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    Born Liars by Ian Leslie Summary

    Born Liars
    Ian Leslie
    3.85 (621 Reviews)
    PsychologyPhilosophySociety
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    Overview of Born Liars

    In "Born Liars," Ian Leslie reveals our evolutionary need for deception - from nine-month-olds faking laughter to the placebo effect healing a soldier. This provocative exploration challenges conventional morality: could lying actually be essential for human survival?

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    “

    natural selection rewards effective strategies, not moral ones.

    ”
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    Key Takeaways

    1

    The Paradox of Human Deception

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    Why do the most successful people often border on delusion about their abilities? How can sugar pills heal as effectively as medicine? Ian Leslie's "Born Liars" challenges our conventional wisdom about honesty, revealing that deception isn't merely a moral failing but a fundamental aspect of human evolution. Our capacity for deception-including self-deception-may be the very thing that makes us uniquely human. Contrary to our moral instincts, lying isn't simply wrong; it's woven into the fabric of our evolutionary history, child development, creativity, and even our health. This provocative exploration takes us through the surprising science of why we lie, how we lie, and the unexpected benefits that sometimes come from our deceptions-both to others and to ourselves.

    2

    The Evolutionary Foundations of Deception

    3

    Developmental Milestones and Creative Fabrication

    4

    The Myth of Lie Detection

    5

    The Power of Self-Deception

    6

    The Healing Power of Deception

    7

    Finding Truth in a World of Deception