Book Reviews › Character › Why Leaders Lie
Honest review · Character
Why Leaders Lie
by John J. Mearsheimer
Leaders lie to their own publics more than to each other: fearmongering, strategic cover-ups, nationalist myths. Short and uncomfortable.
Read it if…
you want a taxonomy of political lying.
See the book →
Skip it if…
you want a defense of leaders.
Try instead: The Great Delusion →
Three things you will actually use
- Lies target the home front.
- Fear sells wars.
- Check the myths.
Do this first
Read the chapter on fearmongering.
Our verdict
Mearsheimer on lying.
See the book →
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