May Contain Lies audiobook cover - How Stories, Stats, and Studies Exploit Our Biases

May Contain Lies

How Stories, Stats, and Studies Exploit Our Biases

Alex Edmans

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Society & CultureEducationPsychology

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May Contain Lies
The Core Problem+
The Twin Biases+
Information Pitfalls+
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Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 6
According to the text, how does 'blinkered skepticism' manifest as a form of confirmation bias?
  • A. By causing individuals to unquestioningly embrace information that aligns with their existing beliefs.
  • B. By leading people to rigorously contest or reject information that contradicts their personal views.
  • C. By simplifying complex, nuanced issues into absolute, easily digestible categories.
  • D. By prompting individuals to seek out systematic reviews rather than relying on single studies.
Question 2 of 6
What counterintuitive effect does gaining more knowledge often have on an individual's confirmation bias?
  • A. It equips them with the tools needed for motivated reasoning, making them better at dismissing contradictory evidence.
  • B. It automatically reduces the brain's dopamine response when encountering agreeable information.
  • C. It makes them naturally more inclined to seek out and accept opposing viewpoints without conscious effort.
  • D. It eliminates the evolutionary tendency toward black-and-white thinking by highlighting nuanced data.
Question 3 of 6
Why was the cognitive shortcut of 'black-and-white thinking' advantageous in historical contexts?
  • A. It allowed early humans to carefully weigh the pros and cons of complex social interactions.
  • B. It facilitated quick, decisive action which was necessary for survival.
  • C. It helped societies develop early forms of the scientific method and peer review.
  • D. It prevented the amygdala from releasing too much dopamine during stressful situations.
Question 4 of 6
When evaluating evidence, why is it dangerous to equate evidence directly with universal 'proof'?
  • A. Because evidence is usually based entirely on correlation rather than causation.
  • B. Because peer-reviewed evidence is often fabricated to support a specific political agenda.
  • C. Because the external validity of evidence is often limited to the specific conditions under which it was gathered.
  • D. Because proof requires a dopamine response in the amygdala to be considered valid by the human brain.
Question 5 of 6
While peer review is a critical checkpoint for scholarly research, the author notes that it is not foolproof. What is recommended to provide a more robust foundation for understanding?
  • A. Relying exclusively on non-peer-reviewed materials that have been vetted by reputable journalists.
  • B. Seeking out systematic reviews or meta-analyses that reflect broader scientific consensus.
  • C. Conducting independent primary research to verify the raw data of every study.
  • D. Assuming that any peer-reviewed study contains at least some level of intentional misrepresentation.
Question 6 of 6
According to the text, what responsibility do individuals hold when sharing studies or information with others?
  • A. They must ensure the information is sensational enough to capture the audience's attention.
  • B. They should only share information that aligns with their personal or political beliefs.
  • C. They must carefully vet the information, recognizing that sharing it acts as an endorsement of its analysis.
  • D. They should share as much data as possible quickly, allowing the public to determine what is true.

May Contain Lies — Full Chapter Overview

May Contain Lies Summary & Overview

May Contain Lies (2024) explores the intricate world of misinformation and its pervasive impact on society, media, and personal decision-making. It delves into the psychological underpinnings that make us susceptible to deception, and examines how falsehoods spread and the long-term consequences for public trust and individual behavior, then offers several strategies readers can adopt to improve critical thinking and discernment. 

Who Should Listen to May Contain Lies?

  • Anyone consuming news and social media 
  • Individuals wanting to make evidence-based decisions 
  • Policymakers and government officials

About the Author: Alex Edmans

Alex Edmans is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, professor at London Business School, and the 2021 recipient of Poets and Quants’ MBA Professor of the Year award. Edmans is a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, and the Financial Times; his first book, Grow the Pie, appeared on FT’s Book of the Year list for 2020. 

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