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 resumes, 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. |
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