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Canongate halts sale of Lehrer book

31.07.12 | Charlotte Williams

Canongate has stopped the distribution and sale of Imagine: How Creativity Works by Jonah Lehrer, following the author's admission that he fabricated quotes used in the book.

Lehrer has resigned from his post at the New Yorker after admitting making up quotes from Bob Dylan in the book. In a statement issued yesterday (30th July), Lehrer said: "Three weeks ago, I received an email from journalist Michael Moynihan asking about Bob Dylan quotes in my book Imagine. The quotes in question either did not exist, were unintentional misquotations, or represented improper combinations of previously existing quotes. But I told Mr. Moynihan that they were from archival interview footage provided to me by Dylan's representatives. This was a lie spoken in a moment of panic. When Mr. Moynihan followed up, I continued to lie, and say things I should not have said."

"The lies are over now. I understand the gravity of my position. I want to apologize to everyone I have let down, especially my editors and readers. I also owe a sincere apology to Mr. Moynihan. I will do my best to correct the record and ensure that my misquotations and mistakes are fixed."

In a statement, Canongate said: "In light of Jonah Lehrer's statement of 30th July 2012, Canongate has decided, with immediate effect, to take the e-book and audiobook of Imagine off-sale and halt shipment of physical copies."

Lehrer's US publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, will also be taking the book out of circulation, taking e-book editions of Imagine off the market, and halting shipment of physical copies. Reports also said it will be "exploring further options" with respect to Imagine's continuing publication.

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