The latest book by Jon Ronson, bestselling author of The Psychopath Test. Here he examines the resurgence of public shaming, an age-old but increasingly common phenomenon that once took place in the form of stoning and pillories and has reemerged in the form of online attacks on Twitter, 4chan, and other popular internet forums. Ronson explores recent cases, including the plagiarism scandal of author and journalist Jonah Lehrer and the controversy surrounding an ill-received Tweet by former public relations executive Justine Sacco. He questions the motivations behind and justifications for his own and others’ participation in this new “democratized” form of justice.
The author shows that while a few of those subjected to public shaming emerge relatively unscathed, commentary and threats by the oftentimes anonymous online masses can translate into very real effects on the personal and professional lives of these individuals. Ronson’s observations provide a quick, stimulating, and serious but entertaining read for those interested in the intersection of technology and human behavior.