True to Life

By Michael P. Lynch,

Book cover of True to Life: Why Truth Matters

Book description

Why truth is important in our everyday lives.

Why does truth matter when politicians so easily sidestep it and intellectuals scorn it as irrelevant? Why be concerned over an abstract idea like truth when something that isn't true—for example, a report of Iraq's attempting to buy materials for nuclear weapons—gets…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked True to Life as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I recommend this book because the author, a professor of philosophy, presents a remarkably compelling, highly readable defense of the value of truth without descending into dogmatism. I was most impressed by the systematic, jargon-free way that Lynch addresses common arguments that are used to undermine the pursuit of truth, including extreme cynicism and extreme relativism.

One of my favorite statements is, “Absolute certainty is impractical and probably impossible. But as I’ve argued, this doesn’t have anything to do with the truth. We can acknowledge the frailty of the human condition and still go on pursuing truth.”

Unlike a lot…

Want books like True to Life?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like True to Life.

Browse books like True to Life

Book cover of The Data Detective: Ten Easy Rules to Make Sense of Statistics
Book cover of On Bullshit
Book cover of The Gutenberg Galaxy: The Making of Topographic Man

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,187

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in Iraq, truth, and philosophy?

Iraq 98 books
Truth 19 books
Philosophy 1,771 books