Jon Ronson’s previous books, such as The Psychopath
Test and Them: Adventures With Extremists, have made
his name synonymous with the exploration of unusual
characters. But in his latest book, So You’ve Been
Publicly Shamed, the focus is more on ordinary people
who have had unusual experiences – specifically, as
the title might suggest, people who have been
publicly shamed. Among others, Ronson talks to
plagiarising journalist Jonah Lehrer, tabloid sex
scandal victim Max Mosley and a number of people who
have simply made a tasteless joke and paid the price.
This book looks at modern-day shaming, particularly
that done via social media, and the devastating
impact that shame can have on a person. While The
Psychopath Test left readers fretting over whether
they, too, were psychopaths, this book makes for an
uncomfortable read as you think – could this happen
to me? Beyond that though, this is, as all Ronson
reads are, a fascinating, thoughtful and surprisingly
funny read that you will struggle to put down.
Book Review: So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
