You Didn't Hear This from Me: Notes on the Art of Gossip

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A deliciously insightful exploration of why we are so obsessed with gossip, and what it can tell us about humans and their search for truth.

'Sharp-witted and thoroughly researched . . . McKinney convincingly proves that gossiping is a legitimate part of modern life' The Times

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"Can you keep a secret?"

It's harder than it seems - after all, it's only human to thirst after the juicy updates, jaw-dropping stories, and idle chatter that we typically collect over drinks with friends.

No one knows this better than journalist Kelsey McKinney, whose Normal Gossip podcast has accrued a listenership of millions. In YOU DIDN'T HEAR THIS FROM ME, McKinney explores the murkiness of everyday storytelling.

What even is gossip, and why is it considered a sin? Why are we obsessed with the details of celebrity drama and tabloid headlines? How do we use and abuse gossip - and why do we want to do it at all?

McKinney dives deep into a range of cultural cornerstones - from the Epic of Gilgamesh as told by chatbots, to the scandalous betrayals in The Traitors - and captures the heart of gossiping: how enchanting and fun it can be to lean over and whisper something a little salacious into your friend's ear.

With wit and honesty, McKinney unmasks what we're actually searching for when we demand to know the truth - and how much the truth really matters in the first place.