Teaching Honesty in a Populist Era: Emphasizing Truth in the Education of Citizens by Sarah M. Stitzlein, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2024

“And if it was false, he would say, ‘It doesn’t matter, Stephanie. Just say it over and over and over again, people will believe it” (Sforza, 2024). This statement, by former White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham on how President Donald Trump advised her to do her job, is a clear example of why Sarah Stitzlein’s recently published book, Teaching Honesty in a Populist Era: Emphasizing Truth in the Education of Citizens, could not come at a better time. Research exploring the phenomenon of people coming to believe falsehoods that are repeated over and over, known in psychology as the illusory truth effect, suggests that the repetition of falsehoods can leave people believing that they are true, even when they possess strong contradictory prior knowledge (Fazio, 2020). It is no wonder then, as Stitzlein underscores, that Americans are struggling to parse out truths from lies in today’s polarized political environment. Stitzlein effectively argues that people on both sides of the political aisle have lost sight of the pivotal role that honesty plays in a well-functioning democracy, and she argues that schools should intentionally teach students how to engage in pragmatist inquiry, a process she endorses as capable of cultivating the “truth-seeking” and “truth-telling” necessary to sustain and improve our democratic way of life and, in turn, our collective fate. Taking care to emphasize to readers up front that her book is for everyone and that her aim is to bring people together rather than further divide them, Stitzlein is particularly well-positioned to advocate for honesty and truth among liberals, conservatives, and everyone in between. She has sincerely identified with both liberalism and conservatism at pivotal points in her life, and affirms that she regularly engages in political dialogues, inquiries, and projects with colleagues, friends, and family representing a wide range of political views and affiliations. Contrasting her experience with that of those who find themselves routinely in shared company with like-minded people, Stitzlein gives thanks for her unique position. And she credits it with enabling her to be a better citizen, one capable of navigating “between and across [political] borders,” which she recognizes has, in turn, well prepared her to write this text for those she loves and trusts. This list includes, among others, “rural farmers, middle-class teachers, loyal soldiers, and urban academics” (p. 9). The sincerity with which Stitzlein desires to help us communicate better with one another to build a more just and satisfying common fate shines throughout the book. Beginning with the book’s framing, Stitzlein intentionally puts forward a philosophical pragmatist account of truth and honesty primarily because she views it as capable of allowing us to engage with certain aspects of populist thinking that could support the US’s aspirations as a democratic republic. Stitzlein employs pragmatism to shed light on the “more democratizing” aspects of populism while simultaneously rejecting aspects of populism that interfere with truth and honesty (e.g., the spreading of conspiracy theories). Rather than entirely condemning populism as a threat to democracy, Stitzlein argues that it is imperative that we pay careful attention to populist movements, perspectives, and arguments. In viewing populist activity as a democratic barometer of sorts, she points out that in valuing the people’s “common sense,” populism has historically been quite good at identifying the failings of liberal democracies – many of which have and continue to be overlooked by those in power. One example offered in the text is the populist outcry over the closing of schools during the pandemic; these closings made it difficult if not impossible for many people to work and support their families. Though …