{"product_id":"2940170692941","title":"Gossip: The Untrivial Pursuit","description":"\u003cp\u003eTo his successful examinations of some of the most powerful forces in\u003cbr\u003e modern life-envy, ambition, snobbery, friendship-the keen observer \u003cbr\u003eand critic Joseph Epstein now adds \u003cem\u003eGossip\u003c\/em\u003e. No trivial matter, \u003cbr\u003edespite its reputation, gossip, he argues, is an eternal and necessary \u003cbr\u003ehuman enterprise. Proving that he himself is a master of the art, \u003cbr\u003eEpstein serves up delightful mini-biographies of the Great Gossips of \u003cbr\u003ethe Western World along with many choice bits from his own experience. \u003cbr\u003eHe also makes a powerful case that gossip has morphed from its \u003cbr\u003eold-fashioned best-clever, mocking, a great private pleasure-to a \u003cbr\u003ecorrosive new-school version, thanks to the reach of the mass media and \u003cbr\u003ethe Internet. Gossip has invaded and changed for the worse politics and \u003cbr\u003ejournalism, causing unsubstantiated information to be presented as fact.\u003cbr\u003e Contemporary gossip claims to reveal truth, but as Epstein shows, it's \u003cbr\u003eour belief in truth that gossip today threatens to undermine and \u003cbr\u003edestroy. \u003c\/p\u003e Written in his trademark erudite and witty style, \u003cem\u003eGossip\u003c\/em\u003e captures the complexity of this immensely entertaining subject.","brand":"Tantor Audio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47105161527536,"sku":"2940170692941","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940170692941_p0.jpg?v=1763813315","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940170692941","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}