Private Truths Public Lies

Author : Timur Kuran
Publisher : Harvard University Press
ISBN 13 : 0674248139
Total Pages : 444 pages
Book Rating : 4.37/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Private Truths, Public Lies written by Timur Kuran and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 1998-06-16 with total page 444 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Preference falsification, according to the economist Timur Kuran, is the act of misrepresenting one's wants under perceived social pressures. It happens frequently in everyday life, such as when we tell the host of a dinner party that we are enjoying the food when we actually find it bland. In Private Truths, Public Lies Kuran argues convincingly that the phenomenon not only is ubiquitous but has huge social and political consequences. Drawing on diverse intellectual traditions, including those rooted in economics, psychology, sociology, and political science, Kuran provides a unified theory of how preference falsification shapes collective decisions, orients structural change, sustains social stability, distorts human knowledge, and conceals political possibilities. A common effect of preference falsification is the preservation of widely disliked structures. Another is the conferment of an aura of stability on structures vulnerable to sudden collapse. When the support of a policy, tradition, or regime is largely contrived, a minor event may activate a bandwagon that generates massive yet unanticipated change. In distorting public opinion, preference falsification also corrupts public discourse and, hence, human knowledge. So structures held in place by preference falsification may, if the condition lasts long enough, achieve increasingly genuine acceptance. The book demonstrates how human knowledge and social structures co-evolve in complex and imperfectly predictable ways, without any guarantee of social efficiency. Private Truths, Public Lies uses its theoretical argument to illuminate an array of puzzling social phenomena. They include the unexpected fall of communism, the paucity, until recently, of open opposition to affirmative action in the United States, and the durability of the beliefs that have sustained India's caste system.

Author : Ellen McGarrahan
Publisher : Random House Trade Paperbacks
ISBN 13 : 0812988051
Total Pages : 385 pages
Book Rating : 4.55/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Two Truths and a Lie written by Ellen McGarrahan and published by Random House Trade Paperbacks. This book was released on 2022-08-16 with total page 385 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: EDGAR AWARD FINALIST • A private investigator revisits the case that has haunted her for decades and sets out on a deeply personal quest to sort truth from lies. CLUE AWARD FINALIST • “[A] haunting memoir, which also unfolds as a gripping true-crime narrative . . . This is a powerful, unsettling story, told with bracing honesty and skill.”—The Washington Post A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice • One of Marie Claire’s Ten Best True Crime Books of the Year Ellen McGarrahan was a young journalist for The Miami Herald in 1990 when she witnessed the botched execution of convicted killer Jesse Tafero: flames and smoke and three jolts of the electric chair. When evidence later emerged casting doubt on Tafero’s guilt, McGarrahan found herself haunted by his fiery death. Had she witnessed the execution of an innocent man? Decades later, McGarrahan, now a successful private investigator, is still gripped by the mystery and infamy of the Tafero case, and decides she must investigate it herself. Her quest will take her around the world and deep into the harrowing heart of obsession, and as questions of guilt and innocence become more complex, McGarrahan discovers she is not alone in her need for closure. For whenever a human life is taken by violence, the reckoning is long and difficult for all. A rare and vivid account of a private investigator’s real life and a classic true-crime tale, Two Truths and a Lie is ultimately a profound meditation on truth, grief, complicity, and justice.

Author : Dilip Hiro
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1135043809
Total Pages : 455 pages
Book Rating : 4.03/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Iran under the Ayatollahs (Routledge Revivals) written by Dilip Hiro and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-09-05 with total page 455 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: First published in 1985, this is a comprehensive study of the Middle East's most strategic country, set against the background of the Islamic heritage of Iran and the rise and fall of the Pahlavi dynasty. Dilip Hiro describes the various phases through which the Islamic revolution has passed, gives an incisive account of the first Gulf War, and provides an historical survey of Iran's relations with the West, the Soviet bloc, and other countries of the region.

Author : Charles Lewis
Publisher : PublicAffairs
ISBN 13 : 1610391187
Total Pages : 393 pages
Book Rating : 4.84/5 ( download)

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Download or read book 935 Lies written by Charles Lewis and published by PublicAffairs. This book was released on 2014-06-24 with total page 393 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Facts are and must be the coin of the realm in a democracy, for government "of the people, by the people and for the people," requires and assumes to some extent an informed citizenry. Unfortunately, for citizens in the United States and throughout the world, distinguishing between fact and fiction has always been a formidable challenge, often with real life and death consequences. But now it is more difficult and confusing than ever. The Internet Age makes comment indistinguishable from fact, and erodes authority. It is liberating but annihilating at the same time. For those wielding power, whether in the private or the public sector, the increasingly sophisticated control of information is regarded as utterly essential to achieving success. Internal information is severely limited, including calendars, memoranda, phone logs and emails. History is sculpted by its absence. Often those in power strictly control the flow of information, corroding and corrupting its content, of course, using newspapers, radio, television and other mass means of communication to carefully consolidate their authority and cover their crimes in a thick veneer of fervent racialism or nationalism. And always with the specter of some kind of imminent public threat, what Hannah Arendt called "objective enemies.'" An epiphanic, public comment about the Bush "war on terror" years was made by an unidentified White House official revealing how information is managed and how the news media and the public itself are regarded by those in power: "[You journalists live] "in what we call the reality-based community. [But] that's not the way the world really works anymore. We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality . . . we're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do." And yet, as aggressive as the Republican Bush administration was in attempting to define reality, the subsequent, Democratic Obama administration may be more so. Into the battle for truth steps Charles Lewis, a pioneer of journalistic objectivity. His book looks at the various ways in which truth can be manipulated and distorted by governments, corporations, even lone individuals. He shows how truth is often distorted or diminished by delay: truth in time can save terrible erroneous choices. In part a history of communication in America, a cri de coeur for the principles and practice of objective reporting, and a journey into several notably labyrinths of deception, 935 Lies is a valorous search for honesty in an age of casual, sometimes malevolent distortion of the facts.

Author : Carlo Cottarelli
Publisher : Brookings Institution Press
ISBN 13 : 0815730691
Total Pages : 204 pages
Book Rating : 4.99/5 ( download)

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Download or read book What We Owe written by Carlo Cottarelli and published by Brookings Institution Press. This book was released on 2017-09-05 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The euro crisis, Japan's sluggish economy, and partisan disagreements in the United States about the role of government all have at least one thing in common: worries about high levels of public debt. Nearly everyone agrees that public debt in many advanced economies is too high to be sustainable and must be addressed. There is little agreement, however, about when and how that addressing should be done—or even, in many cases, just how serious the debt problem is. As the former director of the International Monetary Fund's Fiscal Affairs Department, Carlo Cottarelli has helped countries across the globe confront their public finance woes. He also had direct experience in advising his own country, Italy, about its chronic fiscal ailments. In this straightforward, plain-language book, Cottarelli explains how and why excessive public debt can harm economic growth and can lead to crises such as those experienced recently in Italy and several other European countries. But Cottarelli also has some good news: reducing public debt often can be done without trauma and through moderate changes in spending habits that contribute to economic growth. His book focuses on positive remedies that countries can adopt to deal with their public debt, analyzing both the benefits and potential downsides to each approach, as well as suggesting which remedies might be preferable in particular situations. Too often, public debate about public debt is burdened by lies and myths. This book not only explains the basic facts about public debt but also aims to bring truth and reasoned nonpartisan analysis to the debate.

Author : David S. Landes
Publisher : Hachette UK
ISBN 13 : 0349141444
Total Pages : 672 pages
Book Rating : 4.42/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Wealth And Poverty Of Nations written by David S. Landes and published by Hachette UK. This book was released on 2015-04-20 with total page 672 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The history of nations is a history of haves and have-nots, and as we approach the millennium, the gap between rich and poor countries is widening. In this engrossing and important new work, eminent historian David Landes explores the complex, fascinating and often startling causes of the wealth and poverty of nations. The answers are found not only in the large forces at work in economies: geography, religion, the broad swings of politics, but also in the small surprising details. In Europe, the invention of spectacles doubled the working life of skilled craftsmen, and played a prominent role in the creation of articulated machines, and in China, the failure to adopt the clock fundamentally hindered economic development. The relief of poverty is vital to the survival of us all. As David Landes brilliantly shows, the key to future success lies in understanding the lessons the past has to teach us - lessons uniquely imparted in this groundbreaking and vital book which exemplifies narrative history at its best.

Author : Bill Mallinson
Publisher : Burns & Oates
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 196 pages
Book Rating : 4.50/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Public Lies and Private Truths written by Bill Mallinson and published by Burns & Oates. This book was released on 1996 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Public Lies and Private Truths exposes the workings of the industry, points to the key players, and shows how to get on by using contacts and networks effectively. This highly informative and entertaining book is essential reading for public relations professionals, hopeful entrants and all those on relevant coursed in PR, advertising and marketing.

Author : Jan Stievermann
Publisher : Penn State Press
ISBN 13 : 0271063009
Total Pages : 294 pages
Book Rating : 4.03/5 ( download)

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Download or read book A Peculiar Mixture written by Jan Stievermann and published by Penn State Press. This book was released on 2015-06-26 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Through innovative interdisciplinary methodologies and fresh avenues of inquiry, the nine essays collected in A Peculiar Mixture endeavor to transform how we understand the bewildering multiplicity and complexity that characterized the experience of German-speaking people in the middle colonies. They explore how the various cultural expressions of German speakers helped them bridge regional, religious, and denominational divides and eventually find a way to partake in America’s emerging national identity. Instead of thinking about early American culture and literature as evolving continuously as a singular entity, the contributions to this volume conceive of it as an ever-shifting and tangled “web of contact zones.” They present a society with a plurality of different native and colonial cultures interacting not only with one another but also with cultures and traditions from outside the colonies, in a “peculiar mixture” of Old World practices and New World influences. Aside from the editors, the contributors are Rosalind J. Beiler, Patrick M. Erben, Cynthia G. Falk, Marie Basile McDaniel, Philip Otterness, Liam Riordan, Matthias Schönhofer, and Marianne S. Wokeck.

Author : Hrishikesh Joshi
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1000344959
Total Pages : 181 pages
Book Rating : 4.50/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Why It's OK to Speak Your Mind written by Hrishikesh Joshi and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2021-03-08 with total page 181 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Political protests, debates on college campuses, and social media tirades make it seem like everyone is speaking their minds today. Surveys, however, reveal that many people increasingly feel like they’re walking on eggshells when communicating in public. Speaking your mind can risk relationships and professional opportunities. It can alienate friends and anger colleagues. Isn’t it smarter to just put your head down and keep quiet about controversial topics? In this book, Hrishikesh Joshi offers a novel defense of speaking your mind. He explains that because we are social creatures, we never truly think alone. What we know depends on what our community knows. And by bringing our unique perspectives to bear upon public discourse, we enhance our collective ability to reach the truth on a variety of important matters. Speaking your mind is also important for your own sake. It is essential for developing your own thinking. And it’s a core aspect of being intellectually courageous and independent. Joshi argues that such independence is a crucial part of a well-lived life. The book draws from Aristotle, John Stuart Mill, Friedrich Nietzsche, Bertrand Russell, and a range of contemporary thinkers to argue that it’s OK to speak your mind. Key Features Shows that we have not just a right but a moral duty to publicly share what we know. Argues that discussing your unique ideas with others is essential for developing as a critical thinker. Explores the value of intellectual honesty and independence in the writings of John Stuart Mill and Friedrich Nietzsche and connects their thinking to contemporary problems. Argues that avoiding cultural blind spots today is important for the fate of future generations.

Author : Alfreda Coleman
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781737479116
Total Pages : 60 pages
Book Rating : 4.17/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Stop The Spread: Public Lies....Private Truths: written by Alfreda Coleman and published by . This book was released on 2021-08-05 with total page 60 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The lie we know and protect deep within will become the lie we outwardly live. There is absolutely no room for dysfunction in the life of a believer. You cannot silence dysfunction; it demands all or nothing. You cannot tame nor calm it. It will spread at will. After all, that's what it was designed to do as an agent of the enemy of our soul. Join Alfreda Coleman as she takes you on a journey of transparency and truth in unearthing the small yet tumultuous areas of your lives. Stopping the spread of dysfunction requires not only acknowledgment but also honesty. Every area discussed is designed to prompt an introspective look at your character, behavior, and much more. This is not a book of shame nor embarrassment but a realization that living beneath who God called you to be can no longer be interrupted by your covert enemies designed to dismantle and destroy your purpose. Since it has become normal to provide your external audience an outward show of stability and success, let's go deep and uproot the private lies we sleep, eat, and live with daily. Dysfunctional behavior is undercover sin. It will consume, spread and destroy if not confronted and addressed. You are not beyond forgiveness. God loves you, and He has provided the help. Holy Spirit is willing and ready. Your future, your families, and generations to come depend on your decision to address every negative private truth and annihilate every public lie. Let's stop this deadly consumption, and be whole, be free, be well, and be filled with the Holy Spirit in Jesus' Name!