Dishonesty is the Second Best Policy | How To Academy

Fri, 25 September 2020

6:30 pm - 7:30 pm GMT

Dishonesty is the Second Best Policy

David Mitchell in conversation with Hannah MacInnes

Are smartphones more dangerous than nuclear weapons? Should we uninvent the Internet? The comedian and columnist joins us with witty reflections upon our dumbfounding post-truth age.

Lying is probably as old as human language itself – an inevitable consequence of humanity’s greatest superpower. And comedian, Observer columnist and Peep Show star David Mitchell lies quite often (mostly about whether he is free to come to social events). But even he never expected to live in the post-truth age.
In conversation with broadcaster and journalist Hannah MacInnes, he joins us to rail against the democratisation of truth. From Trump’s White House to the fake news phenomenon, algorithm wielding websites to the downgrading of facts to opinions, he’ll explore the strangeness of the modern world with characteristic wit, warmth, originality and insight we’ve come to expect.
Praise for David Mitchell:
‘Mitchell is an exceptionally clever, eloquent and spot-on commentator. We should be grateful for him.’ Daily Mail, Books of the Year
‘Mitchell combines breathtaking general knowledge with withering wit and mordancy.’ Miranda Sawyer, Guardian
‘A satirist of crass innovations, a poet of minor irritations.’ Andrew Antony, Observer
‘A very, very clever man. Mitchell’s ability to convey complicated and intelligent ideas without ever being pretentious or worthy is beautiful to behold.’ James O’Brien, LBC

Hannah MacInnes

Journalist and Broadcaster

Hannah MacInnes is a broadcaster and journalist. Alongside hosting How To Academy’s live programmes and podcast, she presents a cultural show on Times Radio and interviews on-stage at a number of other major literary events. She is the host of The Klosters Forum Podcast series and has written for the Radio Times, the Evening Standard and TLS. Before going freelance she worked for 8 years at BBC Newsnight, as Planning Editor and as a Producer / Filmmaker.