This book explains how gossip contributes to knowledge. Karen Adkins marshals scholarship and
case studies spanning centuries and disciplines to show that although gossip is a constant
activity in human history it has rarely been studied as a source of knowledge. People gossip
for many reasons but most often out of desire to make sense of the world while lacking access
to better options for obtaining knowledge. This volume explores how when our access to
knowledge is blocked gossip becomes a viable path to knowledge attainment one that involves
the asking of questions the exchange of ideas and the challenging of preconceived notions.
