Truth: A Brief History of Total Bullsh*t

"A lighthearted history of lying"—from the international bestselling author of Humans: A Brief History of How We F*cked It All Up (Kirkus Reviews).

We live in a "post-truth" world, we're told. But was there ever really a golden age of truth-telling? Or have people been lying, fibbing and just plain bullsh*tting since the beginning of time?


Tom Phillips, editor of a leading independent fact-checking organization, deals with this question every day. In Truth, he tells the story of how we humans have spent history lying to each other—and ourselves—about everything from business to politics to plain old geography. Along the way, he chronicles the world's oldest customer service complaint, the Great Moon Hoax of 1835 and the surprisingly dishonest career of Benjamin Franklin.


Sharp, witty and with a clear-eyed view of humanity's checkered past, Truth reveals why people lie—and how we can cut through the bullsh*t.

Praise for Humans: A Brief History of How We F*cked It All Up

"A laugh-along, worst-hits album for humanity." —Steve Brusatte, New York Times–bestselling author of The Rise and Reign of the Mammals

"[A] perfect blend of brilliance and goofiness." —BuzzFeed

"[A] timely, irreverent gallop through thousands of years of human stupidity." —Nicholas Griffin, author of The Year of Dangerous Days

"Chronicles humanity's myriad follies down the ages with malicious glee and much wit . . . a rib-tickling page-turner." —Business Standard