How our desire to stamp out hypocrisy is backfiring—and how learning to target our criticisms
better can improve our politics business and personal relationships. In our increasingly
distrusting and polarized nations accusations of hypocrisy are everywhere. But the strange
truth is that our attempts to stamp out hypocrisy often backfire creating what Michael
Hallsworth calls The Hypocrisy Trap . In this groundbreaking book he shows how our relentless
drive to expose inconsistency between words and deeds can actually breed more hypocrisy or
worse cynicism that corrodes democracy itself. Through engaging stories and original research
Hallsworth shows that not all hypocrisy is equal. While some forms genuinely destroy trust and
create harm others reflect the inevitable compromises of human nature and complex societies.
The Hypocrisy Trap offers practical solutions: ways to increase our own consistency navigate
accusations wisely and change how we judge others’ actions. Hallsworth shows vividly that we
can improve our politics businesses and personal relationships if we rethink hypocrisy—soon.
