The Castle

Adventures in a World of Unraveling Men

Author Jon Ronson
Hardcover
$30.00 US
On sale Sep 01, 2026 | 320 Pages | 9781594634208

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From the bestselling author of The Psychopath Test and So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed comes a darkly comic trip to the furthest reaches of the masculinity crisis.

His only child is lured to a mysterious castle in the forests of New England late one night, sending Jon Ronson on an extraordinary adventure into a dark world of unmoored men desperately searching for purpose and control--whatever the cost.

With zero warning, the crisis of masculinity and its bizarre, wrecking ball manifestations had crashed into Jon’s life. As his investigation deepens, urgent questions come to light: What exactly is ‘Princessing’? Why did a lawncare influencer dress as a baby in front of billions of online viewers? How did a paid-up member of the Skeptic Society derail his life in the name of a warped vision of chivalry? And, more pressingly, why are two recently released murderers on their way to pay Jon a visit?

In our rapidly changing society, many men have become detached from reality; Some are behaving like separatists, while others have fallen deep down ideological rabbit holes. Is this a complete fracturing of society, a new era of disinhibition where anything goes?

Drawing on his trademark brand of humor, psychological insight, and unrivalled prescience, The Castle marks Jon Ronson’s long-awaited return to the written page in his darkest and most wildly enjoyable book yet – one where he throws open the doors to The Castle and reveals a new lost generation of men.
© Barney Poole
Jon Ronson’s books include the New York Times bestseller The Psychopath Test and the international bestsellers Them: Adventures with Extremists and The Men Who Stare at GoatsThe Men Who Stare at Goats was adapted as a major motion picture, released in 2009 and starring George Clooney. Ronson lives in London and New York City. View titles by Jon Ronson

About

From the bestselling author of The Psychopath Test and So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed comes a darkly comic trip to the furthest reaches of the masculinity crisis.

His only child is lured to a mysterious castle in the forests of New England late one night, sending Jon Ronson on an extraordinary adventure into a dark world of unmoored men desperately searching for purpose and control--whatever the cost.

With zero warning, the crisis of masculinity and its bizarre, wrecking ball manifestations had crashed into Jon’s life. As his investigation deepens, urgent questions come to light: What exactly is ‘Princessing’? Why did a lawncare influencer dress as a baby in front of billions of online viewers? How did a paid-up member of the Skeptic Society derail his life in the name of a warped vision of chivalry? And, more pressingly, why are two recently released murderers on their way to pay Jon a visit?

In our rapidly changing society, many men have become detached from reality; Some are behaving like separatists, while others have fallen deep down ideological rabbit holes. Is this a complete fracturing of society, a new era of disinhibition where anything goes?

Drawing on his trademark brand of humor, psychological insight, and unrivalled prescience, The Castle marks Jon Ronson’s long-awaited return to the written page in his darkest and most wildly enjoyable book yet – one where he throws open the doors to The Castle and reveals a new lost generation of men.

Author

© Barney Poole
Jon Ronson’s books include the New York Times bestseller The Psychopath Test and the international bestsellers Them: Adventures with Extremists and The Men Who Stare at GoatsThe Men Who Stare at Goats was adapted as a major motion picture, released in 2009 and starring George Clooney. Ronson lives in London and New York City. View titles by Jon Ronson

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