First- and second-hand embarrassment are alive and well for the individuals in this vibrant, new collection of essays. The raw and relatable stories in Pathetic give readers a chance to examine the social interactions between humans and determine where to draw the line between self-censoring and free expression. Some of the stories in this collection evoke feelings of pity for the essayist, but others for the people with whom she must interact. Between the pages of this collection lurk stories of bad mentors, bad thieves, and multiple bad decisions. Shannon McLeod's debut collection, Pathetic, gives readers the opportunity to delve into the life of someone who has made many mistakes but has had the chance to learn and grow from them.