So You�ve Been Publicly Shamed

IFFATH IRFAN AYESHA

Before I even start this review, let me tell you something about Jon Ronson, the man behind this excellent novel. This award-winning writer and document maker is not an unknown in the writing industry. What sets him apart from other writers is his ability to make novels informal, skeptical investigations of controversial fringe politics and science.
His works have always been filled with fascinating characters whose ideas relegate them to the edge of society _ but “So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed” is a bit different.  In fact, this time he tries to understand the society that rejects those people. Who are they who seem to take such joy in ripping apart complete strangers over the slightest moral weakness?
Specifically, Ronson investigates the phenomenon of online shaming, attending the Twitter flogging of disgraced journalist Jonah Lehrer, checking in with Justine Sacco, who lost her job and her reputation over a racist Twitter joke, and attempting to help Lindsey Stone, who received death threats over a Facebook picture that appeared to show her flipping the bird at Arlington National Cemetery.
Ronson sees himself in these modern-day libertines and blasphemers. Who doesn’t make an ill-advised crack on social media every once in a while?  
But the writer also sees a bit of himself in the self-appointed moral adjudicators, and interviews a 4Chan regular, a Texas judge who specialises in public shaming, and a woman who “called out” two tech developers for telling a sexist joke at a conference, among others.
This whole novel is breathtaking. It is a deeply honest depiction of modern life, full of eye-opening truths about the escalating war on human flaws _ and the very scary part we all play in it.
In the end, it is no mystery that this book, too, turns out to be just like any other Ronson work. Moreover, it is sharply observed, amusingly told, and, while its conclusions may stop just short of profound, the true pleasure of the book lies in arriving at those conclusions.
And I believe this novel is worth your time, but it may make you think twice before pressing that “send” button.

Ratings:
Goodreads – 3.95/5  

So You�ve Been Publicly Shamed

IFFATH IRFAN AYESHA Before I even start this review, let me tell you something about Jon Ronson, the man behind this excellent novel. This award-winning writer and document maker is not an unknown in the writing industry. What sets him apart from other writers is his ability to make novels informal, skeptical investigations of controversial fringe politics and science. His works have always been filled with fascinating characters whose ideas relegate them to the edge of society _ but So Youve Been Publicly Shamed is a bit different. In fact, this time he tries to understand the society that rejects those people. Who are they who seem to take such joy in ripping apart complete strangers over the slightest moral weakness? Specifically, Ronson investigates the phenomenon of online shaming, attending the Twitter flogging of disgraced journalist Jonah Lehrer, checking in with Justine Sacco, who lost her job and her reputation over a racist Twitter joke, and attempting to help Lindsey Stone, who received death threats over a Facebook picture that appeared to show her flipping the bird at Arlington National Cemetery. Ronson sees himself in these modern-day libertines and blasphemers. Who doesnt make an ill-advised crack on social media every once in a while? But the writer also sees a bit of himself in the self-appointed moral adjudicators, and interviews a 4Chan regular, a Texas judge who specialises in public shaming, and a woman who called out two tech developers for telling a sexist joke at a conference, among others. This whole novel is breathtaking. It is a deeply honest depiction of modern life, full of eye-opening truths about the escalating war on human flaws _ and the very scary part we all play in it. In the end, it is no mystery that this book, too, turns out to be just like any other Ronson work. Moreover, it is sharply observed, amusingly told, and, while its conclusions may stop just short of profound, the true pleasure of the book lies in arriving at those conclusions. And I believe this novel is worth your time, but it may make you think twice before pressing that send button. Ratings: Goodreads 3.95/5