Mark Kurlansky worked as a commercial fisherman, longshoreman, paralegal, cook, pastry chef, and playwright, then traveled the world as a journalist and foreign correspondent for The International Herald Tribune, The Chicago Tribune, The Miami Herald, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Based in Paris and then Mexico, he reported on Europe, West Africa, Southeast Asia, Central America, Latin America, and the Caribbean from 1976 to 1991. His thirty-four books for adults and young readers include four New York Times bestsellers (Cod; Salt; 1968; and The Food of a Younger Land) and have been translated into thirty languages. He has received a James Beard Award for Food Writing, a Bon Appétit American Food and Entertaining Award for Food Writer of the Year, and the Glenfiddich Food and Drink Award for Food Book of the Year. A master storyteller, Kurlansky is equally adept at writing for children and adults. The New York Times called World Without Fish “a compelling narrative for young people.” Eric Zelz is a designer, illustrator, and educator whose work has been recognized by organizations including the Society of Environmental Journalists and the Society of News Design. His illustrations for three Tilbury House picture books (Pass the Pandowdy, Please; Read This Book If You Don’t Want a Story; and My Monster Moofy) have received awards and starred reviews. See more at ericzelz.com.

• Entreaty1. Masked Revelers in a Carnival of LiesFrom Russia with Love, Part 12. The Enlightenment and the UnenlightenedFrom Russia with Love, Part 23. Denial: The Short Way around ScienceFrom Russia with Love, Part 34. Favorite Lies About WomenFrom Russia with Love, Part 45. A Snowball in France: The Blame GameFrom Russia with Love, Part 56. Soviet Mathematics: 2 + 2 = 57. The Truth about American Truth8. Big Dictators and Big LiesThe Prince of Real Estate, Part 19. Photographic LiesThe Prince of Real Estate, Part 210. Saving Children: A Best-Loved LieThe Prince of Real Estate, Part 311. The Golden Lasso of TruthThe Prince of Real Estate, Part 4SourcesIndexAcknowledgments

"This well-researched book offers examples of philosophers and religious leaders commenting on lying as well as politicians and advertisers manipulating others for personal gain. Kurlansky writes persuasively about the danger of big, outrageous lies that can have horrific consequences. He points out that those lies have become more common and more easily spread since the advent of social media, but the lies themselves have changed little through the centuries. The text is detailed, well organized, and relevant to our times. Kurlansky does a particularly fine job of placing disturbing recent trends within a historical context. Many books advise young people on recognizing propaganda techniques, but this one offers a particularly broad view of how and why political leaders, hucksters, and others with personal or political agendas lie, how technological changes have magnified the lies’ effectiveness, and how critical thinking skills enable people to recognize the big lies that can threaten a free society."

Mark Kurlansky worked as a commercial fisherman, longshoreman, paralegal, cook, pastry chef, and playwright, then traveled the world as a journalist and foreign correspondent for The International Herald Tribune, The Chicago Tribune, The Miami Herald, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Based in Paris and then Mexico, he reported on Europe, West Africa, Southeast Asia, Central America, Latin America, and the Caribbean from 1976 to 1991. His thirty-four books for adults and young readers include four New York Times bestsellers (Cod; Salt; 1968; and The Food of a Younger Land) and have been translated into thirty languages. He has received a James Beard Award for Food Writing, a Bon Appétit American Food and Entertaining Award for Food Writer of the Year, and the Glenfiddich Food and Drink Award for Food Book of the Year. A master storyteller, Kurlansky is equally adept at writing for children and adults. The New York Times called World Without Fish “a compelling narrative for young people.” Eric Zelz is a designer, illustrator, and educator whose work has been recognized by organizations including the Society of Environmental Journalists and the Society of News Design. His illustrations for three Tilbury House picture books (Pass the Pandowdy, Please; Read This Book If You Don’t Want a Story; and My Monster Moofy) have received awards and starred reviews. See more at ericzelz.com.

• Entreaty1. Masked Revelers in a Carnival of LiesFrom Russia with Love, Part 12. The Enlightenment and the UnenlightenedFrom Russia with Love, Part 23. Denial: The Short Way around ScienceFrom Russia with Love, Part 34. Favorite Lies About WomenFrom Russia with Love, Part 45. A Snowball in France: The Blame GameFrom Russia with Love, Part 56. Soviet Mathematics: 2 + 2 = 57. The Truth about American Truth8. Big Dictators and Big LiesThe Prince of Real Estate, Part 19. Photographic LiesThe Prince of Real Estate, Part 210. Saving Children: A Best-Loved LieThe Prince of Real Estate, Part 311. The Golden Lasso of TruthThe Prince of Real Estate, Part 4SourcesIndexAcknowledgments

"This well-researched book offers examples of philosophers and religious leaders commenting on lying as well as politicians and advertisers manipulating others for personal gain. Kurlansky writes persuasively about the danger of big, outrageous lies that can have horrific consequences. He points out that those lies have become more common and more easily spread since the advent of social media, but the lies themselves have changed little through the centuries. The text is detailed, well organized, and relevant to our times. Kurlansky does a particularly fine job of placing disturbing recent trends within a historical context. Many books advise young people on recognizing propaganda techniques, but this one offers a particularly broad view of how and why political leaders, hucksters, and others with personal or political agendas lie, how technological changes have magnified the lies’ effectiveness, and how critical thinking skills enable people to recognize the big lies that can threaten a free society."

Mark Kurlansky worked as a commercial fisherman, longshoreman, paralegal, cook, pastry chef, and playwright, then traveled the world as a journalist and foreign correspondent for The International Herald Tribune, The Chicago Tribune, The Miami Herald, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Based in Paris and then Mexico, he reported on Europe, West Africa, Southeast Asia, Central America, Latin America, and the Caribbean from 1976 to 1991. His thirty-four books for adults and young readers include four New York Times bestsellers (Cod; Salt; 1968; and The Food of a Younger Land) and have been translated into thirty languages. He has received a James Beard Award for Food Writing, a Bon Appétit American Food and Entertaining Award for Food Writer of the Year, and the Glenfiddich Food and Drink Award for Food Book of the Year. A master storyteller, Kurlansky is equally adept at writing for children and adults. The New York Times called World Without Fish “a compelling narrative for young people.” Eric Zelz is a designer, illustrator, and educator whose work has been recognized by organizations including the Society of Environmental Journalists and the Society of News Design. His illustrations for three Tilbury House picture books (Pass the Pandowdy, Please; Read This Book If You Don’t Want a Story; and My Monster Moofy) have received awards and starred reviews. See more at ericzelz.com.

• Entreaty1. Masked Revelers in a Carnival of LiesFrom Russia with Love, Part 12. The Enlightenment and the UnenlightenedFrom Russia with Love, Part 23. Denial: The Short Way around ScienceFrom Russia with Love, Part 34. Favorite Lies About WomenFrom Russia with Love, Part 45. A Snowball in France: The Blame GameFrom Russia with Love, Part 56. Soviet Mathematics: 2 + 2 = 57. The Truth about American Truth8. Big Dictators and Big LiesThe Prince of Real Estate, Part 19. Photographic LiesThe Prince of Real Estate, Part 210. Saving Children: A Best-Loved LieThe Prince of Real Estate, Part 311. The Golden Lasso of TruthThe Prince of Real Estate, Part 4SourcesIndexAcknowledgments

"This well-researched book offers examples of philosophers and religious leaders commenting on lying as well as politicians and advertisers manipulating others for personal gain. Kurlansky writes persuasively about the danger of big, outrageous lies that can have horrific consequences. He points out that those lies have become more common and more easily spread since the advent of social media, but the lies themselves have changed little through the centuries. The text is detailed, well organized, and relevant to our times. Kurlansky does a particularly fine job of placing disturbing recent trends within a historical context. Many books advise young people on recognizing propaganda techniques, but this one offers a particularly broad view of how and why political leaders, hucksters, and others with personal or political agendas lie, how technological changes have magnified the lies’ effectiveness, and how critical thinking skills enable people to recognize the big lies that can threaten a free society."