As it was in Anna Karenina, Madame Bovary, and Othello, so it is in life. Most forms of private vice and public evil are kindled and sustained by l...
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Oct 09, 2011
Greg
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On the whole, this little novella (long essay) was really fantastic. Sam Harris makes a really strong case for never lying. And I think the case he makes transcends his commitment to utilitarianism (which he doesn't even mention in this essay), and resonates strongly with this virtue ethicist. I have two problems with his prescription.
1) Harris would be committed to the argument that even lying to someone to keep a surprise party you are throwing for them a secret is wrong. Examples More...
1) Harris would be committed to the argument that even lying to someone to keep a surprise party you are throwing for them a secret is wrong. Examples More...
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Jan 07, 2012
Joseph
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As is always the case with Sam Harris work, "Lying" was easy-to-read and immediately applicable to your daily life (or, at least, it was for mine).
If you didn't know Sam Harris before reading this short e-book (or PDF), you undoubtedly should after you finish it. As one of the most prominent intellectuals of our time, Harris provides his thoughts on honesty (and lying) in this succinct single.
Not only is this essay short in regards to length, but Harris also w More...
If you didn't know Sam Harris before reading this short e-book (or PDF), you undoubtedly should after you finish it. As one of the most prominent intellectuals of our time, Harris provides his thoughts on honesty (and lying) in this succinct single.
Not only is this essay short in regards to length, but Harris also w More...
Jan 02, 2012
Charles
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I'm a huge fan of Harris's previous books, and that was the major reason I decided to read this one. As other reviewers have noted, it's very short... it shouldn't take more than an hour to read through it.
Harris argues that lying is almost always the wrong choice. He provides a number of examples that illustrate this. The content of the essay was more or less what I expected... certainly there is no new ground being broken here. Even so, he does make some great points. One of his m More...
Harris argues that lying is almost always the wrong choice. He provides a number of examples that illustrate this. The content of the essay was more or less what I expected... certainly there is no new ground being broken here. Even so, he does make some great points. One of his m More...
Dec 16, 2011
Cara
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This is a philosophical Kindle Short about lying. The argument is that, unless you're dealing with someone you never want to have any kind of relationship with (ex. psychopath, enemy in war)--and maybe not even then--lying does more harm than good. Even white lies meant to spare the other person's feelings or be polite cause damage to a relationship. He gives the example of "Does this dress make me look fat?"--Instead of rushing to say "no!", consider the truth, which might b
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Dec 09, 2011
Rob
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I thoroughly enjoy Sam Harris' books. He writes extremely well, and the subject matter is always relevant and timely (timeless?). All of this is true with Lying.
I have two issues with this book. On the substance, Harris overstates his case. As I read I thought of a number of counterexamples to the points he made. He laid out his case well, but he didn't take on the counterarguments as a philosopher normally does. Perhaps this is more a function of the format of this long-essay style; More...
I have two issues with this book. On the substance, Harris overstates his case. As I read I thought of a number of counterexamples to the points he made. He laid out his case well, but he didn't take on the counterarguments as a philosopher normally does. Perhaps this is more a function of the format of this long-essay style; More...
Dec 06, 2011
Paul
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Sam Harris makes a convincing case that lying, in almost every situation, does more damage than good. Yes, even the little white lies that we tell to make others feel better. While we believe that we are protecting them, we could be doing much more damage than we realize.
Throughout the essay, Harris gives numerous examples in which lying has either damaged relationships or promoted distorted world views. He differeniates between the different types of lies, and the damage they're lik More...
Throughout the essay, Harris gives numerous examples in which lying has either damaged relationships or promoted distorted world views. He differeniates between the different types of lies, and the damage they're lik More...
Oct 27, 2011
Adam
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Lying is a short essay in which Sam Harris attempts to explain how lying, in almost every capacity, is detrimental to our interactions with fellow human beings on all levels.
While many may interpret this as an argument of extremity, I think that the real argument is intended as more of a cautionary tale: lies and deceit break down our ability to build trust between individuals as well as groups (i.e. state and it's populace), which in turn can limit people's abilities to live life to t More...
While many may interpret this as an argument of extremity, I think that the real argument is intended as more of a cautionary tale: lies and deceit break down our ability to build trust between individuals as well as groups (i.e. state and it's populace), which in turn can limit people's abilities to live life to t More...
Oct 03, 2011
Tucker
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This is a bit longer than a magazine essay and in its length feels more like a journal article than a book. It covers a lot of ground and makes the point quite clearly.
Harris is a consequentialist, something he does not argue for in this book but explained previously in The Moral Landscape. Consequentialism is a theory that maintains that the ethical value of an act is determined by its consequences. Consequentialism is often broken down into two main types: one in which the outcom More...
Harris is a consequentialist, something he does not argue for in this book but explained previously in The Moral Landscape. Consequentialism is a theory that maintains that the ethical value of an act is determined by its consequences. Consequentialism is often broken down into two main types: one in which the outcom More...
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Sep 28, 2011
Greg
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Lying is a Kindle single whose thesis is simple: lying is (almost always) bad. In general I agree, but the book takes it to extremes where the argument is more interesting and harder to get behind:
- White lies (when getting a gift, for example). The example they give is for an ugly piece of clothing: you could say that you're touched the gifter thought of you, but "I don't think I can pull this off" or something. This sounds very hard to do in real life. The authors explain More...
- White lies (when getting a gift, for example). The example they give is for an ugly piece of clothing: you could say that you're touched the gifter thought of you, but "I don't think I can pull this off" or something. This sounds very hard to do in real life. The authors explain More...
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Sep 19, 2011
Daniel
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Sam Harris is the incarnation of purely rational thought. Lying serves as well as any of his works hitherto published to demonstrate this. Weighing in at what probably amounts to half the size of Letter to a Christian Nation, Lying is a very short read (I took an hour, but I am generally rather slow). But it is dense, and, while by no means is it, or would it claim to be, comprehensive, it does cover its topic very well. The arguments seem not only indisputable, but entirely natural. They simply
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Sep 22, 2011
Shaun
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I started reading Sam Harris with his book "The Moral Landscape" - in which Sam Harris demonstrates that Science has the ability to inform us what on makes our actions Moral or Immoral.
Sam Harris' new work,"Lying" seems to be one of the small projects which capitalizes on his previous work. Of course everyone was most likely taught by their parents that they should be truthful and abstain from lying. Somewhere along the way into adulthood and maturity, people s More...
Sam Harris' new work,"Lying" seems to be one of the small projects which capitalizes on his previous work. Of course everyone was most likely taught by their parents that they should be truthful and abstain from lying. Somewhere along the way into adulthood and maturity, people s More...
Jan 19, 2012
Ryan
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Extraordinarily thorough and readable discourse, especially considering the concise nature of this long essay 'form', on the effects of lying both on the micro (personal) and broader societal(macro) levels. Harris makes quick and wise work of clearing up some of the silly, often semantic hangups of this conversation, i.e. the hairsplitting of technical lying and deceit at large.
I think Harris gives appropriate concessions to the very uncomfortable and concrete ramifications of even More...
I think Harris gives appropriate concessions to the very uncomfortable and concrete ramifications of even More...
Dec 23, 2011
Barry
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This essay starts off well and offers some solid arguments why never lying to friends and family can be beneficial to your life, nothing revolutionary but stuff a lot of people won’t even think of on a day-to-day basis, but it then goes on to more absurd situations with unrealistic outcomes (e.g. the reasoning with a murderer after a child your protecting).
It then goes onto a slightly comical story about Harris admitting to taking opium at an airport, which is all nice and fine, but More...
It then goes onto a slightly comical story about Harris admitting to taking opium at an airport, which is all nice and fine, but More...
Oct 01, 2011
Mark
rated it:
Am half way through, splendid and stirring. It will have an impact, a rippling and unsettling effect.
Reading it with the Kindle App on my MacBook. I may convert to this way of reading.
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Loved reading this on my MacBook. I'm a convert. Had .txt file open on the right 1/3 of the screen, and the underlining I normally do in a book was replaced by typing, cutting and pasting into the "marginalia" text file, a kind of on-the-spot rereading.
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Reading it with the Kindle App on my MacBook. I may convert to this way of reading.
~~~
Loved reading this on my MacBook. I'm a convert. Had .txt file open on the right 1/3 of the screen, and the underlining I normally do in a book was replaced by typing, cutting and pasting into the "marginalia" text file, a kind of on-the-spot rereading.
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Sep 20, 2011
Cora
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Harris' writing here is so clear and elegant that it might be easy for one to mistake his ideas as simple. However, while 'Lying' can be read in a sitting, it can be mulled over for a very long time.
The ideas that linger are of the power of honest speech. Of his lie-related proposals, however, the most compelling is the destructive nature of the white lie; the one we tell out of compassion or embarrassment. I'm equally moved by his portrayal of plain truth-telling as a "source More...
The ideas that linger are of the power of honest speech. Of his lie-related proposals, however, the most compelling is the destructive nature of the white lie; the one we tell out of compassion or embarrassment. I'm equally moved by his portrayal of plain truth-telling as a "source More...
Sep 29, 2011
Tom
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LYING is Harris's latest short-book / long-essay, much in the style of his previous "Letter to a Christian Nation". I found that he was able to cover nearly all the major aspects to the subject matter while maintaining a very short read, which can be done in a single sitting. I read it entirely in one day's public transit commute, and it came across much as one of Harris's longer blog posts.
Due to the short length of the ebook, it did leave me wanting more at the end of eac More...
Due to the short length of the ebook, it did leave me wanting more at the end of eac More...
Jan 13, 2012
Carlo
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I liked this essay. I read its majority while at a cafe with my wife, and it stirred very interesting discussions. Even while reading it alone, I remember constantly stopping and thinking about the insightful ideas and example the author demonstrated.
Harris shows how lies (even those conveniently called white) do more harm than good. He proposes living a life without a single lie, even at a cost of a discomfort. Of course, situations where telling the truth will undoubtedly cause ha More...
Harris shows how lies (even those conveniently called white) do more harm than good. He proposes living a life without a single lie, even at a cost of a discomfort. Of course, situations where telling the truth will undoubtedly cause ha More...
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Oct 19, 2011
Adam
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En este Kindle Single Sam Harris intenta convencernos de que las mentiras son funestas para nosotros, nuestros vínculos, y la sociedad en su conjunto. Debo conceder que leí algunos reviews no tan positivos antes de siquiera tener ocasión de tener acceso a Lying, y la impresión que tengo ahora después de la lectura es que aquellas opiniones no estaban tan lejos de la realidad:
Lying es una lectura entretenida, apoyada en algunos datos y variadas anécdotas, pero no logra impresionar en profun More...
Lying es una lectura entretenida, apoyada en algunos datos y variadas anécdotas, pero no logra impresionar en profun More...
Nov 02, 2011
Mohammed
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This is a rather interesting short book / long essay. Before reading it, I was exposed to Immanuel Kant's thoughts on lying. He believes that a person should never EVER lie, even in a grave situation. For that is a form of breaking the moral code. The truth should be always told, or hidden by another truth if cannot be exposed.
Michale J. Sandel, the famous philosophy professor at Harvard, also discussed this topic in his famous class "Justice, What's The Right Thing To Do". T More...
Michale J. Sandel, the famous philosophy professor at Harvard, also discussed this topic in his famous class "Justice, What's The Right Thing To Do". T More...
Sep 20, 2011
Wes
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I recommend this $2.00 Kindle Essay by Sam Harris to anyone and everyone with the ability to read. (It only takes about 45 minutes to finish.) While not breaking any new philosophical ground per se, Harris explains what lying really is and how it costs us dearly in our daily lives. This piece made me even re-evaluate the "harmless" white lies we all tell on a daily basis. Such lies, while seemingly inconsequential on the surface, can actually be quite corrosive as they rob us of g
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Jan 17, 2012
Dave
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A short essay rather than a book (but i'm still counting it towards my target of 100 this year :) )
The practicalities of adhering to what Harris suggests in this book (basically we should not lie - particularly white lies as they can be the most pernicious of all) may seem at once simple but then more difficult than you may have thought - for example how do you deal with the old "does my bum look big in this" question. But as you'd expect with Harris there is clear reasoning behi More...
The practicalities of adhering to what Harris suggests in this book (basically we should not lie - particularly white lies as they can be the most pernicious of all) may seem at once simple but then more difficult than you may have thought - for example how do you deal with the old "does my bum look big in this" question. But as you'd expect with Harris there is clear reasoning behi More...
Oct 23, 2011
Sky
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This book should be something a lot of people should take an hour and read through. In his usual style, Harris clearly and articulately explains why, in almost every situation we are in, the truth is the best. I don't consider myself a dishonest person, but I took something away from the book. I think everyone would, because of the culture that is comfortable with deception we live in. This book exercises the dorectoon that Sam Harris' takes in The Moral Landscape, using lying as an illustration
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Feb 05, 2012
David
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The strongest point of Sam Harris' essay "Lying", is that is reminds us of the destructive power of "white lies", those lies we take to be harmless or trivial. An example would be if a friend asks what you think of their project and you reply "it looks great!", even if you think it needs serious improvement. Harris argues that by lying you are doing them a disservice. You are providing false reassurance, rather than honest guidance. Of course we are not always corre
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Oct 28, 2011
Kristi
rated it:
Blatant lies, big lies, white lies, untrustworthiness, secrets, all of it pet peeves of mine. Who isn't annoyed and disgusted by deception. This is a great little kindle single, readable in under an hour, laying it all out there -- mind stimulating and eye opening to the ripple effect of those nose-growing words and omissions.
Would it be too obvious, maybe rude, if I sent this smack in the wazoo to a few habitually deceptive relatives? Okay. Wishful thinking.
"If I More...
Would it be too obvious, maybe rude, if I sent this smack in the wazoo to a few habitually deceptive relatives? Okay. Wishful thinking.
"If I More...
Sep 22, 2011
Jean
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This topic matter is one that definitely needed our attention; full attention. I think that Harris did a great job of showing how a simple white lie could turn really ugly. In ordinary circumstances lying is never helpful and is totally unnecessary. It destroys trust in relationships.
While I was motivated and inspired by his words, I did find a bit of repetition on the scant number of pages, when I wanted something new to sink my teeth into. He could have said so much more, but then i More...
While I was motivated and inspired by his words, I did find a bit of repetition on the scant number of pages, when I wanted something new to sink my teeth into. He could have said so much more, but then i More...
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Nov 20, 2011
Christian
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This book was great but too short!
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Sep 20, 2011
A solid read, I was able to get through it in about an hour. As usual with Sam Harris, he calmly and politely conveys his ideas on why we should use our common sense to help guide us through the world. I felt the book had a more personal touch to it than some of his previous work, maybe at a slight expense of some objectivity. Overall, I'd say the book serves its purpose in conveying the benefits of unrelenting honesty, and at $2 bucks a pop and only requiring around hour to get through I'd reco
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Nov 27, 2011
Lena
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This is less of a book than a long essay, one that is currently available in free downloadable PDF form from Harris' website.
Throughout the piece, Harris makes the argument that there are significant benefits to be gained both personally and societally by rejecting lying in both large and small forms.
Most of us think of ourselves as honest people, yet may still frequently engage in the "white lie," an act of dishonesty designed to spare both ourselves and anothe More...
Throughout the piece, Harris makes the argument that there are significant benefits to be gained both personally and societally by rejecting lying in both large and small forms.
Most of us think of ourselves as honest people, yet may still frequently engage in the "white lie," an act of dishonesty designed to spare both ourselves and anothe More...
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Feb 09, 2012
Chris
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I never gave much thought to the ethical implications of lying and the corrosive effects of lying. A little white lie meant to spare a friends feelings may end up causing that friend future failures and disappointments. Lies destroy trust and undermine integrity. Lies destroy friendships and prevent families from being positive sources for supporting one another. After reading this book, I am reevaluating even the tiniest of fibs. This is a short read.
Sep 23, 2011
Graeme
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This is an excellent essay. I think that I will reread it many times. Sam Harris influenced me enormously with the intelligence and humanity of his earlier book The End of Faith.
Lying is sold as an Amazon Single, which is apparently a new way of packaging essays as though they are books.
Lying is sold as an Amazon Single, which is apparently a new way of packaging essays as though they are books.
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