Them: Adventures with Extremists
A career-defining introduction to Ronson's investigative nonfiction and recurring interest in extremism and conspiracy.
Author guide
Jon Ronson Books in Order
Jon Ronson is a British-American journalist, author, and filmmaker whose nonfiction combines investigative reporting, memoir, humor, and first-person narrative. His books examine extremism, conspiracy theories, military folklore, psychopathy, public shaming, outsider artists, and unusual social behavior.
nonfictionjournalismmemoiressaytravel writing
Catalog record updated .
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry
A concise introduction to his characteristic blend of reporting, memoir, humor, and psychological inquiry.
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (6)
- Them: Adventures with Extremists
nonfiction · 2001
Them is an eye-opening, outrageously funny exploration of extremism, which makes both author and reader think twice about the looking-glass world of 'us' and 'them' . . . A Sunday Times bestseller and the book that launched Jon Ronson's…
- The Men Who Stare at Goats
nonfiction · 2004
In 1979 a secret unit was established by the most gifted minds within the U.S. Army. Defying all known accepted military practice -- and indeed, the laws of physics -- they believed that a soldier could adopt a cloak of invisibility, pass…
- The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry
nonfiction · 2011
In this madcap journey, a bestselling journalist investigates psychopaths and the industry of doctors, scientists, and everyone else who studies them. The Psychopath Test is a fascinating journey through the minds of madness. Jon Ronson's…
- So You've Been Publicly Shamed
nonfiction · 2015
Now a New York Times bestseller and from the author of The Psychopath Test, a captivating and brilliant exploration of one of our world's most underappreciated forces: shame. 'It's about the terror, isn't it?' 'The terror of what?' I…
- The Elephant in the Room: A Journey into the Trump Campaign and the 'Alt-Right'
nonfiction-ebook · 2016
“But Hillary is a known Luciferian,” he tried. “She’s not a known Luciferian,” I said. “Well, yes and no,” he said. In The Elephant in the Room, Jon Ronson, the New York Times-Bestselling author of The Psychopath Test, Them, and So You’ve…
Nonfiction (2)
- Clubbed Class
travelogue · 1994
- Frank: The True Story That Inspired the Movie
memoir · 2014
In the late 1980s Jon Ronson was the keyboard player in the Frank Sidebottom Oh Blimey Big Band. Frank wore a big fake head. Nobody outside his inner circle knew his true identity. This became the subject of feverish speculation during…
Essays and speeches (3)
- Out of the Ordinary: True Tales of Everyday Craziness
essay-collection · 2006
- What I Do: More True Tales of Everyday Craziness
essay-collection · 2007
- Lost at Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries
essay-collection · 2012
Frequently asked questions about Jon Ronson
Who is Jon Ronson?
Jon Ronson is a journalist, nonfiction writer, documentary filmmaker, and podcaster known for investigating extremism, conspiracy theories, social behavior, and cultural conflict with humor and curiosity.
Sources: jonronson.com (opens in a new tab)ted.com (opens in a new tab)
Where was Jon Ronson born and educated?
He was born and went to school in Cardiff, Wales, and later studied journalism at the Polytechnic of Central London.
Sources: humanists.uk (opens in a new tab)the-talks.com (opens in a new tab)
What is Jon Ronson known for as a journalist?
Ronson is known for investigative nonfiction and documentaries that explore unusual or extreme subjects through a distinctive blend of research, deadpan humor, and empathetic storytelling.
Sources: jonronson.com (opens in a new tab)ted.com (opens in a new tab)theguardian.com (opens in a new tab)
What influences Jon Ronson’s approach to reporting?
He emphasizes curiosity, evidence, fairness, and rehumanizing his subjects rather than judging them from a position of moral superiority. He has said that treating people as complicated individuals is more useful than reducing them to heroes or villains.
Sources: the-talks.com (opens in a new tab)theguardian.com (opens in a new tab)
What awards has Jon Ronson won?
Ronson and Peter Straughan won the 2014 British Independent Film Award for best screenplay for Frank. His audio work has also received the 2023 Signal Gold Award for best true-crime podcast and the Broadcasting Press Guild Award for podcast of the year.