Full name: Lying: Moral Choice in Public and Private Life

Author: Sissela Bok Rank: Rating: Original Rating: Pop Rating: Genres/categories: Purchase/reserch links: LibraryThing Amazon Goodreads ISBNs: 9780375705281 0375705287

I bought this book in an attempt to understand why this other person in my life had such an propensity for deceitfulness, but before I could finish the book, I sent her packing to the opposite side of the country. I decided to read it anyway. What a surprise when I found out that I too was a liar when I omitted facts, changed the subject, or engaged other weaselly lawyer tactics in which the question is truthfully answered, but the 'truth' is not conveyed. Actually, I cannot blame that on law school--I had already mastered the technique prior to law school during my tenure in the corporate world. Once I moved beyond that epiphany, and my subsequent self-acceptance as a scoundrel, I found the book quite interesting in its discussions about the meaning of truth and about the moral implications which lead some people to tell lies for the benefit of others as opposed to those individuals who tell lies to keep themselves out of hot water. You will have to make up your own mind as to whether there is any such thing as a good lie and this book might give you some extra things to think about on your journey. Of course, I could be lying about that . . .