I have read two of his books already and I am in awe of his journalistic talent. He not only has an excellent way of choosing the most interesting stories, but he really squeezes out the most he can. What I mean when I say “addictive” is that he has a writing style that keeps you engrossed and engaged. Do you know other books like these? I manly enjoy the sociological and psychological aspect of his research
by palsdrama
3 Comments
Maybe try some Malcolm Gladwell or Tim Harford.
Jon Ronson is excellent. He’s often compared to Louis Theroux who also has a few books but is better known for his TV shows which are worth a watch.
I think you may be looking for Will Storr.
I’m also a huge Jon Ronson fan. Not exactly what you’re asking for here, but I really recommend his two-part audio series called Things Fell Apart. The second series is about modern culture wars and is even better than the first, and you can start with either as they’re not really connected.
My favourite journalistic non-fiction book of all time is Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets by David Simon. It is about the year he spent as a journalist embedded with the Baltimore homicide department in the late 1980s – going to crime scenes, attending interrogations, and of course just drinking with the cops. An incredible depiction of a difficult job in a city filled with murders. Simon would eventually go on to write The Wire (the greatest television show of all time!) alongside a former detective, and this book was a big source of information and inspiration for it. His other book, The Corner, is also great and is about his time spent with street-level drug dealers, addicts, and the downtrodden of Baltimore.
Homicide is obviously not as light-hearted in tone as anything by Ronson, but it’s a hell of a great book.