You Didn't Hear This from Me

(Mostly) True Notes on Gossip

De: Kelsey McKinney

Narrado por: Kelsey McKinney

“Gossip is the only cultural tradition I care about, and Kelsey McKinney has written its Bible”–Samantha Irby, #1 NYT bestselling author

From the host of the Normal Gossip podcast, a delightfully insightful exploration of our obsession with gossip that weaves together journalism, cultural criticism, and memoir.

As the pandemic forced us to socialize at a distance, Kelsey McKinney was mourning the juicy updates and jaw-dropping stories she’d typically collect over drinks with friends—and from her hunger, the blockbuster Normal Gossip podcast was born. With listenership in the millions, Kelsey found herself thinking more critically about gossip as a form, and wanting to better understand the role it plays in our culture.

In You Didn't Hear This From Me, McKinney explores the murkiness of everyday storytelling. Why is gossip considered a sin, and how can we better recognize when it's being weaponized? Why do we think we’re entitled to every detail of a celebrity’s personal life? And how do we define “gossip,” anyway? As much as the book aims to treat gossip as a subject worthy of rigor, it also hopes to capture the heart of gossiping: how enchanting and fun it can be to lean over and whisper something a little salacious into your friend’s ear.

With wit and honesty, McKinney unmasks what we're actually searching for when we demand to know the truth—and how much the truth really matters in the first place.

©2025 Kelsey McKinney (P)2025 Grand Central Publishing

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Gossip is the only cultural tradition I care about, and Kelsey McKinney has written its Bible. I cannot wait to gossip about this book with everyone I know for the rest of my life. KELSEY IS THE REAL GOSSIP GIRL XOXO.”—Samantha Irby, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wow, No Thank You. and Quietly Hostile

“A beautiful, expansive ode to the joy of information exchange. An ode that, like the practice of gossip itself, can be all at once inviting, tender, enlivening, and rich with humor, complexity, and an abundance of joys.”—Hanif Abdurraqib, New York Times bestselling author of There's Always This Year

“Come for Kelsey McKinney’s alluring voice, stay for her brilliant insights about words, secrets, gender, shame, pop culture, and technology. McKinney is not only our generation’s most beloved raconteuse, she is a rigorous and deeply thoughtful writer who can quote Emily Dickinson and Doja Cat on the same page and make a reader feel both delighted and challenged to come along for the ride. You Didn't Hear This From Me is cogent and sharp, and I will be whispering around town about it for a long time.”—Amanda Montell, New York Times bestselling author of The Age of Magical Overthinking

So far I’ve only heard everything religion

I’m not sure if or when I’ll come back to this. I have been waiting for this since it was announced. Normal Gossip is one of my fav podcasts.

At a few hours in, I’ve heard more about religion than when I actually went to church.

Hoping I can come back to update.

I love Kelsey!

What an enjoyable and insightful book about gossip! I am a fan of the normal gossip pod and now I am a fan of Kelsey’s writing. This book made me feel less bad about being a gossip because, as you’ll see in the book, you can’t help it.

Excellent Narration

I'm sure like many others, I was looking forward to this book because of the author’s podcast, Normal Gossip. This book did not disappoint! Well researched, well argued, well written. Unique but engaging point of view. All in all, a really great work

for the cerebral girlie pops

I'm a huge fan of Kelsey's podcast normal gossip so I knew I was going to love this book. What I was so pleasantly surprised by is that it wasn't just more gossip stories: it was a really in depth, thought provoking analysis of the role that gossip plays in every fact of our lives. She seamlessly brings together scientific research studies, history lessons, reality tv, and personal stories to elevate topics that are almost always dismissed as 'superficial'. If you're into sociology, modern feminist essays, pop culture, the bachelor, or just a curious, progressive person, I can't recommend enough. It was also a surprisingly healing book? There were several points at which her writing allowed me to unpack guilt or shame that I might feel about gossip or loving reality tv and tabloids. I know that I am going to be referencing this book constantly :)

The Dowager Queen of Gossip Returns!

Super fun to hear Kelsey read this book filled with her life stories and perspectives. I really enjoyed this and wish it was longer!!

A dissertation on gossip

I love this thoughtful beautiful book on gossip, group think, urban legends and great storytelling just as much as I love Normal Gossip.

Deeply researched and well positioned!

It’s a really fun book, I’m loving the mix of personal experience with such a wide array of external sources. Kelsey’s a great reader.

You didn’t hear this from me

I really identified with Kelsey on her upbringing, also growing up religious and shamed for being chatty or a gossip, it was easy to understand the feelings she wrestled with. I found this enjoyable, especially as she was the reader. As an avid normal gossip reader, I liked the way the essays were broken down, and am so excited for her!

Deeply reported AND entertaining!

A great listen for any Normal Gossip fans! I had pre-ordered the print version but then realized it would be way more fun to listen to Kelsey reading it and can confirm it was. Things Half Heard chapter was a real standout for me! Will point out to the Audible powers that be however that one of the chapter titles is showing up wrong? Should be The Truth About Urban Legends not another chapter about West Elm Caleb. Hope this gets fixed!

Not for me

I love a good gossip. But I was hoping this book would focus more on the negative things of gossiping. Soooo not for me.