The Concise Book of Lying

by Evelin Sullivan

One bright morning in the third century B.C. the philosopher Diogenes set out with a lantern in search of an honest man. His doomed gesture makes the point in some way or another, we are all liars. In The Concise Book of Lying, professor Sullivan tackles this most pervasive of sins, using history and mythology, anecdote and analysis to shed light— pace the first cynic—on our long relationship with deception.

The book opens with a cross-cultural survey of the important—and ambiguous—role lying plays in a wealth of early texts and stories, from the Bible to myths about those most inventive liars, tricksters. A Burton of deception, Sullivan asks what motivates people to lie; what mechanisms are involved in creating an effective lie; and what the costs are once we've decided to commit one. Society, dependent on truth telling, has responded with countermeasures, from the medieval "ordeal" to the dubious lie detector test, but the fact is that millennia of practice have made us experts at deceit. Touching on philosophy, literature, history, and psychology, The Concise Book of Lying is an erudite tour of the twilit realm of trickery.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, History, Philosophy

352 pages, Paperback

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.