Lying
by Sam Harris
September 23, 2020 [7:40 PM — 8:30 PM]
Los Angeles, CA
The book's aim and message to people can be summarized in two words: Stop Lying. Whatever type of lie it may be, whatever the reason or intention, it's always better to just say the truth. When we lie, we're only pushing back ourselves and adding weight to our luggage of keeping up with what we've lied about; making us vulnerable to getting hurt, paranoid about getting exposed/being revealed, and stalled in life because we can't progress in other aspects of life since we're monitoring the strength of our lies. Furthermore, it hurts others and puts them at risk as well; whether it’s putting them in or not pulling them out of a bad situation, having them miss potential opportunities, or even simply believing the wrong things (“fake news”), we are assaulting their autonomy and haunting our future. As the author states, “Lies are the socialism equivalent of toxic waste: Everyone is potentially harmed by their spread.
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Throughout the book, I thought of my sister, Tola, and me. Tola is the most honest person I know from USC, she’s bold and straightforward no matter what, even when she’s feeding you a tough pill to swallow. But that’s what everyone appreciates it in her, she’s going, to tell the truth, cause there’s no point in saying anything else. She’s never presented a white lie, faint praise, or any other form of lying. That’s why I ask her for an opinion, I know I’ll get the real answer which I can accept with happiness confidently or use to improve myself. It’s also why she and I get along, we’re both very transparent even if it’s brutal.
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I found the part where he discusses lying in attaining employment particularly interesting. It would seem here that because you are competing against a pool of liars that have a common goal of attaining the same job, you are forced to lie. Otherwise, you will lose your chance. This is an argument that the author agrees with, that the system is so corrupt that an honest person might find no way forward. But the poison lies in the culture of job hunting, which should be changed.