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cubanpete's review
I found it informative overall, and it did make me rethink how and when I argue. Although I probably wouldn't read it again. The author is a conservative - a rather sane conservative, but still a conservative and while it was a good idea to expose myself to different points of view, there were definitely moments of UGH, SERIOUSLY. My greatest issue with this book is that it seems to write off the post-truth society to a philosophical shift in thinking, the advance of technology and an erosion of trust. Can we dig deeper in that erosion of trust? Or perhaps look at the economical factors? Happy people don't tend to lean to extremes.
_eleanorblackman1's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
2.75
Really liked the size + layout of the book but would’ve found it more interesting if he actually defined truth and talked about that a bit more
bookhemianrhapsody's review
4.0
This book is both eye-opening and slightly terrifying. Matthew d'Ancona brings to the forefront the issue of post-truth and explains it in such a way that makes it impossible to ignore. We live in the post-truth era. Read this book and find out why.
In 2016 the Oxford English Dictionary picked Post-Truth as its word of the year, which is defined as 'circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief'.
In the same week as this book was published two other books were published, both of them were also entitled 'Post-Truth'. One of them was by an author called Evan Davis and the other was by an author called James Ball. It seems like more than a coincidence that three books with the same subject focus would be published in exactly the same week. If anything it shows just how prevalent this idea of 'post-truth' is in our world today. Matthew d'Ancona, unlike the other authors, puts the very specific date of 2016 on the start of this phenomenon of Post-Truth arguing that it "was the year that definitively launched the era of ‘Post-Truth"
One of the things that I loved about this book is that Matthew doesn't just give the reader a definition and explanation of what 'post-truth' is, he sets out from the very beginning past and current events that can be seen to be a result of this feeling of 'post-truth' such as the Brexit vote and Donald Trump's presidential race and election.
d'Ancona argues that this post-truth era that we are now living in has come about, fundamentally, because of a lack of trust in traditional institutions. The 'people don't vote because they actually believe the politicians can fulfil what they promise. All politicians lie anyway' idea. This feeling, d'Ancona argues, has come from failing after failing. From the economic collapse in 2008, to the political expenses scandal in 2009 and so on (and that is only in Britain). Living in a world of complete uncertainty has meant that the value of truth has dropped to rock-bottom prices.
On top of these failings the explosion of the digital age has accentuated this lack of trust and has aggravated the idea of 'post-truth'. Fake news, statistics with no basis, empty promises. All of these are symptoms of the post-truth world that we live in and have come to hold more value than the truth that is hidden behind them. d'Ancona sums this up very well when he says "it is a common error to confuse data with truth: the former informs the latter, but they are not the same thing". People put more trust in data (which is often inaccurate or missing vital pieces of information) rather than in the truth itself. It is easier to ridicule someone to destroy their reputation than it is to genuinely bury them with the truth.
Ultimately this book is more of a diagnosis of the problem, an eye-opener for the people, rather than a finger pointer at who is to blame, because the fact is that no one person is to blame for this era that we are moving into. A combination of ingredients has led to this shift in outlook that the world is seeing today. What d'Ancona does call for is action from the people to recognise that the final straw that will lead to complete acceptance of this idea of post-truth (if it hasn't already taken place) is for the people to blindly accept everything that is put in front of them, whether they are lies, truth or something in between. The only solution is to seek truth amongst everything we are bombarded with on a daily basis. Of course there is an argument that a few post-modernists have presented. If a lie is told enough times, eventually it becomes the truth. Just something to think about.
In 2016 the Oxford English Dictionary picked Post-Truth as its word of the year, which is defined as 'circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief'.
In the same week as this book was published two other books were published, both of them were also entitled 'Post-Truth'. One of them was by an author called Evan Davis and the other was by an author called James Ball. It seems like more than a coincidence that three books with the same subject focus would be published in exactly the same week. If anything it shows just how prevalent this idea of 'post-truth' is in our world today. Matthew d'Ancona, unlike the other authors, puts the very specific date of 2016 on the start of this phenomenon of Post-Truth arguing that it "was the year that definitively launched the era of ‘Post-Truth"
One of the things that I loved about this book is that Matthew doesn't just give the reader a definition and explanation of what 'post-truth' is, he sets out from the very beginning past and current events that can be seen to be a result of this feeling of 'post-truth' such as the Brexit vote and Donald Trump's presidential race and election.
d'Ancona argues that this post-truth era that we are now living in has come about, fundamentally, because of a lack of trust in traditional institutions. The 'people don't vote because they actually believe the politicians can fulfil what they promise. All politicians lie anyway' idea. This feeling, d'Ancona argues, has come from failing after failing. From the economic collapse in 2008, to the political expenses scandal in 2009 and so on (and that is only in Britain). Living in a world of complete uncertainty has meant that the value of truth has dropped to rock-bottom prices.
On top of these failings the explosion of the digital age has accentuated this lack of trust and has aggravated the idea of 'post-truth'. Fake news, statistics with no basis, empty promises. All of these are symptoms of the post-truth world that we live in and have come to hold more value than the truth that is hidden behind them. d'Ancona sums this up very well when he says "it is a common error to confuse data with truth: the former informs the latter, but they are not the same thing". People put more trust in data (which is often inaccurate or missing vital pieces of information) rather than in the truth itself. It is easier to ridicule someone to destroy their reputation than it is to genuinely bury them with the truth.
Ultimately this book is more of a diagnosis of the problem, an eye-opener for the people, rather than a finger pointer at who is to blame, because the fact is that no one person is to blame for this era that we are moving into. A combination of ingredients has led to this shift in outlook that the world is seeing today. What d'Ancona does call for is action from the people to recognise that the final straw that will lead to complete acceptance of this idea of post-truth (if it hasn't already taken place) is for the people to blindly accept everything that is put in front of them, whether they are lies, truth or something in between. The only solution is to seek truth amongst everything we are bombarded with on a daily basis. Of course there is an argument that a few post-modernists have presented. If a lie is told enough times, eventually it becomes the truth. Just something to think about.