A natural history of cheating from selfish genes to lying politicians Nature is rife with cheating. Possums play possum, feigning death to cheat predators. Crows cry wolf to scare off rivals. Amphibians and reptiles are inveterate impostors. Even genes and cells cheat. The Liars of Nature and the Nature of Liars explores the evolution of cheating in the natural world, revealing how dishonesty has given rise to wondrous diversity. Blending cutting-edge science with a wealth of illuminating examples—from microscopic organisms to highly intelligent birds and mammals—Lixing Sun shows how cheating in nature relies on two basic rules. One is lying, by which cheaters exploit honest messages in communication signals and use them to serve their own interests. The other is deceiving, by which cheaters exploit the biases and loopholes in the sensory systems of other creatures. Sun demonstrates that cheating serves as a potent catalyst in the evolutionary arms race between the cheating and the cheated, resulting in a biological world teeming with complexity and beauty. Brimming with insight and humor, The Liars of Nature and the Nature of Liars also looks at the prevalence of cheating in human society, identifying the kinds of cheating that spur innovation and cultural vitality and laying down a blueprint for combatting malicious cheating such as fake news and disinformation.

Cuckoos lay eggs carefully matched to their host's own clutch.

Lying is an intrinsic part of our social fabric, but it is also a deeply problematic and misunderstood aspect of what makes us human. Ian Leslie takes us on a fascinating journey that makes us question not only our own relationship to the truth, but also virtually every daily encounter we have. On the way he dissects the history of the lie detector, how parents affect their children’s attitude to lying (and vice versa), Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, the philosophical ambiguity of telling the truth, Bill Clinton’s presentational prowess, Wonder Woman’s lasso of truth, and why we should be wary of anyone with more than 150 Facebook friends. Born Liars is thought-provoking, anecdotally driven narrative nonfiction at its best. Ian Leslie’s intoxicating blend of anthropology, biology, cultural history, philosophy, and popular psychology belies a serious central message: that humans have evolved and thrived in large part because of their ability to deceive.

Combining research from the social sciences, hard sciences, and the humanities, this accessible cross-disciplinary book offers fascinating insights into a key component of human nature and society. What do the Arab Spring, the Robin Hood legend, Occupy Wall Street, and the American taxpayer reaction to the $182 billion bailout of AIG have in common? All are rooted in a deeply ingrained sense of fairness. But where does this universal instinct come from? This is the driving question at the heart of L. Sun's The Fairness Instinct. Thinkers from Aristotle to Kant, from Augustine to John Rawls, and religions from Christianity to Confucianism, have offered great insight into the nature and origins of this basic human desire for fairness. Based on the most recent scientific discoveries in behavioral genetics, neuroscience, psychology, anthropology, economics, and evolution, Sun argues that the origins of the fairness instinct cannot be found exclusively in the philosophical, social, and political perspectives to which we so often turn; rather, they can be traced to something much deeper in our biological makeup. Taking as his starting point Frans De Waal's seminal study showing that Capuchin monkeys revolt when they are shortchanged by receiving a less valuable reward than their peers receive for the same task, Sun synthesizes a wide range of research to explore the biological roots of the fairness instinct. He shows that fairness is much more than a moral value or ideological construct; fairness is in our DNA. Combining scientific rigor with accessible and reader-friendly language to relate fascinating stories of animal and human behavior, The Fairness Instinct lays out an evolutionary roadmap for how fairness emerges and thrives under natural selection and how two powerful engines--social living and social hierarchy--have fueled the evolution of this intricate and potent instinct in all of us. Probing into the motives that underlie such phenomena as envy, consumerism, anti-intellectualism, revenge, revolution, terrorism, marriage, democracy, and religion, Sun showcases the power of the fairness instinct to make our history, shape our society, and rule our social lives.

A theological analysis of how to overcome deception.

For a man who claims to have no talent, God has surely shed light on his literary ability to bring a delight to the hearts of many. I have known Carlos Correa for many years and have always believed that his wisdom was a hidden jewel waiting to be unearthed. He has a lot to offer to the people of God. To know Carlos is to know that he is a man who delights himself in the Lord. And through that delight, God has blessed him with a glorious talent—a talent that glorifies God with poetry writings that I refer to as spiritual songs. His spiritual songs bless my heart while at the same time glorify God. His spiritual songs make a good addition to my morning devotion. I am confident that the Word of God dwells in this servant “richly” in all wisdom. This book is an excellent addition to my collection of literature that allows me to “delight” myself in the Lord. Anthony E Jenkins, NMT, MD Professor of Anatomy and Physiology This wonderful collection of poems is a compilation of years’ worth of prayer and meditation. The sweet fruit of a surrendered life is provided for all readers to enjoy. With rhythm and rhyme, Carlos harmonizes deep devotion to God with lyrical poetry. The Holy Spirit becomes accessible to the layman, and the reader’s mind is ushered into the realm of the divine. Emanuel Favela, MD University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine Carlos Correa’s A Layman’s Heart powerfully demonstrates how “ordinary” human beings can seek, find, and touch God’s heart through rhyme. Taking Scripture as the inspiration, Correa uses the Holy Spirit as the vehicle to carry the “ordinary” reader on a deeper, more intimate journey. These poems are modern-day Psalms and should be read aloud with rhythm and drama for full effect. As you read, you will find that you are praying and speaking bite-sized chunks of spiritual truth in each stanza. Importantly, A Layman’s Heart gives us both example and system for studying the Word of God and making it personal. Thank you, Brother Carlos, for helping God’s people grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. Mary Adams Trujillo A Layman’s Heart: Conversations with God—this inclusive 366 days of devotion is a must for anyone’s collection of books. Carlos welcomes believers, backsliders, poetry lovers, and everyone else, with the hope to embrace people to the love of God. Every devotion is Carlos’s intimate conversations with God, and he sincerely aspires for all of us to be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit through these every day. His conversations with God contain compilations of acknowledgement of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Formatted clear and easy to read—you will not want to just keep it for a daily reading. Nonetheless, continue reading and be blessed by each and every conversation. Dr. Lillian Hau-Degand Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, Illinois