Most of us think we are about 15 per cent cleverer, more attractive and better drivers than others think we are. Drawing on insights from philosophy, psychology and literature, this work explores the implications for living well in the shadow of Kant's humbling thought that "out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made".

Introduction 1. Homo credens: the believer 2. Deceiving ourselves: you can't always know what you want 3. Deceiving each other: the techniques of sincerity 4. "It's beyond my control": and other moral masquerades 5. To thine own self be true?