So You've Been Publicly Shamed in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Jan 11, 2016 Jess rated it liked it

Shelves: 2016

I'd give this one 3.5 stars if I could. Entertaining and thought-provoking, but I felt a little unsatisfied with it as well. Can't pinpoint it, but I will update my review if the thought that captures my sentiment comes to me. ...more

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Dec 15, 2017 Jen rated it really liked it

This book is not about all public shamings, but public shamings in which the actors may have been insensitive but didn't necessarily outrightly hurt anyone else. The book explores the impact the shaming had on their lives and why some people are shamed more than others. He often mentioned how women will face more vitriol than men which is something I wish he had explored a little more since the women he explored in the book were not known people before their shamings while most of the men he exp ...more

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Mar 10, 2015 Jeff Scott rated it liked it

Shelves: internet, non-fiction, shaming

I have read several articles inI the run-up to promote this book. Jonah Lehrer (the Dylan Attribute Liar), Lindsay Stone (the irreverent sign reaction), Justine Sacco (one short tweet, one long flight), and the Adria Richards/"Hank" (making bad jokes, both pay the consequences) are just a few of the stories of public shaming mentioned in Ronson's book. They are horrible stories of people making thoughtless mistakes online and getting decimated as a result.

It would seem, at first blush, that Ron I have read several articles inI the run-up to promote this book. Jonah Lehrer (the Dylan Attribute Liar), Lindsay Stone (the irreverent sign reaction), Justine Sacco (one short tweet, one long flight), and the Adria Richards/"Hank" (making bad jokes, both pay the consequences) are just a few of the stories of public shaming mentioned in Ronson's book. They are horrible stories of people making thoughtless mistakes online and getting decimated as a result.

It would seem, at first blush, that Ronson would offer these individuals redemption in solidarity (we all make mistakes). However, it's hard to say if he is helping to rehabilitate them, furthering their infamy, or worse, using their infamy to help himself. Further, he seems to deviate from online shaming into the nature of shame. He goes to sex shows, therapists who advocate extreme honesty, the courts, and the other investigations. While this is an important topic, he fails to delve deep enough to look at the reason why or what to do about it. Even the subjects of his book are desperate to find that answer.

My big disappointment is that I felt he didn't do enough research on the topic. He simply provides some background to public shaming from the days of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Furthermore, it seems that most of the guys get off the hook in this story. Whereas, of the major stories Ronson conveys, the three women are still unemployed and essentially in hiding. Even though he did take some grief over a line in his book that equivocated a man being fired to a woman being threatened as the same thing, many of these stories take the same tact. Adria Richards is still unemployed, "Hank" has another tech job (where there are no women). He doesn't really address that issue. It does raise awareness on these issues and there are many examples of online activity that could be included (feminists and GamerGate for one). I didn't find a satisfying conclusion even though I did enjoy the thought process and discussion. The whole thing comes up short. ...more

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Feb 23, 2020 Astrid Lim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, psychology, popsugar-2020, social-media

A very interesting book about social media and the culture of public shaming. A very eye opener, written in an easy and addictive style. Some of the cases are familiar and very relatable. Jon Ronson is a good writer, who can write in simple but profound way. Recommended.

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