This Philadelphia journalist has made a name for herself investigating and writing about gossip. She is also the podcaster of Normal Gossip and is certainly a champion gossiper herself.
Documented with hundreds of examples, gossip, narrowly defined as someone talking about someone else without their knowledge, is certainly ubiquitous, often damaging and false, but usually self-serving, building up the self-esteem of the gossiper. She distinguishes gossip as distinct from lying or even urban legends. Social networks amplify the power of gossip, particularly when it is posted anonymously and there are endless quotes from sites and people I have never heard of. It can be educational or cruel and malicious.
Much of the content of this book is about the author’s own experiences, her insecurities, and self-doubts and bears little relevance to the purported subject. There is no doubt that gossip is universal and can be useful or very harmful.
This book Is not organized by any obvious plan, and very nebulous. I found little of lasting value in it.
2.5/5
Thanks, Book Browse and The New Yorker.
The Passionate Reader 