The Liar in Your Life

By: Robert Feldman

Narrated by: Bob Walter

Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

In The Liar in Your Life, psychology professor Robert Feldman, one of the world's leading authorities on deception, draws on his immense body of knowledge to give fresh insights into how and why we lie, how our culture has become increasingly tolerant of deception, the cost it exacts on us, and what to do about it. His work is at once surprising and sobering, full of corrections for common myths and explanations of pervasive oversimplifications.

Feldman examines marital infidelity, little white lies, career-driven resumé lies, and how we teach children to lie. Along the way, he reveals-despite our beliefs to the contrary- how it is nearly impossible to spot a liar (studies have shown no relationship between nervousness, lack of eye contact, or a trembling voice, and acts of deception). He also provides startling evidence of just how integral lying is to our culture; indeed, his research shows that two people, meeting for the first time, will lie to each other an average of three times in the first ten minutes of a conversation.

Feldman uses this discussion of deception to explore ways we can cope with infidelity, betrayal, and mistrust, in our friends and family. He also describes the lies we tell ourselves: Sometimes, the liar in your life is the person you see in the mirror. With incisive clarity and wry wit, Feldman has written a truthful book for anyone who whose life has been touched by deception.

©2009 Robert Feldman; (P)2009 Hachette

Not quite what the title promises

This was actually a very good look at the psychology of lying in general, offering a fresh perspective on deceit, but it is not a guide book, or how-to manual on applying that perspective to an individual's life. The most profound advice given is that if you want a truthful life, start by being truthful.

As an intellectual work, it was thought provoking, and I don't know any better complement to give such a piece.

As a self-help piece, well, there were some fun stories in it.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Good book but...

A very good book that will help you understand the people in your life, both personal and professional. My issue is, it would be much more believable if the authors extreme dislike for President Bush wasn't used over and over again as an example. It belittled the books points, which are very good ones.

9 of 10 people found this review helpful

Interesting, insightful, and unbiased

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, this is a very interesting book and the author does a good job of keeping conjecture out of his statements, which is important because you will quickly realize that people often cannot be taken at their word .

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

The common "lies are bad" motto is an immature position to take; lies are often not malicious and are usually employed to benefit the emotions of the liar more than attack the person being lied too.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Liked it Didn't Love it

The book is interesting and well narrated. I learned a few new things about how and why people lie. I was hoping for more insight beyond what is fairly evident through common sense.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Monotonous

I couldn't pinpoint if it was the narrator or content, but I just couldn't stand to listen to this book anymore. It's my first audiobook too so I was very disappointed.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Interesting... but NOT reliable.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes, and No.
The content is not necessarily scientifically rigorous, or universally true.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Better research and support.

What three words best describe Bob Walter’s voice?

The performance was ok.

Was The Liar in Your Life worth the listening time?

Maybe, almost, possibly not.

Any additional comments?

It is frightening that people will actually employ some of these techniques and observations in relationships with REAL people....

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

The liar in your life.

love it opened my eyes I will never be so naive trust no one else but me.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

We are the Liar in our lives at times

Ministry of self is really important and this makes you face facts. Lies and lying is a fabric of us and society