So You've Been Publicly Shamed

By: Jon Ronson

Narrated by: Jon Ronson

From the Sunday Times top ten bestselling author of The Psychopath Test, a captivating and brilliant exploration of one of our world's most underappreciated forces: shame.

'It's about the terror, isn't it?' 'The terror of what?' I said. 'The terror of being found out.'

For the past three years, Jon Ronson has travelled the world meeting recipients of high-profile public shamings. The shamed are people like us - people who, say, made a joke on social media that came out badly, or made a mistake at work. Once their transgression is revealed, collective outrage circles with the force of a hurricane and the next thing they know they're being torn apart by an angry mob, jeered at, demonized, sometimes even fired from their job.

A great renaissance of public shaming is sweeping our land. Justice has been democratized. The silent majority are getting a voice. But what are we doing with our voice? We are mercilessly finding people's faults. We are defining the boundaries of normality by ruining the lives of those outside it. We are using shame as a form of social control.

Simultaneously powerful and hilarious in the way only Jon Ronson can be, So You've Been Publicly Shamed is a deeply honest book about modern life, full of eye-opening truths about the escalating war on human flaws - and the very scary part we all play in it.

Jon Ronson is an award-winning writer and documentary maker. He is the author of two bestsellers, Them: Adventures with Extremists and The Men Who Stare at Goats, and two collections, Out of the Ordinary: True Tales of Everyday Craziness and What I Do: More True Tales of Everyday Craziness. He lives in London.

©2015 Jon Ronson (P)2015 Audible Ltd

Shame on us all.

Few books make me change the way I see the word. This is one of those books. It has left an indelible impression on me, as will it you. Buy the book.

Compelling and fair

Among the cries of cancel culture, "So You've Been Publicly Shamed" shares the real tale of people who have been canceled and asks the question: why do we so desperately want to ruin the lives of strangers? I loved this. It's real without being too heavy, and it brings the theater of public shamings to sit on the couch or in the car with us.

Jon Ronson sees and shows our Selves

Jon Ronson sees and explains people in society very well. Usually he shines a light on individuals who have had an effect on society. This time we look at how society has had an effect on individuals.

The internet has made the effect of behavior and opinion transact rapidly. The very real damage that has been either self-inflicted or inflicted by other individuals or groups of people who opine on one issue or incident has been examined via several lives that have been affected through the internet - which has made communications rapid worldwide and the cascading effects instantaneous and public.

There are serious consequences and lives have been damaged. Yet Jon manages, once again, to convey irony and humor and manages to lighten the heaviness without insulting or damaging anyone further.

The narration, as usual, is outstanding, and the stories are considered and make one think.

Good Discussion of an Important Topic

I Love the topic of this book, because I believe people who study shame when they say it’s the emotion many people who commit suicide feel when they take their lives.

I agree with the author’s premise; society is crucifying people and forcing them into a lifetime of shame and suffering.

It may be that the greatest challenge to the unlimited power our technology has gifted us with will end up being our ability to seek and embrace our humanity as opposed to creating communities of judgement and persecution.

"Oh My God, Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha" in Jon Ronson's Voice

Another absolutely excellent Jon Ronson book. Interesting, entertaining, funny, thought-provoking, etc. Highly recommended. Highly recommended

Interesting

I liked most of the examples, ideas and conclusions. Towards the end, it felt like it was getting off track, but it came back again and ended very well.

A must read!

Loved it! For the informed person. Would recommend to anyone, and I have done so before.

Creative, entertaining, and heartfelt!!

Where does So You've Been Publicly Shamed rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the Top 5!

What was one of the most memorable moments of So You've Been Publicly Shamed?

Jon Ronson does a great job of interweaving the current stories of those who have been publicly shamed with research and events that have happened throughout history. His participation in the therapy group was fascinating!

Have you listened to any of Jon Ronson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but loved that he read the book. His voice is very soothing.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

No clue!

Any additional comments?

I liked the fact that he showed both sides of the "shaming" and really tried to let those who had been shamed redeem themselves.

yah! scary funny sad, takes you all those places!

Worth the journey. Don't underestimate being shamed. Harsh stories told by a convincing narrator.

Could not put this book down

What a fascinating read. It is so interesting to see how public shaming is dealt with both by the people who have been shamed and the people who are doing the shaming. I would absolutely recommend this book to just about anybody, and the narration is also excellent.