Since our species first evolved, lying and deceit have been an integral part of our social existence. Now, for the first time, philosopher and evolutionary psychologist David Livingstone Smith elucidates the essential role that deception and self-deception have played in human evolution and shows that the very structure of our minds has been shaped by the need to deceive.Readers of Richard Dawkins and Steven Pinker will find this a fascinating book, which declares that our extraordinary ability to deceive others, and even deceive our own selves "lies" at the heart of our humanity.

Author Biography

David Livingstone Smith is currently professor of psychology and co-founder and director of the Institute for Cognitive Science and Evolutionary Psychology at the University of New England. He and his wife live in Portland, Maine.