Use an Old Book

By Mark Steer

The most effective truth serum ever?

When you think about it, it seems an extraordinary concept – we put our hand on a book and swear that we’ll tell the truth. No machines, no tweaking of body parts, just a couple of terrifying lawyers and a slumbering judge; and yet, for the vast majority of society, it’s enough to get us to crumble into a gibbering pile of truthfulness.

Effectiveness
On the whole it’s surprisingly effective, which is lucky being as our entire legal system is based on it. The system isn’t infallible, however, there have been one or two exceptions. 4/5

Ethics
Well I suppose you aren’t hurting anyone, except Satanists. 5/5

How to get out of it
Lie and lie well – only buffoons get caught for perjury. Unless you believe in God, but then there’s not much chance of getting out of anything is there.

Back to Top Ten Ways to Get the Truth

Image: Julia Freeman-Woolpert

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