Lying

Outline

Lying (2011) is a short essay arguing that people would be happier and more trustworthy if they stopped telling lies, including the small, polite lies of everyday life. Sam Harris examines how dishonesty damages relationships and makes life more complicated, while honesty builds trust and simplifies decisions. The book encourages readers to practise kindness and truthfulness at the same time.

• Sam Harris argues that people would be happier and more trustworthy if they stopped lying altogether.
• The ban on lying covers small, polite lies, not only serious deceptions.
• Dishonesty damages relationships and makes everyday life more complicated than it needs to be.
• Honesty builds trust and simplifies decisions, since there is no false story to keep track of.
• The book encourages readers to practise kindness and truthfulness at the same time.

Sam Harris is an American author, philosopher, and neuroscientist who hosts the Making Sense podcast. He writes about ethics, the mind, meditation, and public debate. His other books include Free Will and The Moral Landscape.