The Lies that Bind: Rethinking Identity
Brand: Liveright Publishing Corporation
Categories: Books, Politics & Social Sciences, Sociology



Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.3 inches
ISBN-13: 978-1631495977
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1631495976
Publisher: Liveright
Print length: 272 pages
Publication date: August 20, 2019
subtitle: Paperback – Illustrated, August 20, 2019
author: Visit Amazon's Kwame Anthony Appiah Page search results Kwame Anthony Appiah
review: Editorial Reviews Review "Appiah believes we’re in wars of identity because we keep making the same mistake: exaggerating our differences with others and our similarities with our own kind… [his] writing is often fresh, even beautiful… We need more thinkers as wise as Appiah." ― Anand Giridharadas, New York Times Book Review (Cover Review) "Excellent… Appiah hopes to inspire a rethinking of our restrictive and therefore divisive notions of who we are. But if that seems an impossible task, should the massive obstacles stop us from trying? [Appiah] brings to the task a number of insights and the mind of a realist… if the solution to the fracturing of our world remains elusive, this book at least helps us think clearly about the problem." ― Clifford Thompson, The Washington Post "Appiah makes the controversial and difficult subject of identity lucid, edifying, and even fun. When it comes to the humane values that allow us to live with one another, he may be our most penetrating―and entertaining―major philosopher." ― Atul Gawande, author of Being Mortal " The Lies that Bind is a small volume of mighty power. In his lucid prose, Appiah elegantly dismantles the humbug, dogma, pseudo-science and propaganda that have long dogged our attempts to discuss 'identity,' and offers in their place a practical and philosophical tool-kit, as subtly radical in its aims as it is humane in application. From the illusions of 19th century ideas of biological destiny, to the late-capitalist logic of our contemporary 'cultural appropriation' debates, this book will help a lot of people think with far more clarity about some of the thorniest issues of our times. An inspiring and essential read." ― Zadie Smith, author of Swing Time and Changing My Mind " The Lies That Bind ranges even more widely in time and space than [Francis Fukuyama's] Identity … The point of this entertaining, meandering journey is that identities are less solid than is frequently thought." ― The Economist "Through this meditative journey, Appiah calls on us to buckle down to the difficult task of living with complexity―that is, the task of being modern. Erudite, personal, timely and deeply humane, this is a book for our time." ― Arlie Russell Hochschild, author of Strangers in Their Own Land , a National Book Award finalist "Not only does that elegant writer and transcendent thinker, Anthony Appiah, clarify the historical gaslighting around color and racial stereotype, he also forges radical new theories of identity as they apply to almost every conceivable aspect of self. The Lies That Bind forces you to rethink what tribe you actually belong to with regard to race and religion, geography and gender, class and sexuality. Sheer genius and a joy to read." ― Mary Karr, author of The Art of Memoir "Kwame Anthony Appiah again demonstrates that he is one of our foremost writers on identity, culture, and difference. With his trademark clarity, elegance, and rigor, he is a most useful guide to thinking through some of the complicated problems of who we are and what we can be." ― Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Sympathizer "A provocative and brilliant intervention into the current discussion of the role identity plays in our society. We’re doing it all wrong, as Appiah demonstrates with characteristic erudition, clear thinking, and elegant prose." ― Annette Gordon-Reed, co-author of the bestselling “Most Blessed of the Patriarchs” "This wonderful book unravels a tapestry of suppositions about identity. Understanding what draws us together and what tears us apart lies at the core of democracy. This is a vital book, an antidote to violent nativism, and a key to success in the human experiment." ― Louise Erdrich, author of LaRose "The terrible power of bad ideas is best resisted, as The Lies That Bind shows, by subjecting them to serious critical scrutiny. Identities central to contemporary cultures can be both historically grounded and utterly misconceived. There is so much to learn from Anthony Appiah's splendid book." ― Amartya Sen, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics "Appiah―who could variously be described as biracial, Ghanaian British, an Asante, a Londoner, and a gay cis man―is perfectly positioned to explore the various meanings and missteps involved in charting human identity... His discussions of religion and nationality are particularly apt... Perhaps the most startling of Appiah’s claims is that cultural differences are a response to the need for a distinguishing identity. Herein lies the paradox of cultural identity: the human need to belong will always require an outsider group to reject." ― Booklist "[A] probing critique of identity politics... With deep learning and incisive reasoning, Appiah makes a forceful argument for building identity from individual aspirations rather than exclusionary dogmas." ― Publishers Weekly "A celebrated philosopher advocates for a theory of human identity that recognizes but transcends race, religion, nation, culture, and class… Appiah makes irrefutable points about the incoherence of narrowly defined identities and our collective delusions…The author has a penetrating grasp of the complexities of identity, and he wields history like a scalpel, extracting the cancerous myths, poisonous prejudices, and foolish antagonisms that divide us. A well-informed philosophical investigation into methods for breaking through 'walls that will not let in fresh and enlivening air." ― Kirkus Reviews About the Author Kwame Anthony Appiah pens the Ethicist column for the New York Times , and is the author of the prize-winning Cosmopolitanism , among many other works. A professor of philosophy and law at New York University, Appiah lives in New York.