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How we arrived in a post-truth era, when “alternative facts” replace actual facts, and feelings have more weight than evidence.

Are we living in a post-truth world, where “alternative facts” replace actual facts and feelings have more weight than evidence? How did we get here? In this volume in the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series, Lee McIntyre traces the development of the post-truth phenomenon from science denial through the rise of “fake news,” from our psychological blind spots to the public's retreat into “information silos.”

What, exactly, is post-truth? Is it wishful thinking, political spin, mass delusion, bold-faced lying? McIntyre analyzes recent examples—claims about inauguration crowd size, crime statistics, and the popular vote—and finds that post-truth is an assertion of ideological supremacy by which its practitioners try to compel someone to believe something regardless of the evidence. Yet post-truth didn't begin with the 2016 election; the denial of scientific facts about smoking, evolution, vaccines, and climate change offers a road map for more widespread fact denial. Add to this the wired-in cognitive biases that make us feel that our conclusions are based on good reasoning even when they are not, the decline of traditional media and the rise of social media, and the emergence of fake news as a political tool, and we have the ideal conditions for post-truth. McIntyre also argues provocatively that the right wing borrowed from postmodernism—specifically, the idea that there is no such thing as objective truth—in its attacks on science and facts.

McIntyre argues that we can fight post-truth, and that the first step in fighting post-truth is to understand it.

From the Publisher

Publisher ‏ : ‎ The MIT Press (February 16, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 236 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0262535041
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0262535045
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.52 x 7 inches
Reviewer: Thomas Wikman
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Intentionally seek the truth not confirmation of your belief
Review: Conspiracy theories, some ridiculous, are believed or at least taken seriously. There’s anti-vaxxers, climate change denial, a President lying repeatedly and followers flat out denying it, and then the flat earthers too. We have a problem, we’ve always had a problem with the truth, but now it has become a crisis. There are many reasons for this, cognitive biases, the Dunning-Kruger effect, tribalism, the partisan political climate, religious superstition, and then the people and propagandists taking advantage of our weaknesses in the internet era. Political propagandists such as Limbaugh has effectively set themselves up as a source of truth in opposition to the rest American media. On page 3 & 4 a journalist is interviewing Newt Gingrich who flat out states that facts don’t matter to him, it is what people feel is true that matters. This is a good definition of post-truth; the "Contention that feelings are more accurate than facts, for the purpose of the political subordination of reality."The book appears to be taking political sides when the author state that fake news and false beliefs are a bigger problem among American conservatives. The statistics tells us that and based on what I’ve seen as an independent “outsider” it is quite easy to believe. The book offers some advice for how to deal with post-truth problems. When people are faced with facts that contradict their beliefs, they commonly don’t reevaluate their beliefs, which would be logical. Instead they double down and defend their belief so that the contrary evidence ends up strengthening their belief (the backfire effect). That seems backwards and hopeless. Despite that keep telling the truth and presenting the evidence because the backfire effect is temporary. I have personal experience that this works. This is a timely and quite interesting book and it is a quick read. I highly recommend it. Let us all intentionally seek the truth not confirmation of your belief.

Reviewer: Jean A. Klein
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: This book posits that feelings can outweigh facts
Review: The author defines post-truth as the "Contention that feelings are more accurate than facts, for the purpose of the political subordination of reality." He uses the history of the cigarette industry as a pattern people employ to attack existing science: set up your own experts; use the idea that it is "controversial" to demand equal time to established facts; use the media; and do lobbying, funded by those with financial interests. He uses climate change as an example, although he mentions instances like the vaccine-autism controversy and intelligent design. He goes into some of the cognitive biases that make us susceptible to fake news, such as discomfort at believing two contradictory things at once; giving more weight to the information that agrees with our ideas; and the tendency to dig in further if our belief is challenged. One thing that was interesting to me was the "Dunning-Kruger effect," where our lack of ability in something causes us to overestimate our skill--and the people with the least ability tend to think they have the most skill! Another nugget was that conservatives' brains are more susceptible to conspiracy theories than liberals. Of course, he includes the information silos and the vast choice of (often unvetted) information available. Remedies he suggests are to attack untruth where it occurs (don't assume that people couldn't believe that, no matter how weird); flood with the truth (people have a tipping point where the facts sink in); and remember that graphs and pictures can be more persuasive than narrative. The writing style and the examples the author used made for interesting reading. He persuaded me that feeling that something is right can outweigh the facts. I FEEL IT!

Reviewer: James Muncy
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Essential read for our present era
Review: “Post-Truth" by Lee McIntyre is a compelling and timely exploration of the phenomenon of "post-truth" and its implications for our society. McIntyre expertly navigates the landscape of misinformation, fake news, and the erosion of trust in facts, providing readers with a thorough understanding of how we arrived at this juncture and what it means for the future.One of the book's strengths is McIntyre's ability to clearly define and contextualize "post-truth." He traces its roots through historical and philosophical perspectives, linking contemporary issues to broader patterns of human behavior and societal change. This approach not only deepens the reader's comprehension but also highlights the seriousness and complexity of the problem.McIntyre's writing is accessible yet profound, making complex ideas understandable without oversimplifying them. He engages with a wide range of examples, from political discourse to scientific skepticism, illustrating how post-truth has permeated various aspects of our lives. The author's insights into the role of social media and the internet in amplifying falsehoods are particularly relevant and thought-provoking.However, the book sometimes falls short in offering concrete solutions to counteract the post-truth trend. While McIntyre provides valuable strategies and emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and education, readers may find themselves wanting more actionable steps to take in their daily lives.Overall, "Post-Truth" is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the dynamics of our current information landscape. It is a sobering reminder of the importance of truth and the need for vigilance in preserving it. Lee McIntyre has crafted a thought-provoking and necessary work that will resonate with readers long after they finish the last page.

Reviewer: Joseph Myren
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: AWESOME

Reviewer: O
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A good read to understand post-truth, it's link with fake news and other terms.Still misses detail on what to do, but provides references to further up the understanding

Reviewer: J.S.G.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: L presentación de sus opiniones

Reviewer: Flavio
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Attenzione : era un regalo a mio nipote (non dato via per qualche motivo!!!). Mi ha riferito che le condizioni e l'aspetto sono OK. Amazon sempre perfetto nei tempi.

Reviewer: Petrit
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A must read for our times, it is a wonderful short book with loads of references for those interested to follow up on the topic.