Truth: How the Many Sides to Every Story Shape Our Reality

「真相，只有一個！」—才不是這樣呢！

聰明思考，從認識真相的複雜開始！

 

　　「網路促使了世界上知識的普及。」

　　「網路加速了錯誤訊息及仇恨的傳播。」
 

　　以上兩句描述，都是正確的。都是對於網路的事實陳述。然而對於一個從不知道網路是什麼的人而言，兩個說明呈現的卻是截然不同的風景，進而將產生不同的情感、態度、行為。對於我們生活的世界中，這種情形比比皆是，從同一個事實集合裡，我們往往可以提煉出不只一種真相；作者把這種對立的真相稱之為「矛盾對立真相Competing Truths」。

 

　　我們選擇傳遞特定的真理以達成不同目的。我們可以選擇某些真相來啟發他人、鼓勵孩子，推動進步；我們卻也可以運用特地的真相營造錯誤的印象，並不真的欺騙地誤導他人。一如在商業行為、政治宣傳，甚至人際交往裡，即便真相是中性中立的，它卻是一個應用多變的工具。

 

　　作者Hector Macdonald在本書帶領你進入真相的多變世界尋訪，結合思考辨析方法與多元有趣的生活案例及時事。超紅的健康食物藜麥、敦克爾克戰役、LGBT運動、總統川普全都融入書裡‧真相原來可以分為部分真相、主觀真相、人造真相、未知真相…而不同的歷史、脈絡、定義、想望、信念，都可能產生大大不同！每一章節後更有貼心的實用總結與生活運用指引。想在世界裡聰明生存，不受誤導，或是希望運用個人力量實現更多美好目標，這本輕鬆易讀的思考指南將帶給你多面向的啟發！（文/博客來編譯）

 

 

　　True or false? It’s rarely that simple.

 

　　There is more than one truth about most things. Eating meat is nutritious but it’s also damaging to the environment. The Internet disseminates knowledge but it also spreads hatred. As communicators, we select the truths that are most useful to our agenda.

 

　　We can select truths constructively to inspire organisations, encourage children, and drive progressive change. Or we can select truths that give a false impression of reality, misleading people without actually lying. Others can do the same, motivating or deceiving us with the truth. Truths are neutral but can also be highly versatile tools that we can use for good or ill.

 

　　Hector Macdonald here explores how truth is used and abused in politics, business, the media and everyday life. Combining great storytelling with practical takeaways and a litany of fascinating, funny and insightful case studies, Truth is a sobering and engaging read about how profoundly our mindsets and actions are influenced by the truths that those around us choose to tell.

 

Review

 

"In a time when truth is under assault, Hector Macdonald is here to defend it. He offers clear-eyed, compelling guidelines for becoming a more accurate consumer and producer of information." (Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of ORIGINALS and OPTION B with Sheryl Sandberg)

 

"Delightful… beautifully explores the truth that truth can look very different to different people." (Matt Ridley, author of Genome and The Red Queen)

 

"No one can tell the whole truth in all its glory. Hector Macdonald's Truth explores how communicators spin reality, whether in the name of clarity or skullduggery. Macdonald is a deft guide to a topic that could not be more timely." (William Poundstone, author of Are You Smart Enough to Work at Google?)

 

"Engrossing" (Caroline Sanderson The Bookseller)

 

"With the phrase ‘fake news' dominating the conversation in 2017, Hector Macdonald's Truth feels like timely reading. Drawing from examples including the infamous Brexit bus and the way the Texas Department of State Health Services spread misinformation to pregnant women, the author asks whether it is ever morally acceptable for marketers to lie? It also looks at how consumers can protect themselves from misleading truths." (Marketing Week - Recommended Reading)

 

"As an expert on choice, I’ve long believed that our choices define who we are. This book explores the ways in which the decision to tell the truth is a choice that uniquely shapes who we are. While it’s easy to assume that the act of lying is more complicated one than telling the truth, the choice to tell the truth can be equally, if not far more complex.This book is not simply about telling the truth, but rather a guide to navigate the tough decisions that lead to truth." (Sheena Iyengar, author of The Art of Choosing)

 

"An engaging primer in critical thinking, Truth will enable you to defend yourself against fake news, from bots on Twitter to loudmouths on cable television. Read the book attentively and from then on you'll be carrying the most important concealed weapon of all: an informed mind." (Peter Robinson, former White House speechwriter)

 

"A fascinating look at how such an abstract concept can be shaped to many purposes, the ethics of bending the truth, and what consumers can do to analyze the innumerable truths presented to us." (Booklist)

 

"A useful, commonsensical framework for making reasonable, responsible, and effective decisions." (Publishers Weekly)

 

"Ultra-timely...perfect for our fake news era" (Inc.)

 

　　Hector Macdonald is an expert in business storytelling. As a strategic communications consultant, he has advised the leaders of some of the world’s top corporations in industries as diverse as financial services, telecoms, technology, and healthcare. He is also the bestselling author of four novels.

 

　　Hector began writing thrillers after completing a zoology degree at Oxford University. The Mind Game was a bestseller published in 18 languages. The Hummingbird Saint and The Storm Prophet followed, and then Hector turned to spy fiction with Rogue Elements. His first non-fiction book, Truth: How the Many Sides to Every Story Shape Our Reality, will be published in March 2018.  

 

　　Hector grew up on the coast of Kenya and now lives in London.