Saturday, March 25, 2023

Book Review - The Liars of Nature and the Nature of Liars - Princeton University Press

 


     I suppose you will have to believe me when I tell you that this is a very enjoyable book, although if I could gain personal advantage by lying about my reaction to it, how would you know? Lying and cheating, it turns out is far more complex and nuanced than we might have thought! From fungi to foxes, from apes to amphibians, from cuckoos to crabs, from hominids to herons, cheating and deception are  integral parts of the struggle to survive, and dishonesty is used in myriad ways to facilitate it. George Washington may have declared that he could never tell a lie, but he would be a rare exception to the general rule. Lying is part of our daily existence and is as important a survival strategy in many instances  as food and water. It is not a moral code, it is an essential part of our makeup.
     Lixing Sun treats this topic with both a serious scientific demeanour and a welcome injection of wry humour. In a playful manner he postulates two laws of cheating. The First Law of Cheating is operative when  benefits accrue to the cheater, often at the expense of another. An example might be a Killdeer feigning a broken wing and flying off before the fox was able to gain a meal. My favorite example of this type of cheating says, "......It requires minimum effort, yet the return can be large. If you question that formula, just ask someone who dodged the draft during the war in Vietnam - someone who came from a rich family and paid off his physician to falsely diagnose a bone spur in his medical record." Touché!
     The Second Law of Cheating applies when pure deception is used and one animal exploits another. A soldier is told that he is fighting a noble fight for the glory of his country, when in reality he is furthering the maniacal ambitions of a despot, and is merely an expendable commodity.
     Cheating and lying manifest themselves in so many ways, yet ultimately are reined in when the benefits of deception are outweighed by honesty. One of the great problems in human society today is the exponential spread of lies, misinformation and conspiracy theories on the internet and the effort needed to know what is true. We have always known politicians will lie if it serves their selfish ends, but now lying has become brazen and ubiquitous to the detriment of civil society. Cheaters have been elevated to positions of the highest power and legions of voters accept ouright lies and pure fiction as unassailable truth.
     But "little white lies" are still what they have always been - a means of greasing the wheels of social intercourse. So, the next time someone dear to you poses the question, "Do these clothes make me look fat?" feel free to keep a straight face and say, "No, of course not." It's a survival stratgey well known to us all.

Fact Check
Page 105 - "Among such strategists is an Austrian bird called the Superb Fairy-Wren." In fact, this is an Australian bird, not an Austrian bird.

The Liars of Nature and the Nature of Liars: Cheating and Deception in the Living World - Princeton University Press
Lixing Sun
Hardcover - US$29.95 - ISBN: 9780691198606
288 pages - 6.125 x 9.25 inches (15.31 x 23.125 cm)
12 Colour and 34 black-and-white illustrations
Publication Date: 04 April, 2023 
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

45 comments:

  1. ...are they liars or survivors?

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  2. I guess I would need to read the book to form my opinion! But you've shared some interesting ideas! Enjoy your weekend my friend!

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    1. Let me give you a simple example that make it easy for you. Your husband belongs to a club and one member especially irritates him. One day, that person shows up at your door, and your husband, upon seeing him walk up the path, says, "Tell him I'm not home." So that's what you do. But it's a lie pure and simple - also the kind of thing we do every day. As Tom says above, it's sometimes survival.

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  3. Hari OM
    I am one of those humans who can't lie - attempts in early life proved I have absolutely no poker playing skills whatsoever! The flipside of that is that sometimes, due to flat out honesty, hornets have sometimes been stirred... sigh... I remain steadfastly, if occasionally brutally, honest and detest in the strongest terms those you speak of who purport to lead for the benefit of others. But that is a whole other discussion. In the natural world, the need to strategise for survival makes much sense! YAM xx

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    1. It's no less a strategy for survival in humans, YAM.

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  4. This sounds like an interesting book! I love teaching my granddaughters about such!

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  5. Hello,
    Sounds like an interesting book to read. I have seen Killdeer and other birds pretend to be hurt, their way of staying safe. Thanks for sharing your review! Have a great weekend.

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  6. It sounds like a intresting book, David. Black lies or white lies are lies anyway. We humans have become very good to avoid unpleasant things. As you mention it's a strategy for surviving.
    Hugs and kisses, Marit

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    1. I think that it can also, perversely, actually represent kindness, Marit. If you had just had a new house built and thought it was beautiful and perfect, and you asked me what I thought of it, would it not be unkind (and pointless) to say, "No I think it's ugly?" Even if that's what I really thought, better to just agree. No one is harmed and the niceties of life are preserved.

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    2. Yes, that's very true. Sometimes white lies are kinder and better. We don't want to hurt somebody unnecessary.

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    3. My late aunt used to say, "Never tell the unpleasant truth or pleasant untruth. "
      Happy Thursday, David.

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    4. Your aunt was a wise woman, Veronica.

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  7. It sounds like a wonderful book to enjoy. I am totally unsurprised that the Austrian fairy wren pulled you up short. Perhaps it was the author's (failed) attempt at a lie.

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  8. I think that I may buy this book, David. I might learn some tactics that I have been missing out on ! I reckon I'd have noticed the Page 105 error, unless I read Austria as Australia, thanks to the past posts from yourself and Stewart M.

    Best wishes to you and Miriam - - - Richard

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  9. your answer to Merit is how i feel about what we call white lies. the house accross the street is painted a horrendous dark aqua with lime green trim. I think people see different colors in a different way. it would be cruel to say It is ugly and to me it is. but he maythink mine is ugly. I have been blessed with seeing both sides of things like this. My husband is not. if its ugly to him its ugly. and he says so.... about the book. I love to read, read every day. Unless you have a bird book that has CIA/Seal/detectives storys no can read. 😁

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  10. I think Tom made a good point!
    ... are they liars or survivors?

    All the best Jan

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    1. And so much is socialization too. If I visited England and you invited me for dinner, took me for a little tour of your neighbourhood, we had drinks before dinner, chatted pleasantly, and then after dinner you said, "I hope you enjoyed your dinner," why would I say anything other than, "I did, very much so. Thank you." Even if I thought the fish was overcooked and dry, the peas cold and the potatoes undercooked, what purpose would it serve for me to be brutally honest and say that I thought it second rate and didn't enjoy it?

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  11. I’ve read a few articles about animals who cleverly use deception (besides just feigning to be wounded), and I found them very interesting. They may be protecting their young, saving their own skin, or gaining an advantage in same-species negotiations. You didn’t make clear if that type of information is at the center of the book. You made it sound very intriguing!

    best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  12. The different tactics (for lack of a better word) living things employ for survive are really fascinating. There's a lot of them too, and I'm sure the few I can think of don't even scratch the surface. Hope you see some sun tomorrow. hugs-Erika

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  13. It would be interesting to read about the adaptive strategies of animals. But I strongly dislike the idea of humans resorting to cheating as an adaptation

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  14. Sound like a very interesting read.

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  15. It sounds like an interesting book, David.
    I think this is more for survival and staying safe.
    Greetings Irma

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  16. Tu interés por ese libro, hace que piense que es muy interesante. Muchas veces hay que poner entre comillas, lo que se publica en la red. Los bulos van creciendo, conforme se va extendiendo, cada persona añade cosas de su propia cosecha y el bulo crece a ritmo agigantado.
    Feliz domingo.

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  17. That sounds a fascinating book (and I mean that!).

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  18. David, you are so handsome and clever. And I never look fat. My feet are small and delicate . I could go on and on but I have no time.....Hugs, Valerie

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  19. Now, the subject matter in this book is one with which most of us can identify, David. It seems that some form of lying exists throughout nature, both in wildlife and humans. It would be a lie to not admit to having lied at some point in our lives either as children or in adulthood. The real issue becomes when the lie is harmful or hurtful to another/others.

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  20. If I read, this book would certainly be on my list..Fascinating subject..Love the picture..A great example of deception..

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  21. It sounds like a good read.

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  22. Querido David parece un libro muy interesante y a tener en cuenta, además de que tengo la certeza de que tu opinión es muy sincera. Las pequeñas mentiras son muy comunes y lo hacemos para no ofender, de echo mi mayor defecto es que a menudo soy demasiado sincera y eso a veces molesta. Pero bueno intento siempre no ofender, ni molestar a nadie, no hacer a los demás lo que no quiero para mi. En el mundo animal es común que algunos animalitos se hagan los muertos, a mi me hace mucha gracia. Un enorme abrazo para ti y para Mirian.

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  23. Otro libro que me encantaría. Besos.

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  24. It looks very interesting book!....I love the tittle......Abrazotes, Marcela

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  25. Interesting book. Nature is amazing.

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  26. A very interesting book. I would like to read it, but it will be difficult to buy in my country.
    Hugs and greetings.

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  27. deception as a survival tool. I don't think I'd call it lying though. I think there's a subtle difference in the words and concepts.

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  28. Hi David - nature has evolved very cleverly ... us, we manage - while your commenters with your replies make sense. I'd love to read the book - cheers Hilary

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  29. A very interesting topic, whether approached by an analysis of human lies or by observing nature's liars.

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  30. I agree, Tom did make a good point. Wonderful post.

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  31. He leído que los animales saben engañar fácilmente para sobrevivir eso son buenas mentiras. Me gusta el libro David.
    Os deseo buena noche.
    Un abrazo.

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  32. lol, that would be a fun one to read :)

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  33. Love your reviews! I will stop asking if my outfit makes me look fat!

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