The Truth About Dishonesty：How We Lie to Everyone---Especially Ourselves

The"NewYorkTimes"bestsellingauthorof"PredictablyIrrational"and"TheUpsideofIrrationality"returnswiththought-provokingworktochallengeourpreconceptionsaboutdishonestyandurgeustotakean"honest"lookatourselves.Doesthechanceofgettingcaughtaffecthowlikelywearetocheat?Howdocompaniespavethewayfordishonesty?Doescollaborationmakeusmorehonestorlessso?Doesreligionimproveourhonesty?Mostofusthinkofourselvesashonest,but,infact,weallcheat.FromWashingtontoWallStreet,theclassroomtotheworkplace,unethicalbehavioriseverywhere.Noneofusisimmune,whetherit'sthewhitelietoheadofftroubleorpaddingourexpensereports.In"The(Honest)TruthAboutDishonesty,"award-winning,bestsellingauthorDanArielyturnshisuniqueinsightandinnovativeresearchtothequestionofdishonesty.Generally,weassumethatcheating,likemostotherdecisions,isbasedonarationalcost-benefitanalysis.ButArielyargues,andthendemonstrates,thatit'sactuallytheirrationalforcesthatwedon'ttakeintoaccountthatoftendeterminewhetherwebehaveethicallyornot.ForeveryEnronorpoliticalbribe,therearecountlesspuffedrEsumEs,hiddencommissions,andknockoffpurses.In"The(Honest)TruthAboutDishonesty,"Arielyshowswhysomethingsareeasiertolieabout;howgettingcaughtmatterslessthanwethink;andhowbusinesspracticespavethewayforunethicalbehavior,bothintentionallyandunintentionally.Arielyexploreshowunethicalbehaviorworksinthepersonal,professional,andpoliticalworlds,andhowitaffectsallofus,evenaswethinkofourselvesashavinghighmoralstandards.Butallisnotlost.Arielyalsoidentifieswhatkeepsushonest,pointingthewayforachievinghigherethicsinoureverydaylives.Withcompellingpersonalandacademicfindings,"The(Honest)TruthAboutDishonesty"willchangethewayweseeourselves,ouractions,andothers.