A Field Guide to Lies: Critical Thinking in the Information Age

Levitin (James McGill Professor of Psychology, Behavioural Neuroscience, and Music, McGill Univ.; This Is Your Brain on Music) presents a timely, smart analysis of the current trend in American society toward information and mathematical illiteracy. As Levitin reminds listeners, there is now more information available than was present in all preceding history. Also, as Americans text, announce, and declaim at an unprecedented rate, the accompanying democratization of broadcast media systems has been overtaken by a profusion of misinformation, half-truths, and outright lies, all protected by the First Amendment. The author here covers the abuse and lack of mathematical literacy, how to evaluate statements critically, and, most important, the scientific, empirical process of getting to the truth. Dan Piraro's solid, steady reading helps maintain listener focus on what is often complex material. Levitin's timely work nicely updates Darrell Huff's How To Lie with Statistics and Joel Best's Damned Lies and Statistics; is similar in scope to John Allen Paulos's Innumeracy; and demonstrates the fundamental rationale behind "Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics," the 21st episode of the first season of The West Wing. The print version includes charts and graphs used to indicate misuse and abuse of factual information.