Vital Lies, Simple Truths: The Psychology of Self-Deception

I'm a professor and incorporate the teaching of emotional intelligence into all of my courses. This book is especially informative and takes a deeper educational dive into how human beings can sabotage their happiness and relationships with the self and others with instrusive false thinking. It has a great section on defense mechanisms, which is an update to the writings and research Anna Freud did in the 1940s (elaborating on her father's initial ideas about them). This is an excellent teaching tool for those who work with adolescents and young adults and are aware of the prevalence of social anxiety.

I read this book in 1985 when it was first published and I was trying to learn about self-deception. This book is an excellent review of Psychological research from Freud to modern time. It is well written and probably the one book to read to understand the shocking truth that our minds automatically hide information that would cause anxiety to our self-understanding. This is a key professional resource for counselling that lay readers can easily understand.

After reviewing some of the research and modern theory around narcissism, I was drawn to finding something of substance that explained more about grandiose thinking, or delusion. Luckily, the only decent looking book I found - Goleman's - turned out to be just as useful on the inside. Combining his information on the effects of pain, and how it dims awareness, was magical for me because of my experience with narcissists who also have alcohol and drug addictions.I like the way Goleman touches on perception (see also Dr. Bruce Lipton's The Biology of Belief), self-esteem, projection, rationalisation, sublimation etc. On a collective level it becomes quite challenging when viewing the mirage realism or deception that some multi-national corporate and government leaders create. Perhaps a book who's subject matter is more applicable to world affairs than most of us realise.Personally I would have liked more information about the links between the psychic numbing of awareness and the addiction to materialism as an opiate, but other than that I highly recommend it. It dovetails nicely into the findings from quantum science which shows its our consciousness which creates the filters through which we transform our reality.At times I did find the reading tough going and would not recommend this for those people who might be embarking on a first tour of duty of psychological modelling.Regards,Daniel John Hancock

Even if some will surely see the conclusion as a cop out, VL,ST is more than a merely worthwhile read. Written three decades ago, Goleman did not anticipate the issues we face now as the result of the accelerated pace of change with which we are confronted at every turn. Kant critiqued pure reason almost 300 years ago, but save for legions of frustrated college philosophy and critical thinking profs, no one really paid attention. And now it's getting very close to being too late to move to existentialist empiricism and make a meaningful difference. Goleman may not quite yet have known The Way Out in 1984. But he'd steeped himself sufficiently in Eastern thought to write his remarkable synopsis of it in The Meditative Mind: The Varieties of Meditative Experience four years later. In subsequent decades, a new wave of thought reformers including Jon Kabat-Zinn, Marsha Linehan, Stephen Hayes, Mark Williams and Stanley Block laid out a fine collection of techniques under the general rubric of mindfulness. And since then, Peter Levine, Bessel van der Kolk and Patricia Ogden have upped the ante quite a bit further. One can in fact make it through the minefield of Freud's and Valliant's disquieting defense mechanisms and even Wilson's, Millon's and Stone's "defects of character." Google the 10 StEPs of Emotion Processing to look over just one example among many one can try on for size. But don't read this book late at night all by yourself until you have some tools in your belt.

Wow, What an Eye opener!For me the most astonishing revelation from this book SO FAR is the answer to Why did I say something and thena little bit later wonder why I just said that when what I said is not how if feel...(not how I feel right not anyway!)I really appreciate all of his books (I have most of them now) and feel that his book have answered many questions I havehad for a very long time.FOR THE MOST PART HIS BOOKS ARE ABOUT NORMAL PSYCHOLOGY Which I have been looking for all of my life.All of his books give us insight and positive ways to improve what we want to do.(in contrast to Psychology which uses what I call derogatory words like neurotic,)Have a Great Life I also recommend :'Lens Neurofeedback" by Stephen Larsen. Explains that just a 15 mph auto accident (and sports accidents and head injuries of any kind, falls, abuse: physical and emotional) can knock our brain off of its frequency.Shows color brain scans and lots of case histories and information on choosing a practitioner. clearer thinking after my first session and after second session ALL Fibromyalgia Pain GONE. Pain has gone for several months and does not return unless I eat foods that trigger the pain... I also recommend the Book 'Diet Wise' by Dr. Mumby to help with the food/pain connection of food related symptoms I had not even related to food before reading this book.

It is very "clinical" in the beginning so I can understand that some reviewers had some difficulty reading it. I would not recommend this book to be the first one about psychology or self help that a person reads because it could seem overwhelming and complicated. To me, however, it was fascinating and fantastically written. In fact, one of the best books on psychology I have ever read.

Put this book on your shelf next to M. Scott Peck's "People of the Lie". If you want to understand what motivates people to deny the truth to themselves and others, this book is essential. Goes with Goleman's book on emotional intelligence. Excellent and easy reading.

Very good read

This book is heavy! I think it might be meant for someone who already has a good understanding of the psychology of how the mind works. I haven't yet finished it because I got a little bogged down. I'll try again and maybe proceed a little slower and try underlining as I go.

I wish that I had read this before I left my business after getting totally exasperated by the behaviour of my colleagues. I now understand. Can I have my old job back please?

As I started this book,which is really divided into two main parts - self and collective deceptions - I was most excited about its psychological delving into illusion, and how self-deception takes a hold of our personal lives. In fact, another reviewer here gave the book a lower star rating, which I took issue with, and was wired up to prove wrong. But, then as the book unfolded, especially as it switched from the psychological to the sociological, I felt the same, that the material was nothing I would not have encountered through other media outlets, especially in the age we are living today - almost 25 years after the book was first written - which is far more informationally savy, and heavily laden in consipiracy and cynicism. However, where this book really excels, is in the first half, in its revisiting of the roots of Psychoanalysis. Freud is not as fashionable as Jung today I would argue, but I became fascinated by Goleman's retake on Freuds early theories of the mind from the perspective of his thesis. I also feel it is far harder to be honest with your own self-deceptions - which cost more personally and financially too in terms of psychoanalysis - than to look at sociological group comfort zones, however interesting nonetheless!! This is where the book excels. Thanks Dan.

Interesting read.Making me realize that basic psychology never changes!All politicians should read it.Before they become members of parliament.Part of their initiation.