Authenticity: Reclaiming Reality in a Counterfeit Culture

In an age where the pursuit of authenticity is increasingly important, Alice Sherwood's book "Authenticity" argues that we can fight back against the forces of inauthenticity and reclaim reality. It explores the world's greatest impostors, counterfeiters, and deceivers, as well as people living rewarding lives in virtual worlds and foot soldiers in the armies of truth. The book is a once-in-a-generation revelation that will change the way we think about deception and reality.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 13 April 2023
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Wide-ranging, witty, and fresh, Authenticity is a stimulating read. Tim Harford, Financial Times, Best Summer Books 2022.


Brilliantly witty, profoundly illuminating, Alice Sherwood is a master storyteller. Simon Schama.


Thought-provoking and beautifully written, Adrian Wooldridge, Washington Post.


A sweeping and persuasive manifesto, witty and wide-ranging, a pleasure. Literary Review.


Terrific, the sheer breadth of her subject matter is extraordinary. Matthew dAncona, Tortoisemedia.com.


Alice Sherwood is the real deal. Marcus du Sautoy.


Fascinating and hugely entertaining, Brian Eno.


Unfailingly compelling and often shocking, Philip Mould, presenter of Fake or Fortune?


Riveting, captivating, a thoroughly enjoyable debut, Financial Times.


We live in an age when the pursuit of authenticity – from living our best life to eating artisan food – matters more and more to us, but where the forces of inauthenticity seem to be taking over.


Our world is full of people and products that are not what they seem. We no longer know whether we are talking to a person or a machine.


But we can fight back – and this award-winning book shows us how.


Authenticity argues that, although our counterfeit culture is shaped by the most powerful forces of evolution, economics, and technology, we can still come together to reclaim reality.


Along the way, we meet the world's greatest impostor, who finally became what he'd pretended to be; the wartime counterfeiter who fooled a nation; nature's most outrageous deceivers; the artist who encouraged people to forge his pictures; the authentic brand that was anything but.


But we also meet people living unexpectedly rewarding lives in virtual worlds, and foot soldiers in the armies of truth who are taking down today's conspiracies.

Weight: 298g
Dimension: 130 x 198 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780008412654