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A gripping, comprehensive examination of secret-keeping - why we do it, why secrets fascinate us and why we confess - as told through the stories and observations of some of the world's most bizarre and extraordinary characters.
We all keep secrets. 97% of us are hiding a secret right now, and on average we each hold thirteen at any one time. There's a one-in-two chance that those secrets involve a breach of trust, a lie or a financial impropriety. They are the stuff of gossip, of novels and of classic dramas; secrets form a major part of our inner lives, even though the energy expended in keeping them hidden is almost certainly harmful to our mental health.
Podcaster Andrew Gold knows this better than anyone. A public persona, he found himself the (unwitting) recipient of hundreds of strangers' most private revelations, all unsolicited. A journalist at heart, this set him on a journey to understand this critical - yet rarely analysed - part of our societies and lives. Why do we keep secrets? Why are we fascinated by those of others? What happens to our mind when we confess? Whom do we trust with our most confidential information?
Drawing from psychology, history, social science, philosophy and personal interviews, Gold explores our deepest, darkest, most intimate selves. With a verve reminiscent of the very best chroniclers of social habits, from Jon Ronson to Will Storr to Louis Theroux, The Psychology of Secrets is a rollicking journey through the history of secrecy, bringing us in touch with cult leaders, murderers, psychopaths - and even you.
