Reviews with content warning for Bullying - So You've Been Publicly Shamed

This book had some interesting cases, but overall the author thought A LOT of himself and it showed. I have literally no words for the Afterword, without it the book would have probably been a 2.25. The concept of this book was fascinating but ultimately it was just poorly executed. All I can say is I would never read something written by this author again.

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a_reader_of_book's review

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challenging informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

I honestly think this book should be required reading for all 18-year-olds. Why is it so easy to contribute to hateful comments online? How can it be so compelling to bully, attack, and demand punishment over the internet when the average person would never be so hateful in person? And what can we do about this? Jon Ronson attempts to analyze these questions in "So You've Been Publicly Shamed" (SYBPS). I absolutely LOVED this book! Even though it was published in 2015, and therefore a little outdated, its message is still so applicable to current life. Social media and the internet has opened a lot of doors for us, but it's created a new stage for the, typically vengeful, court of public opinion. And this has quite literally ruined people's lives. I wholeheartedly agree that people should be held responsible for what they say and do, but the viciousness expressed by many people online can be disturbingly shocking. I think if more people read this book, they'd think a bit harder before joining in with potentially hateful internet mobs.

Ronson discusses many different cases of public shaming, often trying to illuminate both sides of the issue equally. I seriously commend him for this! Instead of making quick judgements, he seeks answers and understanding. I think a lot of us need to use this as an example for ourselves, especially nowadays. I found myself literally dropping my jaw in shock while reading many of the chapters. From the historical use of public shaming, to various scientific studies of human behavior, to deeply personal narratives of regret, Ronson highlights the many aspects of shame and the very real repercussions. I could honestly go on and on about this book. If you are looking for a compelling non-fiction read, this is it!

While I connected to all of SYBPS, the last few pages describing the feedback loops utilized online really says it all for me:
"...they're turning social media into 'a giant echo chamber where what we believe is constantly reinforced by people who believe the same thing.' ...'It locks people off in the world they started with and prevents them from finding out anything different. They get trapped in the system of feedback reinforcement. The idea that there is another world of other people who have other ideas is marginalized in our lives.' ...We see ourselves as nonconformists, but I think all of this is creating a more conformist, conservative age. ...We are defining the boundaries of normality by tearing apart the people outside it."

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cielthedeal's review

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challenging emotional informative lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

High level: A book on cancel culture and shame, very accessible.

I'd rate it a 5 on exploring the complex emotions of shame and how we (society both on and offline) inflict it. The book didn't go where I thought it would and really explores the nuances in shame as a punishment in formal (legal cases) and informal (online) settings - interviewing people who are both the perpetrator (victim of shame?) and the judge.

But then I'd rate it a 3 on the "off the paved path" tracks the book takes. Sometimes Ronson goes off his main message and I think we're going somewhere interesting, and then it turns out the end of the road is not at all related to the original idea or theme and I'm like, how did I end up here?

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christinacarrig's review

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informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

Introspective look at current cancel culture and the long-lasting effects it has on people. Really makes you think about society’s actions and why people are so into tearing other people down. Has a diverse set of stories and occurrences that are well-written and well-covered.

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doriangrayscale's review against another edition

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dark informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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kaimju's review

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informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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