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Verified

How to Think Straight, Get Duped Less, and Make Better Decisions about What to Believe Online
Published November 2023 · University of Chicago Press

Verified was published by the University of Chicago Press in November 2023, co-authored with Sam Wineburg (professor emeritus at Stanford and head of the Stanford History Education Group). The 280-page, full-color book teaches general readers how to identify misinformation quickly — often in approximately thirty seconds. It represents the culmination of nearly a decade of work on digital literacy, bringing the SIFT method and lateral reading techniques to a mainstream, non-academic audience.

The book covers practical techniques including verifying news stories rapidly, evaluating source credibility, detecting deceptive tactics, assessing video authenticity, and recognizing disguised advertising. It includes 100 color plates illustrating the verification process. At the time of writing, Caulfield was a research scientist at the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public.

"A much-anticipated book by two leading experts... offers clear advice on how to navigate a world of spin, trolls, and lies." — Maria Ressa, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winner
"The book and mindset that society needs right now." — Guy Kawasaki