Anatomy of a Lie: The Truth about Lies and Why Good People Tell Them

by Diane M. Komp

Book Overview

Anatomy of a Lie offers a riveting, close-up look at lying, the moral epidemic that affects our faith, our marriages, our children, our relationships, our careers, and every aspect of our lives. With... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0310219531
• ISBN13: 9780310219538
• Release Date: October 1998
• Publisher: Zondervan Publishing Company
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Not What I Expected, Still Excellent

I expected this book to take a cold, brutal look at lies, the different kinds, and why we tell them. However the book no where near met my expectation. But the odd part was, it was still excellent.In each chapter, the author presents a quote, then a Biblical quote, and then a story where someone lied, and gently exposes why they might have lied and the outcomes. Almost like mini-sermons. Then at the end of the chapter there are some questions for self reflection.Repeated encounters with different kinds of lies, different reasons, and different outcomes you start to strongly rethink your own attitude towards lying. I can definately see why this book has been so well received.While there exists Christian references and overtones, the non-Christian will get a few mind-bending surprises about their own views of situational ethics. Things really are more black and white then they are grey.

The mind engaged to examine the soul.

This is a risky read - even for those who engage conscientiously with the tensions of truth seeking and telling... but especially those who believe they are consistently honest with themselves. Without becoming "preachy", and with more kindness than criticism (except of herself, through which we get self-revelatory shocks), the author couples intellect and soul and gently compels the reader to examine the numerous sub-species of lies and "managed" truths that reside often unrecognized beneath each persona: the lies of convenience, even of "necessity", the casual misleading, the merciful lie, the harmless lie, the repetition of gossip as lying, and much more.This little book is both timely and timeless. It is required reading for all politicans, journalist, lawyers (which I am), many of the clergy, and all who are sometimes among the "factually disadvataged" (euphemism, Dr. Komp would say, is but another specie of lie). And that is all of us, for we must all struggle with that human failing from which NONE are exempt. If I have any criticism of the book it must be leveled, not at the author, but at the editors whom I suspect of over-redacting the voluminous material Dr. Komp doubtless assembled, given her meathod of research for this project. Therefore, we shall hope for a sequel.

A challenging, thought-provoking book

Dr. Komp has written a thoughtful and challenging book that forced me to honestly confront my own truthfulness -- or lack thereof. I highly recommend this book as a work to be read slowly, carefully, thoroughly, and with a bit of courage.

An Honest Look at Lies that Inspires Truth-Telling

To tell us the truth, Dr. Diane Komp searches her soul to find out why she does not. At least not always. Her most recent book, "Anatomy of a Lie," could not have come to print at a better time. To tell you the truth, I felt compelled to read it--not just because of its pertinence to the daily news. There was a reason closer to home. I wanted to glean something from it to share with my son. I had just caught him in a bald-faced lie to his teacher. I wish I could say that was my principal use for the book: to impress upon him the danger of lying and the value of truth-telling. (Have you ever noticed how kids will believe the doctor when they won't give their parents the time of day?) But I can't say that. After I finished it (in one evening--no lie) I realized the greatest benefit from reading it was not to nurture or nag my son with the danger of lies; but rather to digest its truth for myself. Lying is not a bug caught by the youngest, the least experienced, the worst or the most evil around us. It is as pervasive and common as the cold. And I found that I had been sneezing myself lately. People ask themselves if it is not better to lie or at least "stretch the truth" in order to protect those they care most about. In fact, I recently read a newspaper article entitled, "The Truth About Lies" that extolled the virtues of lying, especially when it means helping your friends. While the Dr. Komp does ask that question, you will not get a pat on the back from her for your white lies. But neither will you get a slap on the wrist. Her approach is not the least bit moralistic or preachy, accusatory or judgmental. Perhaps that is the very reason the reader has permission to examine his or her own life. If all people, even good people who value truth-telling, tell lies, then I too can admit to myself, in all truth, that I tell lies. Herein comes the inspiration to change. Okay, I tell lies. But I don't have to settle for that. There is another way. Dr. Komp shares stories from her own life, from Christian heroes, and from ordinary teenagers to inspire readers to examine the anatomy of a lie so that they will be able to choose the health and freedom of the truth.

A thinking person's book

Lying is much in the news today.But Dr. Diane M. Komp's book "(Anatomy of a Lie)":the truth about lies and why good people tell them, is not a hurry up, get on the band-wagon book. Instead it is a carefully researched and well written treatise on a sin that touches all of us. Komp spent a year writing this book and in it she tells how we --the average "good" people in society sometimes use prevarication as a way of life. Dr. Komp covers such things as "little white lies, fudging the truth and lies of necessity", all the things we as Christians abhor but have used as oil to grease the gears of society's intercourse. I started reading this book with an inflated sense of my own worthiness. (After all, I am a Christian and a TRUTH TELLER). Before I was half way through it I told a lie. Not a major one...just a little, white greasy one. The realization with which it came tripping off my tongue appalled me. This isn't a feel good, fuzzy book. "Anatomy" dissects our lies, examines them but best of all tells us how to eliminate them. It tends to get under our skin and itch yet Komp manages with warmth and humor to make us want to be better people. She does it with definition, inspection and questions at the end of each chapter for us to answer with honesty. "Anatomy" would be a terrific study for any book club or discussion group. It is easily read but not easily dismissed.