This book is based on an in-depth conversation between Howard Burton and renowned intellectual historian Martin Jay, UC Berkeley. A thought-provoking book in dialogue format examining Martin Jay’s extensive research on lying in politics from Plato and St. Augustine to Hannah Arendt and Leo Strauss which culminated in his book The Virtues of Mendacity.This carefully-edited book includes an introduction,The Varnished Truth, and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter: I. A Fruitful Approach - Investigating “the political”II. The Liar’s Stage - From Machiavelli to political play-actingIII. Lies, American Style - A central concern?IV. Transcending Kant - The Value of nuanceV. Coming Clean - Appreciating what we knowVI. Monological Dangers - Truth as the enemy of the politicalVII. Democracy - Its porous nature and implicationsVIII. Getting Worse? - In search of a Golden Age of truth-tellingIX. Puritanical Dangers - Fanatical truth-tellingX. Politics vs. Science - Similarities and differencesXI. Summing Up - Admissions and conclusionsAbout Ideas Roadshow Conversations Series: This book is part of a series of 100 Ideas Roadshow Conversations. Presented in an accessible, conversational format, Ideas Roadshow books not only explore frontline academic research featuring world-leading researchers, including 3 Nobel Laureates, but also reveal the inspirations and personal journeys behind the research.