About the book
British journalist Jon Ronson examines the return of public shaming as an online phenomenon, especially on Twitter, and sets it against its history. Shaming was a common state punishment in colonial America, he notes, and was dropped in Britain and the United States in the 1830s amid calls for compassion. Ronson interviews people whose lives were upended by internet pile-ons, among them Jonah Lehrer, as well as people who practice public humiliation today, such as former Texas judge Ted Poe, and others who set off mass shamings. He also revisits the PyCon episode known as donglegate. A long section covers the ways people try to bury damaging Google search results.
Ryan Holiday named it the best book on media and culture he read in 2015, admiring how Ronson writes about people caught in online controversies with empathy and humor.
We hope you love the books people recommend! Just so you know, The CEO Library may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page.
This book has 2 recommendations
Ryan Holiday (Founder/Brass Check)
There’s no question this was the year’s best book about media and culture–maybe even the best of the decade. Not only is it provocative and insightful, but the idea—interviewing and focusing on people who have screwed up and found themselves in the midst of massive online controversies—is one I am genuinely jealous of. Ronson proceeds to write about it with such sensitivity, empathy, humor and insight that I was blown away. If you’ve at all appreciated any of my media criticism over the years, please read this book. It looks at all that’s wrong with the rage and glee with which we tear people down–often people who were never public figures to begin with. He is just a helluva writer. If you get a chance, watch Monica Lewinsky’s TED talk which is also surprisingly good and pairs well with the ideas in the book.
Audrey Russo (President & CEO/Pittsburgh Technology Council)
So You Have Been Publicly Shamed – Jon Ronson (we are living in interesting times and I am trying to have perspective on how social media has altered our personas)
Get this book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books
See more books recommended by
See more books written by
Often recommended alongside
- The Art of War by Sun Tzu (2 shared recommenders)
- Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Richard Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein (2 shared recommenders)