For those of us who might believe that we are living in a unique period of history where the emergence of fake news and alternative truths is confounding political and public life, this outstanding volume sheds light on the common use of misinformation across the history of the United States. The authors tell us the story of how lies, fake facts, misinformation, myth-making, and conspiracies have affected American public discourse, political life, business and science policy. They take the reader on a fascinating journey through eight carefully chosen case studies of events from our countries political, business, and science policy history. These events include the election and assassination of presidents, U.S. participation in wars, the long-lasting popularity of patent medicines, the use of misleading science in defense of the tobacco industry, and the politics of climate change. With these case studies we learn how information has been used and misused. The authors reveal how we experience truth, certainty and knowledge and where this is undermined by untruth, uncertainty and ignorance.

Through these historical accounts the reader will learn that facts and lies are socially constructed; that information has been weaponized by individuals and organizations to achieve their goals; that facts have been linguistically reconstructed through exaggerations, misrepresentations, conspiracies, and myth-making to create and disseminate fake facts; that support for participation in the Spanish-American War was generated by fake facts published in the media; that the public relations industry has convinced us of alternative versions of truth; that rumors evolve to become facts; and how the current debate over the scientific evidence of climate change has developed, and where this might lead us in the common interest of preserving our planet. I highly recommend this superbly written and researched book. It makes a very important contribution to our understanding of the nature of information, and the role it plays in our daily lives, and a strong argument for the conscientious development of high-level information, technology, and data literacy skills for all people as a necessary foundation for engaged civic life. and knowledge and where this is undermined by untruth, uncertainty and ignorance. Through these historical accounts the reader will learn that facts and lies are socially constructed; that information has been weaponized by individuals and organizations to achieve their goals; that facts have been linguistically reconstructed through exaggerations, misrepresentations, conspiracies, and myth-making to create and disseminate fake facts; that support for participation in the Spanish-American War was generated by fake facts published in the media; that the public relations industry has convinced us of alternative versions of truth; that rumors evolve to become facts; and how the current debate over the scientific evidence of climate change has developed, and where this might lead us in the common interest of preserving our planet. I highly recommend this superbly written and researched book. It makes a very important contribution to our understanding of the nature of information, and the role it plays in our daily lives, and a strong argument for the conscientious development of high-level information, technology, and data literacy skills for all people as a necessary foundation for engaged civic life.ly lives, and a strong argument for the conscientious development of high-level information, technology, and data literacy skills for all people as a necessary foundation for engaged civic life.

and knowledge and where this is undermined by untruth, uncertainty and ignorance. Through these historical accounts the reader will learn that facts and lies are socially constructed; that information has been weaponized by individuals and organizations to achieve their goals; that facts have been linguistically reconstructed through exaggerations, misrepresentations, conspiracies, and myth-making to create and disseminate fake facts; that support for participation in the Spanish-American War was generated by fake facts published in the media; that the public relations industry has convinced us of alternative versions of truth; that rumors evolve to become facts; and how the current debate over the scientific evidence of climate change has developed, and where this might lead us in the common interest of preserving our planet. I highly recommend this superbly written and researched book. It makes a very important contribution to our understanding of the nature of information, and the role it plays in our daily lives, and a strong argument for the conscientious development of high-level information, technology, and data literacy skills for all people as a necessary foundation for engaged civic life. and knowledge and where this is undermined by untruth, uncertainty and ignorance. Through these historical accounts the reader will learn that facts and lies are socially constructed; that information has been weaponized by individuals and organizations to achieve their goals; that facts have been linguistically reconstructed through exaggerations, misrepresentations, conspiracies, and myth-making to create and disseminate fake facts; that support for participation in the Spanish-American War was generated by fake facts published in the media; that the public relations industry has convinced us of alternative versions of truth; that rumors evolve to become facts; and how the current debate over the scientific evidence of climate change has developed, and where this might lead us in the common interest of preserving our planet. I highly recommend this superbly written and researched book. It makes a very important contribution to our understanding of the nature of information, and the role it plays in our daily lives, and a strong argument for the conscientious development of high-level information, technology, and data literacy skills for all people as a necessary foundation for engaged civic life.

ly lives, and a strong argument for the conscientious development of high-level information, technology, and data literacy skills for all people as a necessary foundation for engaged civic life.ly lives, and a strong argument for the conscientious development of high-level information, technology, and data literacy skills for all people as a necessary foundation for engaged civic life. and knowledge and where this is undermined by untruth, uncertainty and ignorance. Through these historical accounts the reader will learn that facts and lies are socially constructed; that information has been weaponized by individuals and organizations to achieve their goals; that facts have been linguistically reconstructed through exaggerations, misrepresentations, conspiracies, and myth-making to create and disseminate fake facts; that support for participation in the Spanish-American War was generated by fake facts published in the media; that the public relations industry has convinced us of alternative versions of truth; that rumors evolve to become facts; and how the current debate over the scientific evidence of climate change has developed, and where this might lead us in the common interest of preserving our planet. I highly recommend this superbly written and researched book. It makes a very important contribution to our understanding of the nature of information, and the role it plays in our daily lives, and a strong argument for the conscientious development of high-level information, technology, and data literacy skills for all people as a necessary foundation for engaged civic life.ly lives, and a strong argument for the conscientious development of high-level information, technology, and data literacy skills for all people as a necessary foundation for engaged civic life.r planet.

I highly recommend this superbly written and researched book. It makes a very important contribution to our understanding of the nature of information, and the role it plays in our daily lives, and a strong argument for the conscientious development of high-level information, technology, and data literacy skills for all people as a necessary foundation for engaged civic life.ly lives, and a strong argument for the conscientious development of high-level information, technology, and data literacy skills for all people as a necessary foundation for engaged civic life.