Good story with a few slow parts. Overall a good book that most people would enjoy reading. Not my cup of tea.

Honestly, I asked to read this because it sounded interesting. I was unaware of the story behind this book. After I read it, I didn't give a review right away because I was honestly kind of angry.
So this guy is a super important business guy and he got caught on video kicking a dog, and the video went viral and people said mean things about him. That's the "fifteen minutes." He's upset that people are so mean about it, and he calls all the people who are mad about his animal abuse "haters" and says that people don't realize the real situation, which was that he was dealing with a misbehaving animal.
So I watched the video. He's alone in an elevator repeatedly kicking a dog while the dog is flat, clearly completely submissive.
It's disgusting that Des Hague thinks HE"S the victim.
I didn't look at the video right away, and I read about 50 pages before I thought, "Why is this guy telling so much detail about his childhood? How is he important?" But this guy really thinks he's that important and interesting and wonderful. He tells story after story after story about how wonderful he thinks he is, not even realizing when he tells on himself. For instance, he talked about how he had to save money by downsizing and didn't want anyone to lose their jobs, but then he basically proved that none of the cleaning staff was needed becasue to heck with them.
Even when he talks about kicking the dog, he doesn't get it. Des Hague went out of his way to find worse case of animal abuse so he could downplay what he did. Here's a clue: people who don't support animal abuse don't want to read about worse cases just for the fun of it.
The thing that really amazes me most is that this guy came up with this huge pile of dung poor excuse of a lack of apology with the aid of expensive people who are trying to help his image.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this in exchange for a fair review

In a world where reputations can crumble in the blink of an eye, Des Hague's memoir, "Fifteen Minutes of Shame," reveals the resilience of the human spirit and a sobering critique of the perilous landscape of cancel culture.

Warren Buffet once noted that it takes just five minutes to ruin a reputation. For Hague, it was a mere forty-two seconds captured on a Twitter video that threatened to obliterate everything he had worked for. In 2014, he was living the American Dream—a remarkable rags-to-riches story that had taken him from humble beginnings to the pinnacle of corporate success as CEO of a renowned hospitality company.

Then, the unthinkable happened. A video surfaced showing Hague kicking a dog in an elevator. The social media mob quickly descended, and within days, his life was turned upside down. The outrage spread like wildfire, and Hague was forced to resign from his position. His family faced threats, and he became a pariah in the court of public opinion.

But what the Twitter mob didn't know was the true Des Hague—a man who had endured a harrowing childhood marked by physical and sexual abuse, who had spent decades building a loving family and a thriving career, and who had raised millions to combat child homelessness. In "Fifteen Minutes of Shame," Hague peels back the layers of his life, revealing the person behind that fateful forty-two-second clip.

Hague's memoir is more than a tale of redemption; it's a searing examination of the dangers of cancel culture. Through his own experiences, he highlights how the rush to judgment in the age of social media can devastate lives without understanding the full context. He makes a compelling argument for empathy and thoughtful consideration before casting stones, reminding us that everyone has a story that may not fit within the confines of a viral video.

Hague demonstrates unwavering courage and resilience. He emerged from the depths of public humiliation with newfound strength, ultimately using his story to shed light on the complexities of human nature and the need for a more compassionate and nuanced approach to addressing wrongdoing.

In a world where scandal and condemnation often overshadow redemption, "Fifteen Minutes of Shame" serves as a beacon of hope. It is a compelling reminder that, even in the face of the harshest judgments, there is always an opportunity for growth, forgiveness, and understanding.

Des Hague's memoir is a look at the fragility of reputation and the strength of character. It's a story that will leave you contemplating the power of forgiveness and the consequences of a society quick to condemn. "Fifteen Minutes of Shame" is a deeply thought-provoking and ultimately inspiring read that will resonate long after the final page is turned.

“A gripping journey through the perils of cancel culture, 'Fifteen Minutes of Shame' shines a light on the importance of empathy and redemption."

"Des Hague's remarkable memoir is a cautionary tale for our times, reminding us of the consequences of snap judgments in the age of social media."

"In 'Fifteen Minutes of Shame,' Hague's resilience and redemption serve as a powerful reminder that second chances are possible, even in the harshest spotlight."

"A timely exploration of the high cost of public humiliation and the enduring power of the human spirit. A must-read for our social media-driven era."

"Hague's journey from the heights of success to the depths of infamy reveals the strength of character. This book is a call for a more compassionate society."

"A captivating narrative that exposes the underbelly of cancel culture, 'Fifteen Minutes of Shame' is a story of triumph over adversity and a plea for understanding."

"Des Hague's story is a powerful reminder that behind every headline, there's a human being with a story. 'Fifteen Minutes of Shame' invites us to look beyond the surface."

"This memoir is a compelling journey from shame to redemption, a story that challenges us to reevaluate our judgments and embrace empathy."

"In a world quick to condemn, 'Fifteen Minutes of Shame' offers a ray of hope. Hague's tale illustrates the enduring power of forgiveness."

"A thought-provoking and timely memoir that will make you reconsider the impact of cancel culture on individuals and society as a whole."

I guess addressing the very thing that has potentially destroyed your reputation was a brave move and actually the book is more than that. Modern life and times has created this online world that somehow isn't real but is, The story of this man who rose from rags to riches and then was cancelled is very entertaining on one hand but also inspiring on the other. Very good read and quite motivational, well worth a read. Thank you #NetGalley for the e-book to review.

Dess Hague was born in England married his wife Carol and came to America and started climbing the corporate ladder and would eventually find himself on top only to be knocked off after a 42 second video of him kicking his mistress’s dog became public. I would be lying if I said this book wasn’t any good because it was funny witty introspective but the one thing I found prominent in the whole book is he never once admitted that kicking a dog regardless of its behavior is abuse he kept saying he kicked a misbehaving dog. He then went on to expound about all the pressure he was under that his wife was sick that his son had a concussion that he was in Canada having treatment for his own unnamed illness no I am not a fan of cancel culture and the Twitter verse I think those people sound ridiculous commenting on events where details or allusive and I think the majority of these people who comment on Twitter would be in the same boat if their past bad deeds were made public now having said that I have four dogs who I love immensely and I would never kick them in as far as being under stress lots of people have bad days they don’t kick dogs I still don’t think des Hage should’ve been fired or made to retire or resign because of it and even though I don’t understand how someone could kick a dog I know it is easy to do something momentarily that we regret for the rest of our lives as far as the book goes there were a couple of things I was dubious about but the majority of it I found Mr. Hage to be very likable and entertaining and as far as the book goes I definitely and highly recommend it because just like everyone there’s more to the author then what one can see in security footage that doesn’t even last a moment. I want to think the author AnNet Galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Inspirational and interesting!
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.