Publisher's summary

This program is enhanced with 14 never-before-heard episodes of Dan Ariely's "Arming the Donkeys" podcast, available exclusively on this audiobook!

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 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.

©2012 Dan Ariely (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about The Honest Truth About Dishonesty

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Excellent! The most practical of all Ariely's book

excellent book, as always from Dan Ariely.
I found this one to be particularly practical, with most of the experiments and theories reviewed in the book having practical implications.

Also love the fact that the author is talking about his own experiments, not like Many popular authors who just recite work of others.

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Reinforced world view

We all lie, best to not deny it and learn the reasons why so as to curb the behavior.

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Great, great!

I've always been thrilled on people's conduct, why do they promise something they do not intend to do or why we act "good" sometimes and "bad" others just depending on the situation?

I felt this book as an approach to the answer.

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Fascinating subject! Presented good research.

A lot of research demonstrating key aspects of human behaviors and subconscious decision making. Don't miss the interviews at the end!

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Enlighting

Would you consider the audio edition of The Honest Truth About Dishonesty to be better than the print version?

Yes

What did you like best about this story?

The research that went in to the outcome .

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

our perception of what we will accept

Any additional comments?

Great book can not wait for his next one.

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Very Insightful and captivating!

Very interesting for a research book. Unexpectedly humorous and insightful about everyday human psychology and motivations.

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Regurgitating old material

This is nothing special, some of it is interesting, but it is a short book with regurgitated material and some interviews.

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If it's Dan Ariely you know it's good

Dan Ariely is a fascinating researcher who can make what seems to be esoteric scholarship into an immediate and fascinating discussion. I think I enjoyed The Upside of Irrationality and Predictably Irrational better, but perhaps all research begins to repeat itself which makes its dazzle a little less brilliant. However, it is still insightful, with "a-ha" moments, and is worth a listen.

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I liked it, honestly!

I an not a sociologist or researcher so am coming strictly from a lay opinion. The conclusions were mostly taken from research with college students which made me wonder if the results would have been be different if the general public was tested. Each test situation made me think what I would do in similar circumstances.

I am a golfer so especially related to the tests with golfers. i.e.: the farther away one is from the ball the more likely you are to bump or place the ball in a better lie. More golfers would bump the ball with a golf club than would lift it with their hand. The questions were posed for their friends and themselves. Most thought their friends would be more likely to cheat than they themselves.

The book explored the likelihood of cheating when being observed, when in a group, after taking an oath not to cheat, when religious principles are involved or when money was involved to name a few.

I thought it was very interesting and worth the read. I think I will read it again soon with a pencil and paper in hand with which to take notes.

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I heard this before, but it still sounds true

Would you consider the audio edition of The Honest Truth About Dishonesty to be better than the print version?

Dan is great on Video, audio, and in print. His review of others research and his own is painlessly informative.The enhancement of the audio version at the end with Dan doing interviews with the other researchers he wrote about is the best reason to have the audio version.

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