Liars and Outliers : Enabling the Trust That Society Needs to Thrive

The book discusses security's unique role in facilitating and stabilizing human society. It looks at how and why security evolved, why it works the way it does, and -- this is the timely part -- what is it about the information society that changes everything. Schneier will model the fundamental trade-off of societal security -- individual self-interest vs. societal group interest -- as a group prisoner's dilemma problem, and use that metaphor to examine the basic mechanics of societal security. Written in Schneier's engaging and riveting voice, the book will be divided into three parts: Understanding People, Understanding Security, and Understanding Today's World. The first part covers the Natural History of Security, The Economics of Security, The Psychology of Fear and Risk, The Psychology of Security Trade-Offs, The Honest Majority, and The Dishonest Minority. The second part covers Societal Security, The Prisoner's Dilemma, Using Morals to Solve a Prisoner's Dilemma, Using Reputation to Solve a Prisoner's Dilemma, Using Rules to Solve a Prisoner's Dilemma, and Security Solutions for a Prisoner's Dilemma. And in the third part, he walks the reader through Prisoner's Dilemmas in a Market Economy, Organizations and the Prisoner's Dilemma, Why Does This Fail So Often?, The Prisoner's Dilemma in the Information Society, and The Future of Societal Security. He concludes with the rhetorical dialogue with the reader of Does Society Need a Dishonest Minority?

BRUCE SCHNEIER is an internationally renowned security technologist who studies the human side of security. A prolific author, he has written hundreds of articles, essays, and academic papers, as well as eleven books that together have sold more than 400,000 copies. He has testified before Congress, is a frequent guest on television and radio, and is regularly quoted in the press. His blog and monthly newsletter at www.schneier.com reach over 250,000 devoted readers worldwide.
"The closest thing the security industry has to a rock star."
—The Register