Truth

How the Many Sides to Every Story Shape Our Reality

Contributors

Read by Robert Fass

By Hector Macdonald

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On Sale
Mar 13, 2018
Publisher
Hachette Audio
ISBN-13
9781478992325

“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.”-Adam Grant, author of Give and Take, Originals, and Option B with Sheryl Sandberg

For fans of Nudge, Sway, and The Art of Thinking Clearly, a fascinating dive into the many ways in which “competing truths” shape our opinions, behaviors, and beliefs.

True or false? It’s rarely that simple.

There is more than one truth about most things. The Internet disseminates knowledge but it also spreads hatred. Eating meat is nutritious but it’s also damaging to the environment. When we communicate we naturally select the truths that are most helpful to our agenda.

We can select truths constructively to inspire organizations, 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. Truths are neutral but highly versatile tools that we can use for good or ill.

In Truth: How the Many Sides to Every Story Shape Our Reality, Hector Macdonald explores how truth is used and abused in politics, business, the media and everyday life. He shows how a clearer understanding of truth’s many faces renders us better able to navigate our world and more influential within it. Combining great storytelling with practical takeaways and a litany of fascinating, funny, and insightful case studies, Truth is a sobering and engaging read about how profoundly our mindsets and actions are influenced by the truths that those around us choose to tell.

  • "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."
    Adam Grant, author of Give and Take, Originals, and Option B with Sheryl Sandberg
  • "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 The Art of Choosing
  • "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 Head in the Cloud
  • "Delightful. Beautifully explores the truth that truth can look very different to different people."
    Matt Ridley, author of Genome and The Red Queen
  • "Truth is 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
  • "An interesting and entertaining excursus that, in this post-truth era, may prove of use in helping unpack a specious claim or two."
    Kirkus
  • "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 and author of How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life

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$35.00

Hector Macdonald

About the Author

Hector Macdonald is an expert in business storytelling. As a strategic communications consultant, he has advised the leaders of some of the world’s top corporations in industries as diverse as financial services, telecoms, technology, and healthcare. He is also the bestselling author of four novels.

Learn more about this author