The Folly of Fools cover art

The Folly of Fools

The Logic of Deceit and Self-Deception in Human Life

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options

The Folly of Fools

By: Robert Trivers
Narrated by: Chris Reilly
Try for £0.00

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £18.32

Buy Now for £18.32

About this listen

Whether it's in a cockpit at takeoff or the planning of an offensive war, a romantic relationship or a dispute at the office, there are many opportunities to lie and self-deceive - but deceit and self-deception carry the costs of being alienated from reality and can lead to disaster. So why does deception play such a prominent role in our everyday lives? In short, why do we deceive?

In his bold new work, prominent biological theorist Robert Trivers unflinchingly argues that self-deception evolved in the service of deceit - the better to fool others. We do it for biological reasons - in order to help us survive and procreate. From viruses mimicking host behavior to humans misremembering (sometimes intentionally) the details of a quarrel, science has proven that the deceptive one can always outwit the masses. But we undertake this deception at our own peril.

The Folly of Fools is an ambitious investigation into the evolutionary logic of lying and the costs of leaving it unchecked.

©2011 Robert Trivers (P)2022 Tantor Biological Sciences Biology Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Science
All stars
Most relevant
The first third is a mediocre popular science book. Everything is illustrated by uncomfortable anecdotes of the author womanising, taking drugs, and chasing young women. There's also too much speculation and lots of questions are left unanswered. Nonetheless, it's a passable overview.

The remaining two thirds are a political rant. And I mean rant: there's no engagement with opposing views - just the author's opinions. The book spent more time on Israel than self-deception. None of it gives insight into the book's main topic. Nor does this framework illuminate the political issues; it's only a slight improvement on name-calling.

The reader is clear and has a good voice. However, the performance is too calm and sedate - could use more energy.

If you want a book on this topic, I recommend Simler & Hanson's Elephant in the Brain. I enjoyed that and was hoping for more detail from Folly of Fools. Sadly I was disappointed.

An Awful Political Rant

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The text is mildly interesting but the reader would be better suited to bedtime stories as he is so soporific one feels one might slip into a coma at any moment. So bad I had to abandon it.

Good for a snooze

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.