A novel of success in which the narrator delightfully recounts her anal sex; a pop diva stepping into the spotlight in a dress made of meat; a host who narrowly escapes death stammering a marriage proposal on live television: Are we living in a culture of shamelessness? The accusation of moral decay is part of any cultural criticism. But has something not changed after all? With a clear perspective, Ulrich Greiner explores feelings of shame and embarrassment as they appear in our daily lives and in literary texts. Literature serves as a unique archive of the history of shame. This elegantly written book opens our eyes to the changes in time and the society we live in. Greiner is a brilliant storyteller. - Der Tagesspiegel.