An Honest Liar tells the story of James Randi, a celebrated magician, escape artist, and skeptic. With his incredible escape acts from seemingly impossible traps on American television and stage, he has delighted countless generations with his dramatic career. Randi describes these as classic examples of honest deception that serves only to entertain. His life has been dedicated to exposing people who claim to be genuine, such as psychics and faith healers.
His goal is to promote a scientific worldview based on rational skepticism and critical thinking rather than passive credulousness, according to Randi, who believes his crusade against charlatans serves a wider purpose. He has exposed people like Uri Geller, a psychic whose trademark is spoon-bending, and Peter Popoff, a faith healer whose wife fed him information via a wireless earpiece, although he appeared to know intimate details about random audience members. Additionally, An Honest Liar examines Randi's personal life, including his relationship with his longtime partner José Alvarez and his coming out at age 81.
