Jon Ronson - 14.06.12 - University of Surrey

by Victoria Ashdown

What springs to mind when you hear the word psycho? Personally, I hear the jarring screech of violins from the classic film, and consequently picture a madman, in a dress, with a knife. However, after reading Jon Ronson’s critically acclaimed ‘The Psychopath Test’, my somewhat stinted views on the subject have altered. Throughout his writing, Ronson explores what it means to be deemed a psychopath and takes an in-depth and comical journey through the human condition and the ways in which society classifies the psychotic. He consults Robert Hare’s list of twenty qualities widely used to classify a psychopath and employs wit and humour in suggesting that many people in positions of power do, in fact, display psychopathic tendencies. His use of case studies and primary research make Ronson’s work intriguing, comical and slightly disturbing! He blurs the boundary between sanity and insanity and leads the reader to question both themselves and the people who surround them. Will Self, a critic from The Guardian, described ‘The Psychopath Test’ as ‘achingly funny’ and ‘naggingly painful’, acting to ‘force us to think more deeply about the subject in hand.’         

In addition to this thought provoking text, Ronson has won acclaim with his journalistic pieces, created a number of film documentaries and has written a variety of best-selling novels. One of which is the popular title ‘The Men Who Stare At Goats’, which was recently adapted into a film starring George Clooney and Ewan McGregor. Based on true events, the novel focuses on the connection between the US Army in the late 1970s and the potential military applications of the paranormal. In 1979, a covert unit of the US Army was established that held the belief that there were soldiers trained to walk through walls, become invisible, and most bizarrely, kill a goat with a single glance. Ronson’s novel reveals the extraordinary - and very strange – national secrets at the heart of George Bush’s War on Terror and makes some profound links to current affairs.

The University of Surrey has been provided with the exciting opportunity to have an audience with Jon Ronson as part of the Surrey PEN Writers Series that will take place on June 14^th. This will give a valuable insight into the mind of a best-selling author and will give you the chance to ask questions about his work. Please support the work of a talented author and come along, you might be surprised what you learn… here’s hoping it’s not that you’re a closet psychopath. 

Tickets are £3 / £5 / £10 and the event will be followed by a wine reception and a book signing.

Go to www.PENsoc.org for more details and to buy tickets.