To name the bigger lie : a memoir in two stories / Sarah Viren.
"Part coming-of-age story, part psychological thriller, part philosophical investigation, this unforgettable memoir traces the ramifications of a series of lies that threaten to derail the author's life--exploring the line between truth and deception, fact and fiction, and reality and conspiracy. Sarah's story begins as she's researching what she believes will be a book about her high school philosophy teacher, a charismatic instructor who taught her and her classmates to question everything--in the end, even the reality of historical atrocities. As she digs into the effects of his teachings, her life takes a turn into the fantastical when her wife, Marta, is notified that she's been investigated for sexual misconduct at the university where they both teach. Based in part on a viral New York Times essay, To Name the Bigger Lie follows the investigation as it upends Sarah's understanding of truth. She knows the claims made against Marta must be lies, and as she uncovers the identity of the person behind them and then tries, with increasing desperation, to prove their innocence, she's drawn back into the questions that her teacher inspired all those years ago: about the nature of truth, the value of skepticism, and the stakes we all have in getting the story right. A compelling, incisive journey into honesty and betrayal, this memoir explores the powerful pull of dangerous conspiracy theories and the pliability of personal narratives in a world dominated by hoaxes and fakes. To Name the Bigger Lie reads like the best of psychological thrillers-made all the more riveting because it's true"-- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781982166595 (hardcover)
- Physical Description: 289 pages ; 24 cm
- Edition: First Scribner hardcover edition.
- Publisher: New York : Scribner, 2023.
Search for related items by subject
Subject: | Viren, Sarah, 1979- > Marriage. Conspiracy theories > United States > Psychological aspects. Sex crimes. Teachers > Complaints against. Truth. Truthfulness and falsehood. |
Genre: | Autobiographies. Personal narratives. |
Available copies
- 1 of 1 copy available at Tsuga Consortium.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stroud Branch | 818.609 Viren | 31681010328748 | NONFIC | Available | - |
- Baker & Taylor
Part coming-of-age story, part psychological thriller, part philosophical investigation, this book, based in part on a viral New York Times essay, follows the author's quest to prove her wife's innocence in a sexual misconduct case, exploring the line between truth and deception, fact and fiction, and reality and conspiracy. - Baker & Taylor
Part coming-of-age story, part psychological thriller, part philosophical investigation, this book, based in part on a viral New York Times essay, follows the authorâs quest to prove her wifeâs innocence in a sexual misconduct case, exploring the line between truth and deception, fact and fiction and reality and conspiracy. - Simon and Schuster
âHas the page-turning quality of a thriller.â âNPR
âStrange and wonderfulâ¦A book for our times.â âThe New York Times Book Review
âPropulsiveâ¦mesmerizingâ¦breathtaking.â âPublishers Weekly (starred review)
This unforgettable memoir traces the ramifications of a series of lies that threaten to derail the authorâs lifeâexploring the line between fact and fiction, reality and conspiracy.
In To Name the Bigger Lie, Sarah Viren âhas pulled off a magic trick of fantastic proportionâ (The Washington Post), telling the story of an all-too-real investigation into her personal and professional life that she expands into a profound exploration of the nature of truth. The memoir begins as Viren is researching what she believes will be a book about her high school philosophy teacher, a charismatic instructor who taught her and her classmates to question everythingâeventually, even the reality of historical atrocities. As she digs into the effects of his teachings, her life takes a turn into the fantastical when her wife, Marta, is notified that sheâs being investigated for sexual misconduct at the university where they both teach.
To Name the Bigger Lie follows the investigation as it challenges everything Sarah thought she knew about truth, testimony, and the difference between the two. She knows the claims made against Marta must be lies, and as she attempts to uncover the identity of the person behind them and prove her wifeâs innocence, sheâs drawn back into the questions that her teacher inspired all those years ago: about the nature of truth, the value of skepticism, and the stakes we all have in getting the story right.
An incisive journey into honesty and betrayal, this memoir explores the powerful pull of dangerous conspiracy theories and the pliability of personal narratives in a world dominated by hoaxes and fakes. An âouroboros of a bookâ (The New York Times) and a âbold new approach to the genre of memoirâ (The Millions), To Name the Bigger Lie also reads like the best of psychological thrillersâmade all the more riveting because itâs true.