So You've Been Publicly Shamed (Jon Ronson) - Book Review

Published: Feb. 13, 2021, 11:45 a.m.

What is the most shame you have felt and was it something public or private? 'So You've Been Publicly Shamed' is a deep dive into the topic of shame by the gonzo journalist Jon Ronson. In the book he interviews some notable people who have been shamed on a worldwide level (thanks to social media) as well as investigating the psychology of the people instigating the shaming. In his research he touches upon the role of technology, anonymity, privacy and the creation of an online persona.

Kyrin had this to say about the book. "I quite enjoyed Ronson's style of mixing compelling stories, deep investigative research and personal observations all weaving through his writing. This book won't become a classic but it does raise some current concerns about how humans are using the internet and what could befall any of us. Some of the stories will arouse compassion, distaste and even annoyance at the actors on his stage. Easy to read and all in all I would describe his book as fun and interesting without becoming overly philosophical."

Timeline:
(0:00) - Introduction to Jon Ronson
(3:00) - Public vs private shame
(9:36) - Technology, anonymity and the mob
(15:58) - Kyrin's observations
(19:26) - Summary of the book
(20:53) - Pragmatic takeaway

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