Svendsen writes for a popular audience, offering an engaging introduction to philosophical thought on the nature and ethics of lying . . . Svendsen’s examples are vivid and his writing is both animated and accessible – a credit to the translator, Matt Bagguley, as well. Some of the analysis is quite contentious, and readers may find that their intuitions about cases do not align with those of the author, but working out why is part of the fun of engaging with work in practical ethics such as this. We come to moral philosophy for guidance, but also, perhaps, stimulation: an opportunity for thought and friction.
