Beyond the Big Lie

The Epidemic of Political Liars, Why Republicans Do it More, and How It Could Burn Down Our Democracy

By: Bill Adair

Narrated by: Jacques Roy

Pulitzer Prize winner, journalism professor, and founder of PolitiFact Bill Adair, presents an “informed, urgent, and alarming” (Brian Stelter, New York Times bestselling author) history of political deception and how to stop it once and for all.

Bill Adair knows a lie when he hears one. Since 2008, the site he founded, PolitiFact, has been the go-to spot for anyone seeking the truth in an increasingly deceitful world. Since the site’s launch, politics’ tenuous relationship with the truth has only gotten weaker—and weirder.

In this groundbreaking and “valuable book” (Tom Rosenstiel, coauthor of The Elements of Journalism), Adair reveals how politicians lie and why. Based on dozens of candid interviews with politicians, political operatives, and experts in misinformation, Adair reveals the patterns of lying, why Republicans do it more, and the consequences for our democracy. He goes behind the scenes to describe several episodes that reveal the motivations and tactics of the nation’s political liars, show the impact they have on people’s lives, and demonstrate how the problem began before Donald Trump and will continue after he’s gone.

With wry humor and insight, this remarkable book unpacks the sad state of American politics, but also, provides solutions to put an end to political deceit once and for all.

Beyond the Big Lie

"Beyond the Big Lie" by Bill Adair comments on the challenges that truth-tellers face in today's polarized media landscape, where political lying has become more strategic and widespread, and unscrupulous news media and politicians destroy the lives of honest people for political and financial gain. The numbers show that Democrats lie, but Republicans lie more—a lot more. It is an essential read for those concerned about the integrity of information and the future of democratic systems​. This book also focuses on how fact-checking can help curb this misinformation, though Adair indicates that the problem will not yield to an easy solution.
The audio by Jacques Roy was well done

Political lies and Liars

The book exposes past instances of political lying that impacted our country, discusses political motivations and what can be done to protect the political discourse from the effects of the lies we are told

Good use of story telling.

Author uses good story telling to outline his points. Easy to listen to, the book draws you through its chapters. Highly recommended!

Oops

Probably would have been a good story but the reader was extremely boring. Monotone. Have heard many other books with good to excellent readers.

Critical thinking?

I am listening. I want to hear both sides of the story. “Based on research…” Republicans are evil liars… and Democrats are? We are left thinking there is only one side to this story. If you are looking for the truth about “misinformation,” you may have just found it. Everyone is hurt by lying.