-10% $21.53$21.53
FREE delivery Wednesday, October 16 to Hong Kong on eligible orders over $49
Ships from: Amazon Sold by: Amazon Export Sales LLC
$19.99$19.99
FREE delivery October 21 - 25 to Hong Kong on eligible orders over $49
Ships from: Amazon Sold by: ShopEncore
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Audible sample
May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases―And What We Can Do about It First Edition
Purchase options and add-ons
Adam Grant’s “8 New Idea Books to Start Spring”
Next Big Idea Club's Must-Read Books for May 2024
"A wonderful litany of the myriad ways in which we can be deceived, and deceive ourselves."—The Guardian
“Highlights how first recognizing our biases and then taking small but intentional steps to overcome them can have an outsized effect on the quality of our decisions."—Inc.
How our biases cause us to fall for misinformation—and how to combat it.
Our lives are minefields of misinformation. It ripples through our social media feeds, our daily headlines, and the pronouncements of politicians, executives, and authors. Stories, statistics, and studies are everywhere, allowing people to find evidence to support whatever position they want. Many of these sources are flawed, yet by playing on our emotions and preying on our biases, they can gain widespread acceptance, warp our views, and distort our decisions.
In this eye-opening book, renowned economist Alex Edmans teaches us how to separate fact from fiction. Using colorful examples—from a wellness guru’s tragic but fabricated backstory to the blunders that led to the Deepwater Horizon disaster to the diet that ensnared millions yet hastened its founder’s death—Edmans highlights the biases that cause us to mistake statements for facts, facts for data, data for evidence, and evidence for proof.
Armed with the knowledge of what to guard against, he then provides a practical guide to combat this tide of misinformation. Going beyond simply checking the facts and explaining individual statistics, Edmans explores the relationships between statistics—the science of cause and effect—ultimately training us to think smarter, sharper, and more critically. May Contain Lies is an essential read for anyone who wants to make better sense of the world and better decisions.
- ISBN-100520405854
- ISBN-13978-0520405851
- EditionFirst Edition
- PublisherUniversity of California Press
- Publication dateMay 14, 2024
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions6 x 1.2 x 9 inches
- Print length336 pages
Customers who bought this item also bought
- Third Millennium Thinking: Creating Sense in a World of NonsenseHardcoverFREE Shipping on orders over $49 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Wednesday, Oct 16
- Pause to Think: Using Mental Models to Learn and Decide (Heilbrunn Center for Graham & Dodd Investing Series)HardcoverFREE Shipping on orders over $49 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Wednesday, Oct 16
- Everything Is Predictable: How Bayesian Statistics Explain Our WorldHardcoverFREE Shipping on orders over $49 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Thursday, Oct 17
- A Brief History of Intelligence: Evolution, AI, and the Five Breakthroughs That Made Our BrainsHardcoverFREE Shipping on orders over $49 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Wednesday, Oct 16
- On the Edge: The Art of Risking EverythingHardcoverFREE Shipping on orders over $49 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Wednesday, Oct 16
- Says Who?: A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About WordsHardcoverFREE Shipping on orders over $49 shipped by Amazon
From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Confirmation bias can seem so engrained in us that it's difficult to shake. But Edmans highlights how first recognizing our biases and then taking small but intentional steps to overcome them can have an outsized effect on the quality of our decisions." ― Inc.
"A clear-headed guide to the exaggerations, sloppy research and the occasional downright lies peddled by companies, universities, authors and Ted Talk gurus. . . . Edmans is determined to make us better, more critical thinkers." ― The Times
"Edmans might believe that we’re post truth, but he also proposes that it is in everyone’s grasp to become smarter thinkers." ― Financial Times
"Edmans is out to help us better understand and analyse the data we are fed, and to aid us in becoming more sceptical. . . . The appendix (“a checklist for smarter thinking”) should be required reading."
― New Scientist
"Shows us how to be more discerning with evidence. . . . Is a statement a fact, is a fact truly data, is that data genuinely evidence, and is that evidence proof? The book provides tips for sussing that out." ― Times of India
"While the subject matter can be dense at times, Edmans' engaging writing style and judicious use of anecdotes and case studies make the book accessible to a wide audience. "May Contain Lies" serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking to navigate the complex landscape of information and make more informed decisions, whether in their personal or professional lives." ― S&G Consulting
"Elegantly structured around an ascent up the ladder of ‘misinference.' " ― RealClearEnergy
"May Contain Lies is focused on identifying what is and isn’t reliable information. In a time when it feels like we are surrounded by more and more sources of misinformation and disinformation, this is certainly a welcome lesson." ― GeekDad
“A practical-minded approach to various forms of mangled logic, appeals to bogus authority and other commonplace forms of cognitive distortion. . . . Besides identifying the problem, the author offers clearly formulated approaches to countering it. Every high school freshman should take a one-semester course with this as its textbook.” ― Inside Higher Ed
From the Back Cover
"A fascinating account of how to navigate through lies and misleading statistics to arrive at a reasonable approximation of the truth. A valuable aid to make sense of our confusing world."—Raghuram G. Rajan, Professor, University of Chicago, former Governor, Reserve Bank of India, and former Chief Economist, International Monetary Fund
"A powerful and punchy explanation of why misinformation is a problem that affects us all—be that in finance, politics, media, business, or anywhere else. Edmans offers clear ideas about how to counter this, not just in our own lives but also across society as a whole. Timely and very provocative!"—Gillian Tett, Editor-at-Large, Financial Times
"A masterpiece! A must-read book that is a delight to consume and sure to improve the quality of your thinking."—Katy Milkman, Professor, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, author of How to Change
"Mass disinformation and poor understanding of basic statistics are the hallmarks of our 'information age.' Alex Edmans's book is the much-needed antidote."—Vaclav Smil, author of How the World Really Works and Numbers Don't Lie
"A passionate and dispassionate call to truth—and how to achieve it—in a world of growing disinformation in which truth and common ground are the casualties."—Will Hutton, President, Academy of Social Sciences, author of The State We’re In
"A hard-hitting book with some great stories."—Andrew Gelman, Professor of Statistics and Political Science, Columbia University
"How should we determine what to believe and when to be skeptical of what we read and hear? Professor Alex Edmans has written a brilliant, engaging book about how to deal with our age of endless information. With terrific examples throughout, this is a book we all would benefit from reading."—Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law
"May Contain Lies should be required reading for anyone venturing an opinion near a microphone or a screen. It's a lucid, honest, and vital guide to statistical reasoning, and a life raft of clarity in an ocean of lies."—Raj Patel, Research Professor, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin
"“Entertaining, thorough and full of current examples. . . . It’s excellent."—Jason Zweig
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : University of California Press; First Edition (May 14, 2024)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 336 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0520405854
- ISBN-13 : 978-0520405851
- Item Weight : 1.3 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 1.2 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #155,580 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #87 in Sociology of Social Theory
- #87 in Philosophy of Logic & Language
- #582 in Communication Skills
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Alex Edmans is Professor of Finance at London Business School. Alex has a PhD from MIT as a Fulbright Scholar, and was previously a tenured professor at Wharton and an investment banker at Morgan Stanley. Alex has spoken at the World Economic Forum in Davos, testified in the UK Parliament, and given the TED talk “What to Trust in a Post-Truth World” and the TEDx talks “The Pie-Growing Mindset” and “The Social Responsibility of Business” with a combined 2.8 million views. He serves as non-executive director of the Investor Forum, on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Responsible Investing, and on Royal London Asset Management’s Responsible Investment Advisory Committee.
Alex’s book, “Grow the Pie: How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit”, was a Financial Times Book of the Year for 2020 and has been translated into nine languages, and he is a co-author of “Principles of Corporate Finance” (with Brealey, Myers, and Allen). He has won 25 teaching awards at Wharton and LBS and was named Professor of the Year by Poets & Quants in 2021. His latest book, "May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases – And What We Can Do About It" will be published by Penguin Random House in April 2024.
Products related to this item
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book insightful, informative, and engaging. They say it helps them understand and overcome their biases. Readers also appreciate the author's practical advice and well-known examples. They describe the book as powerful yet simple, and the author clearly explains the issues.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book insightful, informative, and engaging. They say it helps them understand and overcome their biases. Readers also appreciate the framework that makes complex concepts accessible. Overall, they say the book is well worth reading and uses well-known examples like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
"Very well written and on point...." Read more
"...Edman's practical advice, readability, and use of well-known examples like Deepwater Horizon and Theranos make the book both engaging and informative..." Read more
"Good stuff, but the book wanders around getting to the author's points." Read more
"A great, insightful book that I read in one go, and I am sure I will come back many times...." Read more
Customers find the book to be powerful and deep yet simple to read. They also appreciate the author's clear explanation of issues and encourages the reader to use an understanding of statistics.
"Very well written and on point. The author clearly explains the issues and encourages the reader to use an understanding of how information is..." Read more
"...Edman's practical advice, readability, and use of well-known examples like Deepwater Horizon and Theranos make the book both engaging and informative..." Read more
"...it is powerful and deep, yet simply written, so non-experts in statistics, psychology, and economics could understand it well...." Read more
"...This book, "May Contain Lies", is an important work and is easy to read." Read more
-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Edman's practical advice, readability, and use of well-known examples like Deepwater Horizon and Theranos make the book both engaging and informative. His discussions on sustainability, ESG, and DEI issues highlight the importance of evidence-based decision-making in today's polarized world. The book's appendix, "A Checklist for Smarter Thinking," also offers a set of actionable steps for individuals, organizations, and societies to foster critical thinking and make smarter, evidence-based decisions.
"May Contain Lies" is a timely and invaluable resource for anyone seeking to discern truth from misinformation in an era of rapid information spread. Highly recommend!
I ordered 10 more copies to give as a gift to friends!!
Also, in second half he talks about how to be better community members which is an idealistic endeavor in this day and age.
Top reviews from other countries
Although he is a leading academic authority in his field, Alex Edmans steps firmly out of the ivory tower with May Contain Lies to provide a book that is readable and useful for both non academic and academic audiences.
The book starts with a description of the main cognitive biases that cause us to succumb to (or promulgate) misinformation.
It then goes on to describe how these biases cause us to make specific mistakes in the interpretation of data using an innovative analogy: the ladder of misinference.
Thirdly, Edmans provides practical tools for us to protect against misinformation. Most helpfully, these are not hopelessly ambitious algorithms but rather simple ways in which we can deploy our natural discernment to protect ourselves against (self) deceit.
It’s entertaining, punchy, and with the rigour and clear thinking that has become Edmans’ trade mark running through it like a stick of rock. Highly recommended - a brilliant book.
The book delves into the issue of misinformation. Its central message is that merely checking facts is insufficient. Even facts that are 100% accurate can be misleading.
The book begins by highlighting the biases that make us susceptible to misinformation. According to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Global Risks Report 2024, misinformation and disinformation have emerged as the top risk over the next two years. This underlines the importance of understanding how easily we can be misled.
The second part introduces the Ladder of Misinference, categorizing misinformation into four missteps. This framework helps readers identify and understand the different ways misinformation can distort reality.
Finally, the last section discusses how individuals, organizations, and societies can think more intelligently and critically. The book also includes a "Checklist for Thinking Smarter," which provides questions we can ask ourselves to accurately evaluate statements, facts, data, and evidence.
What I liked a lot is that the book includes a conclusion/summary after each chapter, making it easier to consolidate the key points and insights discussed. To sum up, the book not only exposes the dangers of misinformation but also equips readers with practical strategies to navigate an increasingly complex information landscape.