The Psychology of Secrets - by Andrew Gold

About the Book

A gripping, wide-ranging exploration 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.

Book Synopsis

Cult leaders, murderers, psychopaths - and you. Take a deep dive into the bizarre psychology of secrecy with Andrew Gold, award-winning investigative journalist and host of On the Edge With Andrew Gold.

We all keep secrets. 97 per cent 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 hidden inner lives.

Andrew Gold knows this better than anyone. As a public figure, he has found himself the unwitting recipient of hundreds of strangers' most private revelations. This set him on a journey to understand this critical 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?

Drawing from psychology, history, social science, philosophy and personal interviews, The Psychology of Secrets is a rollicking journey through the history of secrecy.

About the Author

Andrew Gold is an investigative journalist, podcaster and filmmaker who has made and presented documentaries for the BBC and HBO. He presents the popular podcast On the Edge with Andrew Gold, where he has interviewed Richard Dawkins, Jon Ronson and David Baddiel amongst many others. His documentary on exorcism won several international festival awards and his research in Germany won a prestigious Whicker Award in 2021. The Psychology of Secrets is his first book.