The Folly of Fools: The Logic of Deceit and Self-Deception in Human Life

Robert Trivers

Jan 2022 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Chris Reilly

About this audiobook

Whether it's in a cockpit at takeoff or the planning of an offensive war, a romantic relationship or a dispute at the office, there are many opportunities to lie and self-deceive-but deceit and self-deception carry the costs of being alienated from reality and can lead to disaster. So why does deception play such a prominent role in our everyday lives? In short, why do we deceive? In his bold new work, prominent biological theorist Robert Trivers unflinchingly argues that self-deception evolved in the service of deceit-the better to fool others. We do it for biological reasons-in order to help us survive and procreate. From viruses mimicking host behavior to humans misremembering (sometimes intentionally) the details of a quarrel, science has proven that the deceptive one can always outwit the masses. But we undertake this deception at our own peril. The Folly of Fools is an ambitious investigation into the evolutionary logic of lying and the costs of leaving it unchecked.

About the author

Robert Trivers is a professor of anthropology and biological sciences at Rutgers University. He won the Crafoord Prize in Biosciences in 2007 for his fundamental analysis of social evolution, conflict, and cooperation. He lives in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

For a decade Chris Reilly could be heard reading the news on 1010 WINS ("All News, All the Time") and on WNYC, New York Public Radio. When he's not behind the microphone in his home studio, you might find Chris riding his scooter around town, drinking black coffee, caring for his Ragdoll cat, or solving a crossword puzzle.