The Truth about Trust: How It Determines Success in Life, Love, Learning, and More

Can I trust you? Its the question that strikes at the heart of human existence. Whether were talking about business partnerships, romantic relationships, child-parent bonds, or the brave new world of virtual interaction, trust, when correctly placed, is what makes our world spin and lives flourish.

Renowned psychologist David DeSteno brings together the latest research from diverse fields, including psychology, economics, biology, and robotics, to create a compelling narrative about the forces that have shaped the human minds propensities to trust. He shows us how trust influences us at every level, from how we learn, to how we love, to how we spend, to how we take care of our own health and well-being. Using cuttingedge research from his own lab, he also unlocks, for the first time, the cues that allow us to read the trustworthiness of others accurately.

Appealing to readers of Dan Ariely, Dan Gilbert, and David Eaglemen, The Truth About Trust offers a new paradigm that will change not only how you think about trust, but also how you understand, communicate, and make decisions in every area of your life.

"[DeSteno] does an excellent job presenting evidence and deriving practical conclusions for how trust works in everyday life."

-Scientific American Mind

“Smart, fun, and informative, The Truth About Trust describes the most frightening, most wonderful, and most human thing we do: putting our fates in someone else's hands. This one's worth reading. Trust me.”

—Daniel Gilbert, Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology at Harvard and bestselling author of Stumbling on Happiness

“Trusting others puts us at risk.  Yet failure to trust entails risk as well. The ability to navigate through this minefield successfully is one of lifes most valuable assets.  DeSteno provides by far the best account of what science has learned about how we do this. The Truth About Trust is also a terrific read.”

—Robert H. Frank, Henrietta Johnson Louis Professor of Management at Cornell and bestselling author of The Economic Naturalist and The Darwin Economy

“The Truth About Trust tackles some of the most important and challenging issues in life.  Psychologist David DeSteno takes a fresh look at fundamental questions, from gauging the trustworthiness of others to whether you can trust yourself.”

—Adam Grant, Wharton professor and bestselling author of Give and Take

"Fresh insight into a necessary part of everyday life...In concise prose backed by engaging stories, the author addresses the pros and cons of common issues such as trusting a business transaction, using trust in learning situations and the need for trust in personal relationships." 

—Kirkus Reviews

Issues of trust come attached to almost every human interaction, yet few people realize how powerfully their ability to determine trustworthiness predicts future success. David DeStenos cutting-edge research on reading trust cues with humanoid robots has already excited widespread media interest. In The Truth About Trust, the renowned psychologist shares his findings and debunks numerous popular beliefs, including Paul Zaks theory that oxytocin is the “moral molecule.” From education and business to romance and dieting, DeStenos fascinating, paradigm-shifting book offers new insights and practical takeaways that will forever change how readers understand, communicate, and make decisions in every area of life.