Where is the line between truth and lies? Can a lie be for good, and the truth for harm? The entire history of civilization testifies that any extreme in the sphere of human relationships is unnatural and often the bearers of “absolute truth” turn out to be vile deceivers. And deception as such has thousands of different shades - from virtuous to malicious. Psychophysiologist Yuri Shcherbatykh, in a popular scientific form, comprehensively analyzes the nature of deception, its history, classification and technology. The abundance of examples and interesting facts from real life turns the book from a fascinating read into a practical guide to everyday psychological defense.