current 'post-truth' situation.

What sets this book apart is its in-depth analysis of the psychology behind why people are susceptible to disinformation. Barclay doesn’t just present the problem; he explores the cognitive biases and social factors that contribute to the spread and acceptance of false information. This exploration into human psychology is both fascinating and critical for understanding how to combat disinformation effectively.

Another strength of the book is Barclay’s examination of the role of social media and technology in disseminating disinformation. He offers a nuanced critique of how digital platforms can both aid and impede the spread of factual information. His analysis is balanced, acknowledging the benefits of these platforms while also highlighting the dangers they pose in the unchecked spread of false information.

Barclay also provides practical advice on how to identify and combat disinformation. This guidance is particularly valuable in an age where the ability to discern credible information is crucial. His tips are practical and grounded in sound research, making them an excellent resource for anyone looking to develop critical media literacy skills.

In conclusion, "Disinformation: The Nature of Facts and Lies in the Post-Truth Era" by Donald A. Barclay is a must-read for anyone looking to navigate the complex information landscape of the 21st century. The book is not only an informative guide to understanding the nature and impact of disinformation but also a call to action to seek truth and promote factual discourse. Barclay’s work is an important contribution to the ongoing discussion about the role of truth in our society and a valuable tool for those who wish to stand as informed citizens in the fight against disinformation.

[Kaci Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disinformation: The Nature of Facts and Lies in the Post-Truth Era by Donald A. Barclay

This book has it all. It explores concepts of truth, the shaping of human cognition, the history of digital technology, how technology might be reshaping cognition, the history of propaganda, how intellectual property impacts access to information, and our cultural obsession with conspiracy theories! Phew. What I especially loved about this book is that it isn’t moralizing any of these issues, which so often carry heavy moral and political baggage. It really focuses on trying to understand how all of these pieces play a role in this “post-truth era” we’ve found ourselves in.

The book is so well-written and well-researched, and it’s accessible!! This doesn’t seem to be written only for academics—anyone could pick this up and learn a lot.

I think it’s important to revisit rationality and cognition as information technology continues to develop. The author does a fantastic job recognizing the seriousness of how our obtaining facts and truth can’t seem to keep up with the technological landscape, but *not* fear-mongering to get the point across. It’s (appropriately) matter-of-fact and maybe even a little optimistic. And while the book covers a lot of ground, I didn’t find it to be too overwhelming. It’s very concise.

And, as a PhD student in philosophy, I was especially happy that Barclay begins chapter 1 with a discussion of the value of philosophy. 🥹 “The world needs philosophers” warmed my lil philosophy heart. 🥰

📖: (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Jace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disinformation by Donald A. Barclay gives a broad overview of the nature of disinformation in the modern age.

Thoughts while reading:
-it begins with an overview of philosophy and the concept of Truth
-the book then goes on to talk about the fallibility of memory, as well as the multiple cognitive biases that people suffer, however, like the first chapter it is a broad overview that doesn't go into much depth
-hearing about the history of the internet was mildly interesting. I’ve heard some anecdotes about how different internet culture used to be and it’s a little sad how it started with academics, only to turn into an environment fostering anti-intellecutalism
-The idea of a secondary oral culture that we’re moving into is an interesting one, but once again, the author doesn’t really go in much depth about it. It’s the idea of how rather than using the written word to impart ideas, we’re using other media like video or short form-messages like texts and tweets.
-I also like that the author addresses the idea that there is much less gatekeeping of information (the way a university library would be gatekept, for example). If anyone can say anything, it makes it much harder to find credible information
-It was a little interesting to learn about how copyright works, and finding the balance between a creator protecting their works, vs corporations protecting their works
-There was some helpful insight about the different types of propaganda (eg white, grey, black propaganda), and how people have a lot of misunderstandings about how it works
-It was interesting to hear about the differences between conspiracies and conspiracy theories, and why the latter aren’t valid (basically due to disregarding evidence or explanations). I also liked that the author pointed out that by choosing to believe one thing, you are deliberately choosing not to believe another (eg believing conspiracies means deliberately disregarding evidence, it’s not necessarily just a harmless action)

I found the book didn't go into sufficient depth to really captivate me. It felt like a good overview if someone just wanted a superficial look at various aspects related to disinformation but I couldn't help wishing for a deeper dive. I would give the book a 3 out of 5

[Mike Egan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some chapters are more interesting than others, specifically the last two chapters about conspiracy theories and pop culture stood out as some of the best ones. Overall it was worth the read, however, this book contains an unusual amount of typos. There are instances where a small word like "of", "an", or "by" is missing from a phrase. There are also two specific instances where a former president's name is spelled incorrectly. Obama is referred to as "Barack" and "Barak" within the space of one page; Ronald Reagan is referred to as "Reagan" and "Regan" within the space of a few paragraphs. Needed better editing.