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Lies that Kill

A Citizen's Guide to Disinformation

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

"Writing in a clear and comprehensive writing style, [the authors] show how the U.S. political, social, and economic environments make disinformation believable to large numbers of people and difficult to stop or prevent." - Library Journal, Starred Review
"Everyone, whether they work in the public sector or are private citizens, will find this book invaluable." - Booklist, Starred Review

Disinformation made possible by rapid advances in cheap, digital technology, and promoted by organized networks, thrives in the toxic political environment that exists within the United States and around the world. In Lies that Kill, two noted experts take readers inside the world of disinformation campaigns to show concerned citizens how to recognize disinformation, understand it, and protect themselves and others. Using case studies of elections, climate change, public health, race, war, and governance, Elaine Kamarck and Darrell West demonstrate in plain language how our political, social, and economic environment makes disinformation believable to large numbers of people.

Karmarck and West argue that we are not doomed to live in an apocalyptic, post-truth world but instead can take actions that are consistent with long-held free speech values. Citizen education can go a long way towards making us more discerning consumers of online materials and we can reduce disinformation risks through digital literacy programs, regulation, legislation, and negotiation with other countries.

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    • Booklist

      Starred review from July 1, 2024
      In the last decade, public discourse in America has become increasingly contaminated by aggressive disinformation campaigns to mislead the public in order to advance certain political or financial agendas. Kamarck and West examine this phenomenon in Lies That Kill, showing that in many instances the book's title is not hyperbole--many public figures have been threatened with or been the victims of violent attacks perpetrated by people motivated by false information spread by malicious actors. The authors make the point that disinformation is spread not only by conservative Republicans and hostile foreign agents but, to a much lesser degree, by left-wing Democrats. They examine how disinformation, spread with lightning-fast efficiency on the internet and many socialmedia platforms, poisons discourse on election integrity, public health, race relations, and other vital issues. Thankfully, they conclude with a final chapter detailing how the government, various agencies and think tanks, and the general public are detecting-- and can detect in the future--false narratives and arrive at some semblance of truth. Everyone, whether they work in the public sector or are private citizens, will find this book invaluable.

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • Library Journal

      Starred review from July 1, 2024

      Kamarck (sr. fellow and director, Brookings Inst. Ctr. for Effective Public Management; Why Presidents Fail and How They Can Succeed Again) and West (sr. fellow, Brookings Inst. Ctr. for Technology Innovation; coauthor of Turning Point: Policymaking in the Era of Artificial Intelligence) have written extensively on public policy. Together, they present a simple but effective manual that spotlights, analyzes, and discusses the many threads of disinformation circulating in the news, social media, and the general public. Writing in a clear and comprehensive writing style, they show how the U.S. political, social, and economic environments make disinformation believable to large numbers of people and difficult to stop or prevent. The first seven chapters each focus on one contentious current issue: smear tactics, climate change, election security, war, public health, race relations, and impediments to the ability to govern. The eighth chapter provides feasible action plans for individuals and institutions to restrain (and maybe even eliminate) the increasingly pervasive techniques that destroy society's cohesion. VERDICT Librarians and educators will find this thorough and outstanding resource about misinformation highly useful for community activists and students.--Edwin Burgess

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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  • English

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