A Brief History of Philosophy — English — eBooks

Gossip has toppled reputations, unsettled rulers and bound communities together for thousands of years. Often dismissed as idle chatter, it has long been a powerful way to exchange information, enforce social rules and decide whom to trust.

A Brief History of Gossip traces the changing life of informal talk, from ancient marketplaces and royal courts to coffeehouses, scandal sheets, celebrity culture and social media. Along the way, it explores the slippery boundaries between gossip, rumour and news—and asks why stories about other people are so difficult to resist.

Who gets called a gossip, and whose whispers become accepted wisdom? When does sharing a secret strengthen a friendship, and when does it become a weapon? How has technology transformed the reach and consequences of a practice as old as human society?

Ashleigh Robertson explores the intimate connections between conversation, reputation and power, revealing how the stories we exchange about one another help shape the world we share.