Jon Ronson is coming to Wellington!

Wednesday is about books and writing. And reading. Today, the very good news that one of my all-time favourite writers is coming to town. My town! YAY!

I can’t quite believe this! I’m so over the moon about this one! Jon Ronson is coming to Wellington. The author, filmmaker, podcaster and journalist has been one of my absolute heroes across the last 25 years or so. I’ve read his books, loved his recent foray into series-based podcasting and exclusive audiobooks, and then there’s the documentaries — so many of them on YouTube for you to hunt down.

Around a decade ago, he released The Psychopath Test — it’s his best-selling book, and it’s been the basis for a series of live shows. Finally, he’s coming to Wellington, New Zealand.

A month or so ago I saw he was touring Australia, and started pricing up whether it was any sort of option to get to his Melbourne show. I have free accom there, because what Kiwi doesn’t know another Kiwi or four that has jumped the ditch to Melbourne, eh? But even so, it was going to be too cost-prohibitive. A show in my own town though. I’m in with a chance! I presume the tickets will fly out the door. But I’m in, next payday for sure.

Ronson is my favourite. And psychopaths happen to be an area I’m particularly interested in, and timing-wise, I will have (hopefully) just published my own book about psychopaths (well, one in particular) around the time of Ronson’s visit. No joke.

Here’s some coverage I’ve given Ronson over the years. Just a few short takes on a tiny amount of his output.

He’s currently two seasons deep into one of the best podcasts you could hear.

And if you go way back, as I do once or twice a year, you can watch him positively destroy Malcolm Gladwell in a brilliant doco-profile. It’s seriously one of my favourite things to watch by anyone ever. Not because I don’t like Malcolm Gladwell. Just because I love Ronson. And I love how cleverly he gets his man here. It’s just so well played…

So, there’s your primer. That’s all you need to get into Ronson ahead of the show. Well, if you were going to read just one more of his books, beyond Psychopath, I’d absolutely recommend So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed. It’s close to a decade old now, but you’ll know about some of these stories, and I feel this book sensed where we were going, and predicted just a hint of how bad it might get as Cancel Culture’s earliest motivations felt less about social justice and more about people pointing out others who were merely worse than themselves. Someone to be better than. That’s really all Twitter’s ever been about I think. Finding someone to mock. Pointing out the flaw in anyone else. Hideous.

Anyway, I first read Ronson’s amazing Guardian columns — and still return to many of them. The best of his writing holds up so many years on.

I’ll leave you with the press release from NicNak Media:

DO PSYCHOPATHS RULE THE WORLD?

HOW DO WE DEFINE NORMAL?

ARE YOU FRIENDS WITH A PSYCHOPATH?

ARE YOU WORRIED YOU MIGHT BE ONE?

Writer, podcaster and commentator Jon Ronson has announced a Wellington show as part of his Australasian visit in November 2024. Jon will be at The Opera House, Wellington on Tuesday November 26.

Fifteen years has passed since he embarked on the adventure that became his ground-breaking and best-selling work, The Psychopath Test, and now renowned journalist, filmmaker, and author Jon Ronson reopens the case with exclusive anecdotes and fresh reflections, taking you on a thrilling exploration of madness and the elusive psychopathic mind.

Audiences can expect an electrifying journey into the enigmatic world of psychopaths and the perplexing concept of normalcy. In an age where society’s rationality is called into question, Jon will deliver an evening of incisive inquiry, seasoned with his trademark wit and profound insights.

Featuring mystery special guests central to the story but not found in the original edition of the book. Their extraordinary tales are brimming with twists and turns, and the less you know about them, the better. Don’t miss Jon Ronson’s Psychopath Night 2024, an unforgettable night of revelation and intrigue.

A polymath in the realms of journalism, filmmaking, and bestselling authorship, Jon has carved a distinctive niche in the exploration of the human psyche. Widely acclaimed for his groundbreaking work, The Psychopath Test, Ronson seamlessly navigates between thought-provoking documentaries like The Men Who Stare at Goats and compelling books such as So You've Been Publicly Shamed. His insightful storytelling extends beyond the written word to include collaborations on impactful films like Okja, the hit Netflix adventure by legendary filmmaker Bong Joon-ho.

Whether unravelling the enigma of psychopathy or exposing the nuances of societal behaviour, Ronson's body of work reflects an insatiable curiosity, a commitment to exploring the bizarre, and an uncanny ability to reveal the extraordinary within the seemingly ordinary.

ABOUT JON RONSON:

Jon Ronson is celebrated for his penetrating explorations of the human psyche. Renowned for the groundbreaking The Psychopath Test, Ronson seamlessly weaves captivating narratives in books like So You've Been Publicly Shamed and celebrated films such as Okja. His unique blend of humour and profound insight reveals an uncanny ability to illuminate the extraordinary within the ordinary. With a career spanning over two decades, Ronson continues to be a captivating storyteller, delving into the eccentricities of contemporary society and leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of investigative journalism and cultural commentary.