Many books have been written about the downside of self-deception. Journalists Vedantam (host of podcast and radio show Hidden Brain and author of the best-selling book of the same name) and Mesler provide a counter argument. They maintain that some deceptions are functional, as they enable us to accomplish social, psychological, and biological goals. In the introduction, Vedantam makes the case that believing what we want to believe and seeing what we want to see is often the result of one's circumstances. When thinking of deception, the authors urge readers to ask more complicated questions: What are the costs and benefits? Whom does the falsehood serve? In a particular situation, is it more important to be honest or kind? Referencing both historical resources and popular culture, the authors show how the lies we tell are often societal niceties. The chapter on the founding myths of the United States, and what it means to be a nation, make for urgent reading. It is essential not to miss the authors' more significant proposition: to compassionately consider others' perspectives even if they do not seem rational or true. VERDICT This excellent narrative nonfiction work will engage a variety of readers, and is a solid choice for book clubs who like to discuss current events.--Beth Dalton, Littleton, CO

We all lie to ourselves. Turns out, that's not necessarily a bad thing or even a character flaw. This curious book inquires, "When should we fight self-deception and when--and how much--should we embrace it?" Deluding ourselves and promoting false optimism can generate beneficial outcomes, posits author, public radio host, and podcaster Vedantam (Hidden Brain, 2010) and his coauthor. In a gloomy reality, fooling ourselves into believing something can heighten well-being by offering hope and optimism. A self-deceiving brain has a possible evolutionary role in enhancing survival. Although honesty ranks high as a valued virtue, deceptions are ubiquitous. We lie out of kindness to protect or comfort others. Lies assist in steering our social relationships. Lies function as a defense mechanism. The best part of this inquiry is the final third, a probe of the pervasiveness of self-deception in rituals, patriotism, and religion. The authors conclude that we are all vulnerable to falsehoods and myths not because we are simpletons, but rather because we are flawed and frightened beings. Welcoming our inner Pinocchio may just be prudent behavior.

According to this ingenious and unsettling account, deception is essential to our well-being. Vedantam and Mesler note that when we ask an acquaintance, "how are you?" we usually don't want an honest answer--and don't get one. If you don't believe in Santa Claus or the second coming, it's because "your life does not depend on your believing such things." However, if matters took a turn for the worse, you might reconsider. "There are no atheists in foxholes" is a cliché but not entirely false. The authors emphasize that evolution did not design our brain to seek the truth but to survive. Seeking the truth is beside the point. Depressed people often see the world more realistically. Deception, including self-deception write the authors, "enables us to accomplish useful social, psychological, or biological goals. Holding false beliefs is not always the mark of idiocy, pathology, or villainy." Much of the book recounts often squirm-inducing examples to prove the case. For example, in the late 1980s, a group called the "Church of Love" sent affectionate form letters from purportedly distressed young women to lonely men, many of whom engaged in extensive correspondence and sent money, not always when requested. At the leader's trial, many victims, despite knowing the facts, fervently defended him. Digging deeper, the authors examine American patriotism and how our collective "national fictions give us a shared sense of identity and purpose, the cohesion to accomplish great things, the will and capability to defend ourselves against mortal threats." The authors also examine the concept of the placebo, which in certain cases is "the most benevolent of lies," and they defend their position that optimists with fatal diseases live longer than "realists," quoting studies that show this and ignoring those that show the opposite. A passionate, often counterintuitive, disturbingly convincing addition to the why-people-believe-stupid-things genre. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.