The Varnished Truth
Truth Telling and Deceiving in Ordinary Life
by David Nyberg
ISBN: 0226610519
ISBN-13: 9780226610511
Format: Hardcover
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Bibliographic Details
Publisher: Univ of Chicago Pr
Published date: 1993
Size: 5.75 x 8.75 inches
Weight: 0.95 pounds
Publisher's Notes
Everyone says that lying is wrong. But when we say that lying is bad and hurtful and that we would never intentionally tell a lie, are we really deceiving anyone? In this wise and insightful book, David Nyberg exposes the tacit truth underneath our collective pretense and reveals that an occasional lie can be helpful, healthy, creative, and, in some situations, even downright moral. Through familiar and often entertaining examples, Nyberg explores the purposes deception serves, from the social kindness of the white lie to the political ends of diplomacy to the avoidance of pain or unpleasantness. He looks at the lies we tell ourselves as well, and contrary to the scolding of psychologists demonstrates that self-deception is a necessary function of mental health, one of the mind's many weapons against stress, uncertainty, and chaos. Deception is in our nature, Nyberg tells us. In civilization, just as in the wilderness, survival does not favor the fully exposed or conspicuously transparent self. As our minds have evolved, as practical intelligence has become more refined, as we have learned the subtleties of substituting words and symbols for weapons and violence, deception has come to play a central and complex role in social life. The Varnished Truth takes us beyond philosophical speculation and clinical analysis to give a sense of what it really means to tell the truth. As Nyberg lays out the complexities involved in leading a morally decent life, he compels us to see the spectrum of alternatives to telling the truth and telling a clear-cut lie. A life without self-deception would be intolerable and a world of unconditional truth telling unlivable. His argument that deception andself-deception are valuable to both social stability and individual mental health boldly challenges popular theories on deception, including those held by Sissela Bok and Daniel Goleman. Yet while Nyberg argues that we deceive, among other reasons, so that we might not perish of the truth, he also cautions that we deceive carelessly, thoughtlessly, inhumanely, and selfishly at our own peril.
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The Varnished Truth
Nyberg, David
University Of Chicago Press. Hardcover. 0226610519 A wonderful copy with some minor edgewear to the cover. Dust Jacket has some edgewear present. 1993 University Of Chicago Press Hard Cover . Very Good. 1993. ( more information)
Offered by Seashellbooks.com, Inc. (United States)
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The Varnished Truth
David Nyberg
A nice ex-library copy. Gently used. All pages and cover clear except for a few library markings. Mylar over dustjacket. Binding solid and tight. No creases. ( more information)
Offered by Once Sold Tales (United States)
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The Varnished Truth
David Nyberg
A nice ex-library copy. Gently used. All pages and cover clear except for a few library markings. Mylar over dustjacket. Binding solid and tight. No creases. ( more information)
Offered by Once Sold Tales (United States)
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The Varnished Truth
David Nyberg
University Of Chicago Press. Used - Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! ( more information)
Offered by Better World Books (United States)
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The Varnished Truth
David Nyberg
University Of Chicago Press. Used - Acceptable. Shows definite wear, and perhaps considerable marking on inside. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! ( more information)
Offered by Better World Books (United States)
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The Varnished Truth
Nyberg, David
University Of Chicago Press. Hardcover. 0226610519 Nice looking, but it has some pen underlining and a name on the first page. Has a purchased at public sale... stamping inside. Thanks for 13k+ internet sales! . Good. ( more information)
Offered by circlerounder (United States)
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The Varnished Truth (Qty: 3)
Nyberg, David
University Of Chicago Press. Hardcover. 0226610519 NICE COPY--SPEEDY SHIPPING with SUPER CUSTOMER SERVICE . Very Good. ( more information)
Offered by TIME OUT BOOKS (United States)
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