Review to: "Teaching Honesty in a Populist Era: Emphasizing Truth in the Education of Citizens" by Sarah M. Stitzlein

Sarah Marie Stitzlein’s Teaching Honesty in a Populist Era explores the critical role of honesty in sustaining democratic life, particularly in the face of rising populism and the challenges of a post-truth political landscape. The central thesis is that honesty—conceived not only as a moral virtue but as an epistemic and civic practice—is essential for the health of democracies. Stitzlein argues that the erosion of honesty, exacerbated by populist narratives and the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation, has weakened democratic institutions and citizens’ ability to engage in meaningful civic reasoning. Her proposed solution lies in fostering habits of truth-seeking and truth-telling through citizenship education, grounded in a pragmatist framework inspired by John Dewey.