The New York Times bestselling author of
Predictably Irrational and The Upside of
Irrationality returns with thought-provoking work to challenge
our preconceptions about dishonesty and urge us to take an
honest look at ourselves.
- Does the chance of getting caught affect how likely we are to
cheat?
- How do companies pave the way for dishonesty?
- Does collaboration make us more honest or less so?
- Does religion improve our honesty?
Most of us think of ourselves as honest, but, in fact, we all
cheat. From Washington to Wall Street, the classroom to the
workplace, unethical behavior is everywhere. None of us is immune,
whether it''s the white lie to head off trouble or padding our
expense reports. In The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty,
award-winning, bestselling author Dan Ariely turns his unique
insight and innovative research to the question of dishonesty.
Generally, we assume that cheating, like most other decisions,
is based on a rational cost-benefit analysis. But Ariely argues,
and then demonstrates, that it''s actually the irrational forces
that we don''t take into account that often determine whether we
behave ethically or not. For every Enron or political bribe, there
are countless puffed résumés, hidden commissions, and knockoff
purses. In The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty, Ariely
shows why some things are easier to lie about; how getting caught
matters less than we think; and how business practices pave the way
for unethical behavior, both intentionally and unintentionally.
Ariely explores how unethical behavior works in the personal,
professional, and political worlds, and how it affects all of us,
even as we think of ourselves as having high moral standards.
But all is not lost. Ariely also identifies what keeps us
honest, pointing the way for achieving higher ethics in our
everyday lives. With compelling personal and academic findings,
The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty will change the way we
see ourselves, our actions, and others.
