From Aristotle to Francis Fukuyama, Machiavelli to Naomi Klein, the Book of Job to Blairite newspeak and from Enron to nanotechnology, Kieron O'Hara presents a lively exploration of trust. Essential for almost all social interaction, trust holds society together and makes co-operation possible. Ubiquitous, and yet deeply misunderstood, it can take years to build up, and after one false move can disappear overnight. Polls record levels of trust in politicians, businessmen, scientists and others that are at all time lows: a crisis in trust is currently gripping Western culture. O'Hara moves easily between the great philosophers and sociologists, and the impact of this crisis in our daily lives, animating theory with in-depth case studies, helping us make sense of the daily scares in our newspapers. Is trust declining? Should we be worried? What can we do about it? O'Hara gives few easy answers in this exhilarating ride through politics, literature, philosophy and history.