Why So Many Men Feel Lost
Jon Ronson discusses why old social structures are breaking down, the rise of online identity, and what happens when people lose a sense of meaning.
Today's guest is Jon Ronson, the bestselling author of The Psychopath Test and So You've Been Publicly Shamed, host of the podcast Things Fell Apart, and author of the new book The Castle: Adventures in a World of Unraveling Men.
Nick Gillespie talks with Ronson about what happens when the institutions and social structures that once gave people a sense of purpose begin to disappear. They discuss men who have dropped out of work and society, the strange incentives that push people to turn themselves into online brands, and how social media can reward outrage and extremism. They also discuss whether public shaming helped produce today's more disinhibited culture and why Ronson still believes there is an audience for curiosity, nuance, and genuinely open conversation.
0:00—Are men unraveling?
5:30—Chris Mark
14:49—Influencers, gatekeepers, and Greg Chism
22:24—Graham Linehan
32:50—Does public shaming no longer work?
37:55—The human need for meaning
44:19—Andrew Gold
50:22—Social media incentives
58:11—Things Fell Apart