Description
Book SynopsisIn today''s hyper-connected society, understanding the mechanisms of trust is crucial. Issues of trust are critical to solving problems as diverse as corporate responsibility, global warming, and the political system. In this insightful and entertaining book, Schneier weaves together ideas from across the social and biological sciences to explain how society induces trust. He shows the unique role of trust in facilitating and stabilizing human society. He discusses why and how trust has evolved, why it works the way it does, and the ways the information society is changing everything.
Trade Review"One of the best books I've read this year is by a security technologist, Bruce Schneier. In Liars and Outliers, he sets out to investigate how trust works in society and in business, how it is betrayed and the degree to which technology changes all of that, for the better or the worse. Schneier absolutely understands how profoundly trust oils the wheels of business and of daily life." (Margaret Heffernan,
CBS MoneyWatch)
"This book will appeal not only to customers interested in computer security but also on the idea of security and trust as a whole in society." (The Bookseller, 16th December 2011)
"This book should be read by anyone in a leadership role, whether they're in the corporate or political sphere... an easy read and the ideas and thoughts are profound." (Naked Security, February 2012)
"By concentrating on the human angle and packing the book with real world examples he has successfully stretched its appeal outside that of the security specialist to the more general reader." (E & T Magazine, March 2012)
Table of ContentsA Note for Readers xiii
1 Overview 1
Part I The Science of Trust 15
2 A Natural History of Security 17
3 The Evolution of Cooperation 27
4 A Social History of Trust 41
5 Societal Dilemmas 51
Part II A Model of Trust 61
6 Societal Pressures 63
7 Moral Pressures 75
8 Reputational Pressures 87
9 Institutional Pressures 103
10 Security Systems 123
Part III The Real World 137
11 Competing Interests 139
12 Organizations 155
13 Corporations 173
14 Institutions 195
Part IV Conclusions 205
15 How Societal Pressures Fail 207
16 Technological Advances 225
17 The Future 243
Acknowledgments 249
Notes 251
References 289
About the Author 349
Index 351
