To make extra money, I do some work on the side for a semi-famous social scientist who writes best-selling books. He hires me to write the “case studies” that he drops into each chapter, as “real life” examples of the psychological problems and treatments he’s describing.
The problem is, I make them up. The “real life” examples are entirely fiction. My boss loves my work, and it’s painless for me to do. But … am I doing something unethical? Are his readers being lied to? Should I walk away from this lucrative gig?
— Flair for the dramatic
