True or False: A CIA Analyst's Guide to Spotting Fake News - Hardcover

Otis, Cindy L.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1250239494 ISBN 13: 9781250239495

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends, 2020

Synopsis

"Though billed for young adults, this is a book that every adult should read." ―The Washington Post

Join former CIA analyst Cindy L. Otis as she unveils the true history of fake news and provides tips on how to avoid falling victim to it in this informative and timely YA nonfiction title.

In our modern information age, it’s impossible to escape fake news. Whether it’s coming from the mouth of a politician or the suspicious article shared in your family group chat, fake news is everywhere. But the truth is, fake news is not a new phenomenon. From the ancient Egyptians to the French Revolution to Jack the Ripper and the founding fathers, fake news has been around as long as human civilization. But that doesn’t mean that we should just give up on the idea of finding the truth.

In True or False, former CIA analyst Cindy Otis will take readers through the history and impact of misinformation over the centuries, sharing stories from the past and insights that readers today can gain from them. Then, she shares lessons learned in over a decade working for the CIA, including actionable tips on how to spot fake news, how to make sense of the information we receive each day, and, perhaps most importantly, how to understand and see past our own information biases, so that we can think critically about important issues and put events happening around us into context.

As new technologies like social media and AI create new avenues for misinformation to spread, it is more important than ever to understand how to critically examine the information we receive. Highly informative and immensely engaging, True or False continues to serve as an essential guide for young readers looking to determine fact from fiction in the news, on the internet, and in the world around them.

This title has common core connections.

About this title

About the Author

Cindy L. Otis, author of True or False, knew that she wanted to join the CIA at seven years old when her dad let her watch her first James Bond movie. And after receiving her bachelor’s degree in international politics and her master’s in international relations with an emphasis in national security from Boston University, her dream came true. Cindy spent most of her career as a military analyst, but also served as an intelligence briefer to the White House, and later, as Branch Chief. She was the recipient of the Army Civilian Service Medal and the CIA’s Donald Cryer Award. Cindy now works in cybersecurity, regularly speaking and writing about political and national security issues for various media outlets. She also continues her life-long work advocating for disability rights.

Reviews

Gr 8 Up-Former CIA analyst Otis has written a necessary and engaging resource that should be required reading for all high school students. The first half of the book outlines the use of fake news and propaganda spread by governments and authority figures throughout history. These informative and entertaining incidents date back over 3,000 years, from ancient Egypt and up to the current 2020 presidential election. Otis amusingly outlines the deceitful work of Ramses II and his spin to convince people he "won" the battle against the city of Kadesh. Each case study is equally captivating. In the second half of the book, Otis explains numerous techniques on how to spot fake news and highlights how legitimate news outlets produce factual articles. With a variety of detailed examples and exercises, readers learn how to analyze news, posts, and photos, as well as how to check their own biases and emotional reactions when trying to determine fact from fiction. The book's droll tone and quick pace will thoroughly engage even those who dislike nonfiction; all readers will be empowered with a more critical eye when browsing their news feeds. VERDICT An important, comprehensive text that should be an integral part of all high school information literacy curricula.-Karen Bilton, Franklin Township P.L., NJα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
• Publication date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1250239494
• ISBN 13: 9781250239495
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 336