Written for teens, this is an accessible book geared towards critical thinking as it applies to news sources - particularly fake news. A lot of the techniques here are fairly basic, but it's an educational text aimed at critical beginners, essentially, so it works as an entry-level text. The most interesting thing, for me, was the historical examples of fake news, with examples ranging from ancient Egypt to 18th century America to WW2.

The real hook is that it's written by a former CIA analyst, but I have to admit that the lack of critical engagement here grates a bit. The book begins and ends with Otis' recollection of a quote carved onto the wall of the CIA: "And ye shall know the truth and the truth will make you free." As if the CIA itself hasn't been the cause of monstrous levels of misinformation in their own history, which Otis absolutely glosses over. It's a little hard to swallow the exhortations to rigour in fact-assessment when it's so patently directed outwards... and only outwards. Granted, the primary audience of this book is (presumably) American teens, but surely this should mean more attention should be given to their own government's dodgy practices, not less.