Think about stories. We have them and tell them, all of us. That has been true since the time of Stone Age Man. He tried to explain the world, the sun, the moon, and the stars. Add the plants, animals, and seasons, as well as how to make the best tools, and survive.
If someone else had a better or more entertaining account of his circumstances, perhaps the first tale would have been altered or forgotten.
The stories that bound small groups together had an advantage over other, more disparate groups of Homo sapiens. The accounts of how to endure and prosper were useful.
These ideas kept people secure, instructed them in the refinement of weapons, and more. It explained how and when to plant vegetables, communicated strategies for difficult times, and enabled teamwork in self-defense.
Groups that shared the same story prospered and got larger over time. They were made up of people who identified with each other, in part because they shared the same stories, practices, and beliefs. Yuval Harari,* the author of Nexus, provides a more extended view of the role of narratives that cemented various tribes to one another.
What does this have to do with misinformation?
Stories don’t have to be true. A leader who might offer incomplete or flawed knowledge, in some cases could be persuasive in leading followers and making beneficial decisions about peace and war. Tales about the leader’s strengths, the magnetism of his voice and appearance, and his benevolent nature might create a halo effect of confidence in his talents.
Think of how young ones believe in Santa Claus or Superman. Some stories win over adherents, in part, because parents, educators, or clergy encourage belief in them from an early age.
Adults find religious stories compelling for several reasons. Many explain how the world works, provide meaning, describe how best to live, promise a reward after death, and offer a like-minded community. Religions have both benefited mankind and done harm.
Ancient wisdom should not be dismissed with ease, no matter a sceptic’s perspective. Again, stories don’t have to be verifiable to persuade and benefit much of mankind, but sometimes set them against unbelievers, both spiritual and political.
Religion and faith have also enabled communities of worshipers to survive. Faith-based conviction has fueled the inspirational words and actions of leaders like Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.
Attractive and fluent influencers, as well as TV ads, promote alleged excellent products and themselves via brief stories. These performers often suggest that those who do as they do can become more like them. Direct or implied messages cause some of their viewers to model their decisions on what to wear and what to value.
A common phrase descriptive of free trumpeting of products goes, “If the product is free, you are the product.” You pay with loss of privacy, the capture of your attention, becoming the unaware object of persuasion, and perhaps losing your free will.
Humans are vulnerable. With some frequency, they buy into the merchandise promoted and sometimes the promise of little more than hope and a chance to fulfill their desires.
Goods featured in commercials are touted by everyday folks who claim miraculous transformations. They tell of prior unhappiness. Not just physical distress, but a lack of confidence, sleep, and relationships. With this background, they indicate their lives have been transformed by the wondrous cosmetic, machine, or supplement being sold.
Algorithms determine what captures our attention, including those presenters, products, games, and politicians we find compelling. Recall Michael Jordan, a charismatic basketball star, who is associated with Air Jordan footwear, clothing, and the commercial slogan “Be like Mike.”
Yuval Harari emphasizes that fiction, inclusive of conspiracy theories, has two advantages over truth.
First, fiction can be made as simple as we like, whereas the truth tends to be complicated, because the reality it is supposed to represent is complicated.
Second, the truth is often painful and disturbing, and if we try to make it more comforting and flattering, it will no longer be the truth.
One example is trying to change the minds of those who believe man-made climate change is fake news. Persuasion might require a detailed explanation and a discussion of research methods and findings, which may be beyond the typical listener’s ability to follow. Such a presentation also risks humiliating the subject, returning him to the days of boring lectures by a know-it-all instructor.
There is more. In our troubled and untrusting world, many are not open to information that unsettles their well-being. They may look away due to the stress of the truth of what is happening.
A person’s worldview is often attached to other beliefs that would be undercut by changing such an opinion. It can be easier to believe in untruths and keep on the right side of one’s social circle.
Painful knowledge that frays or ends relationships with friends and relatives, and loses the benefit of belonging, comes at a high cost. A hoax can be comforting on multiple levels.
The planet is a complicated place these days, but it offers rewards that require recognition of what is happening in it. The birds still sing, the sun still shines, and children still delight in an ice cream cone on a hot day. May they flourish.
We are the caretakers and defenders of such moments, and what astronomer Carl Sagan referred to as a “pale blue dot.”
Earth and all its living things.
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All of the photos are the work of Laura Hedien, presented with her kind permission: Laura Hedien Official Website.
In order from the top, they include Elephant at Sunset in Amboseli, Kenya, Early November 2024. Next is a Supercell in Lubbock, Texas, in June 2025. Finally, Texas Sunset with Sunflare in June 2023.
*Here is the link to Yuval Harari’s Nexus, which served as a foundation for this essay.
excellent points here about why some choose not to believe what has been proven
As you say, Beth, I think sometimes it is a conscious choice and sometimes unconscious. The cost is the same either way. As Harari reminds us, the truth is complicated at best. Keep doing the good work you have described to me and be well, Beth.
Harari’s words…and so many of yours, of course, give me Sunday morning pause and reflect opportunities., Dr. Stein. 💕
I had a conversation with someone yesterday who wanted to massage the truth to soften painful news, and I listened. Offered no solutions…or absolution…for what she might do.
This – from Harari – jumped out at me from your essay. If only I’d had it in my pocket at the time!
…”the truth is often painful and disturbing, and if we try to make it more comforting and flattering, it will no longer be the truth.”
Thank you. 💕
You bet, Vicki, and thanks for the story of your conversation. Part of our larger solution depends less on thinking in terms of “I” and finding a way to embracing the “we.” Perhaps that way, we can stand together and feel better with a message rather alone while getting a “massage” of the kind you described.
Caro Dottor Stein,
Your gentle respectful wisdom amazes and touches me.
Grazie di cuore.
Yes birds still sing, and this morning too I had the joy and honor to sing…no! playing organ during the mass at my Santuario di Re (Verbania, Italia).
Padre Giancarlo, who you know to be my starets, didn’t celebrate; a young priest instead did.
Such a warm priest, enthusiastic, lively! joyfully (and with repeated Italian-like arms, hands, head, torso’s gestures and movements: you know what I mean, don’t you?!!!) addressing his parishioners in a colorful everyday language.
I repeatedly laughed particularly during his homily!
I deeply felt as he were exclusively addressing to me.
What a joy!
Yes, the sun is brilliantly shining on the shores of my Lago Maggiore.
Maybe even too brilliantly and strongly!
And yes! I discovered a new gelateria yesterday (“Pinocchio”, in Ascona, Switzerland, in case any of your readers makes a holiday at my Lago!), how exquisite my gelato!
May all this flourish.
Thank you for your kind words. What a joyous morning, Micaela! May you have many more!
I’ve been teaching science to middle schoolers for the past decade, before that I taught English and Social Studies. When made the switch, it dawned on me that sometimes what I teach today changes in a decade as we gain a better understanding of the world around us. I think mankind wants to know. The word science is from the Latin root sci- meaning to know and the suffix -ence meaning the act of. We want to know and in the beginning we created stories to explain the unknown. today we use evidence, and sometimes the evidence is misinterpreted. But we are human and that is where things go awry, sometimes we can’t believe what we see. Great article and wonderful food for thought.
Thank you, Clay. I am grateful for your providing of the Latin roots of science. Indeed, we humans struggle with how much of the truth we can handle and how many ways the world can be interpreted, including in the interpretation of scientific “evidence.” As the Chinese proverb reminds us, we live in “interesting times.” Your careful thought and experience brings us a step forward. Your students are very lucky.
Your students were, and are if you’re still teaching, lucky, Clay!
Appreciated your Latin’s roots of the word “science”!
Grazie.
Wow – the perfect title for this post, Dr. Stein! Harari’s two explanations for fiction are so compelling. Here’s to continuing to do the work to benefit our planet and each other!
Yes, it is always worthwhile to raise a glass to a necessary goal! As you know, Wynne. Harari is among the most thoughtful, eloquent, and insightful public intellectuals in the world. He has much to say about AI, Middle East politics, and the history of man. Here’s to endless learning that makes us all wiser and brings us together!
Dr. Stein, your essay, based on Yuval Harari’s Nexus, explains well how we’ve got to this moment in human development/devolution. The following observation is disturbingly true: “In our troubled and untrusting world, many are not open to information that unsettles their well-being. They may look away due to the stress of the truth of what is happening.” Under these conditions, creating new narratives to guide us into an uncertain future on a scorched Earth becomes even more challenging.
You remain a truth seeker, Rosaliene, someone who does not shy away from it. In my opinion, we need narratives that cause us to use the word “we” according to an encompassing definition more often than we use the word “I.” The old and new testaments both speak of extending a hand to the stranger. Whether religious or not, it is a creed that worth living.
Dr. Stein, this really struck a chord with me, especially the idea that we instinctively cling to comforting stories even when they’re not true. I’ve seen firsthand how hard it can be to challenge beliefs in my own circles, and your point about the value (and cost) of holding onto shared narratives feels very real. Harari’s quote about truth being “painful and disturbing” landed powerfully; it made me reflect on moments I’ve hesitated to share hard facts for fear of upsetting someone close. Thank you for articulating so clearly why stories matter both for our sense of connection and our vulnerability to misinformation.
Your kudos are much appreciated, Erin. Sometimes seeing the world is terrifying, but sometimes understanding how the world works reduces the size of those fears. There are numerous videos of Harari on YouTube. His ability to clarify ideas is humbling. You might appreciate them. I sure have. Take care, my friend.
Oh, yes! I’m very familiar with Harari and have read all but the latest book. Yes, such a brilliant mind, indeed! 😊
Spot on, Gerry, thanks!
Thank you, Susan. I am grateful for your reading, all the work you do, and your unconquerable spirit.
I just posted about a subject related to your post, Dr. Stein. These two quotes caught my attention:
“First, fiction can be made as simple as we like, whereas the truth tends to be complicated, because the reality it is supposed to represent is complicated.
Second, the truth is often painful and disturbing, and if we try to make it more comforting and flattering, it will no longer be the truth.”
There’s so much truth in your post, and when you add those who are banning books, things become even more complicated. Thank you.
Complicated, indeed, Edward. With so much self-righteousness in play. All that makes me think of the biblical story of the Tower of Babel. The best we can do is talk to those who are open to the conversation, be brave, and work to open some eyes by those words and the encouragement of action. You know bravery at first hand.
Thank you, and you’re right. Keeping the conversation going with those who are open to having a respectful discussion is the best we can do.
Not only do we live in a complicated and complex world, but many people’s home lives a difficult, further adding to the need to focus one’s attention on more pleasing topics and stories. It’s not escapism when one just doesn’t have the mental bandwidth to deal with even more negatives, it’s also a matter of survival to filter out all the things one’s nervous system just cannot handle. Facing the existential threat of a doomed planet is too much for most people to look at objectively, especially when their imminent safety is a daily struggle. People will consciously or subconsciously choose the thoughts that feel better to them, factual or not.
I have seen such people as you describe, Tamara. Part of the dilemma is that the very outcomes they hide from are more likely because they are either wilfully unaware of what is happening in the world, or chose to do nothing because of their fear and sense of incapacity. It reminds me of Martin Niemoller”s famous poem about what happened in Nazi Germany.
Most people who do not act are rationalizing their responsibility as citizens and can find reasons that put there sense of action to bed. Not every action is that demanding or risky.
If they do not wake up from this slumber, they risk being seen as irrelevant, treated poorly by corporations taking over government agencies that protected us from dangerous food and water, offered poorer help from our gutted internationally famous government enabled medical care, robbed of our once great university-driven medical research, and receiving a lack of adequate help from FEMA when disasters hit.
At that point we will be treated more as consumers than citizens, in a world that will be more traumatizing than the worst nightmares of those you mentioned, absent of resources, money, and on their own.