The essay "Twenty-five Things People Have a Shocking Capacity to Be Surprised by Over and Over Again" highlights several surprising truths about journalism and publishing. It points out the tendency of journalists to sometimes fabricate stories or make errors in their reporting, which can lead to public misinformation. This revelation can be disconcerting for readers who rely on the press for accurate information.

Additionally, the essay reveals that many memoirs published today were originally conceived as novels. This suggests that the lines between fiction and nonfiction can be blurred in the publishing industry, often based on marketability rather than the authenticity of personal experience. Nora Ephron's quote, "Freedom of the press belongs to the man who owns one," underscores the influence and control wielded over media narratives, further complicating the relationship between truth and publication.