A Blast From The Past Series 🚀

Book Review of Jon Ronson's book Out of the Ordinary: True Tales of Everyday Craziness

ID: Picture of Jon Ronson for his book Out of the Ordinary - Copyright owned by Picador (2006)

Jon's book Out of the Ordinary published in 2006 focuses on societies incessant need to stand against authority anyway it can thus becoming non-conformist. This book compliments his other publications: Them: Adventures with Extremists (2001), The Men Who Stare At Goats (2004), What I do: More True Tales of Everyday Craziness (2007), The Psychopath Test (2011), Lost at Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries (2012) and So You Have Been Publicly Shamed (2015) as well as his many newspaper, magazine or blog columns and posts, along with his various radio, TV and pod cast shows. He has even given four TEDx lectures.

Nut job, nutter, crazy, not right in the head, mad are just a few of the colloquialisms that people have used in the past to describe someone who suffers from mental illness or does not conform to what they perceive to be 'normal'. Some people turn to conspiracy theories, others become radicalised or turn to darker elements of society and some just want to be different. In Jon's case, its his deep need to be a great dad and give his son Joel what he did not have as a child himself. Although he has very good intentions, his desire to smother his son in love becomes a bit over the top making him become a bit 'crazy' or zany at times. This is something that clearly comes through each of his books, especially this one as a couple of the chapters focus on his relationship with his every loving and longsuffering wife and son.

The thing about this book that makes me pick it up off the book shelf again and again is Jon's honesty and how he can laugh at himself even when he is being a complete and utter fool. He reminds us to lighten up and not take life so seriously all the time. Being an adult brings enough of its serious moments - so when you get the chance to be silly - why not be silly. This book though is not all games and laughter though. Chapters 3, 6, 7 & 8 introduce us to the darker side to being different. Conning the more affluent (wealthier) amongst us with so called miracles from God, Greed and cheating, music celebrities abusing children and religious cult pressure to sell human body organs. Jon manages to get close enough to these people to be able write journalistic articles or books to warn others about these dangerous schemes. He manages to do this where many other journalists fail. I don't don't how for sure but it may be that he is not afraid to take on and report the more stranger parts of life. Also, he may be perceived as strange himself due to his over anxious and slightly paranoid self, thus disarming the person or organisation he is talking about. Some may consider Jon a bit of a fool but he is far from it! He is a skilled author and journalist who is prepared to take risks were others are only interested on what is going to make them rich.

Overall, this book is most certainly worth reading. I highly recommend this funny, self deprecating book that takes us through a journey of weirdness by looking in on ones self through Ronson's eye's. Jon Ronson shows us that although we may seek to shun or distrust those in authority like politicians, we need to use caution in our need to replace those individuals or organisations. Conspiracy theories are very dangerous - most of what they say is a lie with a hint or grain of sand of truth buried deep. If you are unable to discuss something or this idea or belief stops you hearing what others have to say who love us or just want to understand your ideas better - then it may be time to see who is in control - you or the concept. So if you can, eBay it, Amazon or online shop it, visit your high street or local library and do yourself a favour and buy this book.

Jon Ronson - Out of the Ordinary: True Tales of Everyday Craziness (2006) - Published in paperback by Picador and The Guardian. ISBN: 978-0-330-44832-1 - printed in Croydon, London UK. 306 pages.