
So You've Been Publicly Shamed
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Narrated by:
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Jon Ronson
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By:
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Jon Ronson
About this listen
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 LtdListeners also enjoyed...
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Editorial reviews

Editor's Pick
A difficult listen for difficult people
"I love listens that take difficult, socially charged subjects head-on and investigate them without bias, and So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed might be the best of them. I generally find myself occupying the gray space of social issues—more interested in the effect of a given belief than the belief itself—so Ronson’s study of so-called "cancel culture" speaks to me in a way that makes me feel a little less alone in a world that seems set on defending one side of an issue at any cost."
—Sean T., Audible Editor
Shame on us all.
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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.
Jon Ronson sees and shows our Selves
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Compelling and fair
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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.
Good Discussion of an Important Topic
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"Oh My God, Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha" in Jon Ronson's Voice
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Interesting
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A must read!
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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.Creative, entertaining, and heartfelt!!
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yah! scary funny sad, takes you all those places!
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Could not put this book down
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