Truth
13 Reasons To Question Everything You Are Told
Published on 11. July 2019
Book
Paperback/Softback
352 pages
978-1-78416-310-5 (ISBN)
Description
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'Macdonald zeros in on the slipperiness of factuality, offering an array of case studies from the worlds of history, commerce and - of course - politics.' New York Times
True or false? It's rarely that simple.
There is always more than one truth in every story. Eating meat is nutritious but it's also damaging to the environment. The Internet disseminates knowledge but it also spreads hatred. As communicators, we select the truths that are most useful to our agenda.
We can select truths constructively to inspire nations, encourage children, and drive progressive change. Or we can select truths that give a false impression of reality, misleading people without actually lying. Others can do the same, motivating or deceiving us with the truth.
In Truth, communications strategy expert Hector Macdonald explores how truth is used and abused in politics, business, the media and everyday life. Combining great storytelling with practical takeaways and a litany of fascinating, funny and insightful case studies, Truth is a chilling and engaging read about how profoundly our mindsets and actions are influenced by the truths that those around us choose to tell.
For fans of Factfulness, A Field Guide to Lies and Statistics and The Art of Thinking Clearly, a fascinating dive into the many ways in which 'competing truths' shape our opinions, behaviours and beliefs.
'Macdonald zeros in on the slipperiness of factuality, offering an array of case studies from the worlds of history, commerce and - of course - politics.' New York Times
True or false? It's rarely that simple.
There is always more than one truth in every story. Eating meat is nutritious but it's also damaging to the environment. The Internet disseminates knowledge but it also spreads hatred. As communicators, we select the truths that are most useful to our agenda.
We can select truths constructively to inspire nations, encourage children, and drive progressive change. Or we can select truths that give a false impression of reality, misleading people without actually lying. Others can do the same, motivating or deceiving us with the truth.
In Truth, communications strategy expert Hector Macdonald explores how truth is used and abused in politics, business, the media and everyday life. Combining great storytelling with practical takeaways and a litany of fascinating, funny and insightful case studies, Truth is a chilling and engaging read about how profoundly our mindsets and actions are influenced by the truths that those around us choose to tell.
For fans of Factfulness, A Field Guide to Lies and Statistics and The Art of Thinking Clearly, a fascinating dive into the many ways in which 'competing truths' shape our opinions, behaviours and beliefs.
Reviews / Votes
Macdonald zeros in on the slipperiness of factuality, offering an array of case studies from the worlds of history, commerce and - of course - politics. * New York Times * The merit of Hector Macdonald's Truth is precisely that it forces us to remember how few claims can be definitively established as beyond dispute * Washington Post * In a time when truth is under assault, Hector Macdonald is here to defend it. He offers clear-eyed, compelling guidelines for becoming a more accurate consumer and producer of information. * </i>Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of <i>ORIGINALS </i>and <i>OPTION B </i>with Sheryl Sandberg * Delightful... beautifully explores the truth that truth can look very different to different people. -- Matt Ridley, author of <i>Genome </i>and <i>The Red Queen No one can tell the whole truth in all its glory. Hector Macdonald's Truth explores how communicators spin reality, whether in the name of clarity or skullduggery. Macdonald is a deft guide to a topic that could not be more timely. -- William Poundstone, author of <i>Are You Smart Enough to Work at Google? Engrossing -- Caroline Sanderson * The Bookseller * As an expert on choice, I've long believed that our choices define who we are. This book explores the ways in which the decision to tell the truth is a choice that uniquely shapes who we are. While it's easy to assume that the act of lying is more complicated one than telling the truth, the choice to tell the truth can be equally, if not far more complex.This book is not simply about telling the truth, but rather a guide to navigate the tough decisions that lead to truth. -- Sheena Iyengar, author of <i>The Art of Choosing An engaging primer in critical thinking, Truth will enable you to defend yourself against fake news, from bots on Twitter to loudmouths on cable television. Read the book attentively and from then on you'll be carrying the most important concealed weapon of all: an informed mind. -- Peter Robinson, former White House speechwriter A fascinating look at how such an abstract concept can be shaped to many purposes, the ethics of bending the truth, and what consumers can do to analyze the innumerable truths presented to us. * Booklist * A useful, commonsensical framework for making reasonable, responsible, and effective decisions. * Publishers Weekly *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Transworld Publishers Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 126 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
245 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78416-310-5 (9781784163105)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
03/2018
1st Edition
Transworld Digital
€12.99
Available for download
Person
Hector Macdonald is a strategic communications consultant who has advised the leaders of some of the world's top corporations in industries as diverse as financial services, telecoms, defence and healthcare. He is an expert in business storytelling and the bestselling author of four novels. Hector has lectured on truth for organisations such as Royal Mail, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Global Coalition Against Daesh.
www.hectormacdonald.com
www.hectormacdonald.com