First published 2022
Governments, politicians, and corporations deploy massive deceptions to dodge accountability, secure elections, and accumulate power and wealth. Mark Kurlansky examines how these fabrications have corrupted civilization since ancient times. He explores the "noble lies" that Socrates and Plato defended, Nero's false accusations against Christians after Rome burned, and the medieval period's great injustices. The author analyzes Stalin's and Hitler's devastating propaganda campaigns, then turns to today's reckless demagogues who amplify falsehoods through social media platforms. Kurlansky shows how lies targeting women and Jews exemplify the historical pattern of scapegoating vulnerable groups for personal advantage. He argues that modern technology spreads deceptions faster than ever, but the scientific method provides our strongest weapon for discovering truth. The book concludes with practical techniques for dismantling false claims, since allegations must be testable just like scientific theories. Kurlansky warns that democracy crumbles when citizens stop caring about truth versus falsehood, leaving power to the loudest voices and most convincing liars.
Genres: history, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism
Setting: Rome, Russia, Germany
Period: Ancient, Medieval, 20th-Century
320 pages · ebook · Tilbury House Publishers
Content warnings: racism, sexism