Concise Book of Lying

by Evelin Sullivan

Tackles the most pervasive of sins -- lying, using history & mythology, anecdote & analysis, to shed light on our long relationships with deception. Opens with a cross-cultural survey of the important -- & ambiguous -- role that lying plays in a wealth of early texts & stories, from the Bible to myths about the most inventive tricksters. Sullivan asks what motivates people to lie, what mechanisms are involved in creating an effective lie, & what the costs are once we ve decided to commit one. Society has responded with countermeasures, from the medieval ordeal to the lie detector test, but the fact is that for millennia we have been experts at deceit. Touching on philosophy, lit., history, & psychology, this is a witty & erudite tour of the realm of trickery.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, History, Philosophy

334 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Born 1947.

Reviews

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Sullivan’s delving into this curious habit of deception is a memorable read, the kind that spans history, philosophy, government, war, psychology and natural science without ever being confusing, boring or dull. It’s the kind of book that lends itself to introspection and spirited conversation with friends and colleagues. She warns that there are examples she is no doubt omitting. But the ones she’s picked and explored within these pages are ample fodder for cogitation, discussion and further literary exploration, which she has handily provided in her notes.

Like it or not, deception is part and parcel of the human psyche. Would I lie to you about this?

[Lora Shouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a scholarly book about lying. But it is eminently readable.

It may not cover every possible aspect of lying, but it touches on all the major points, including the morality – or lack thereof – of lying, the types of lies, the motivations for lying, the psychology of lying, the history of lying, deception in international relations, and deception in the natural world. This last seems to indicate that possibly deception is built into the fabric of the universe, despite its questionable morality.

There is also a discussion of lying as an art form, as in the tall tale and other works of fiction. And there is a section on how to lie that includes an analysis of that fictional master liar, Iago, from Shakespeare's Othello.

This was a library book.

[Kasimir Fuller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried to read the whole book but I felt her writing was making me to lose my interest. Very wordy.

[Mark Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

For the most part a review of liars and lying in literature, movies, and TV.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty interesting history of lying and deception beginning with the Torah (Old Testament) and Greek/Roman myth, traversing philosophy and psychology and landing in the science of evolution, human and otherwise.

Covers why we lie, how we lie, what makes a successful lie, pros and cons and how it affects our society and development as a species.

I recommend it!

[Nathan "N.R." Gaddis]

Disappointing. A sexy topic, but too much designed for a popular audience to get my hackles terribly interested. Too bad really. But honestly I wouldn't've gotten within ten yards of it if I hadn't been having such a rip=roaring good time with Sullivan's fiction. I mean, for my lights, I don't think the topic can be handled 'concisely' ; only a Burton=size anatomy or a RURDli-esque systematic questioning would be adequate. But if you do want a really existing book on the topic with a bit more rigor, I would suspect that Bok's Lying: Moral Choice in Public and Private Life will fit the bill.