The Psychology of Secrets: My Adventures with Murderers, Cults and Influencers

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 classic dramas, and they are a major part of our inner lives, even though the mental energy expended to keep them hidden is almost certainly harmful to our mental health.

Podcaster and journalist Andrew Gold knows this better than anyone, as he is the recipient of some of the most private revelations from strangers, all unsolicited. He is determined to crack open this mystery, which is a critical – though rarely analysed – part of our societies and inner 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, in The Psychology of Secrets Gold will explore our inner secret world with a verve reminiscent of the very best chroniclers of social habits, from Jon Ronson to Will Storr to Louis Theroux.