Talking to Strangers

What We Should Know About the People We Don't Know

By: Malcolm Gladwell

Narrated by: Malcolm Gladwell

Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Malcolm Gladwell, host of the podcast Revisionist History and author of the number-one New York Times best seller Outliers, reinvents the audiobook in this immersive production of Talking to Strangers, a powerful examination of our interactions with people we don’t know.

How did Fidel Castro fool the CIA for a generation? Why did Neville Chamberlain think he could trust Adolf Hitler? Why are campus sexual assaults on the rise? Do television sitcoms teach us something about the way we relate to each other that isn't true?

While tackling these questions, Malcolm Gladwell was not solely writing a book for the page. He was also producing for the ear. In the audiobook version of Talking to Strangers, you’ll hear the voices of people he interviewed - scientists, criminologists, military psychologists. Court transcripts are brought to life with re-enactments. You actually hear the contentious arrest of Sandra Bland by the side of the road in Texas. As Gladwell revisits the deceptions of Bernie Madoff, the trial of Amanda Knox, and the suicide of Sylvia Plath, you hear directly from many of the players in these real-life tragedies. There’s even a theme song - Janelle Monae’s “Hell You Talmbout”.

Something is very wrong, Gladwell argues, with the tools and strategies we use to make sense of people we don't know. And because we don't know how to talk to strangers, we are inviting conflict and misunderstanding in ways that have a profound effect on our lives and our world.

The audiobook edition of Talking to Strangers was an instant number-one best seller, and was one of the most pre-ordered audiobooks in history. It seamlessly marries audiobooks and podcasts, creating a completely new and real listening experience.

©2019 Malcolm Gladwell (P)2019 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Malcolm Gladwell is a fabulous narrator of his latest book... His pleasing tone, phrasing palette, and exceptional skill with dramatic pauses all sound natural, yet add sparkling energy to his writing." (AudioFile Magazine)

"Talking to Strangers is a must-read...I love this book.... Reading it will actually change not just how you see strangers, but how you look at yourself, the news - the world.... Reading this book changed me." (Oprah Winfrey, O, The Oprah Magazine)

"Gladwell has again delivered a compelling, conversation-starting read.... At a time when the world feels intractably polarized, a book examining the varying ways we misinterpret or fail to communicate with one another could not feel more necessary.... With a mix of reporting, research and a deft narrative hand, Gladwell illuminates these examples with the page-turning urgency of a paperback thriller." (Chris Barton, Los Angeles Times)

Interesting - but missing info

This was an incredibly well-researched and presented hypothesis. The issue I take is it seems to completely leave power structures and dynamics out of the conversation - the fact that a police person who is armed is inherently in power over civilians, the fact that no one is comfortable around police people, the fact that black Americans are proven to be unsafe when around police people whether or not the submit immediately. The idea that these people are threatened by people like Sandra and so many others is laughable. It only shows the lack of education and the reality that people who have racist tendencies or thoughts (like the assumption he made that she was carrying drugs or a gun is clearly because of race and nothing to do with location). This same power dynamic is present in the case of Brock turner, white men have power and privilege over every other group in the United States - this is why he got off so easily with a light sentence.

Outside of the obvious lack of consideration for these power dynamics, there was a huge missed opportunity to discuss people who are mismatched by neurotypical standards. There are multiple cases of police officers responding to call and ultimately killing people (even in their homes) who are mentally ill because they were acting anxious, or were severely autistic.

I hope he takes the chance to continue to dive deeply into the subject and follows up on the two matters discussed above.

a must read for everyone who talks to strangers!

if you are looking for a book that will change the way you think you have found it.

Better Than I thought!!!!!

A great listen, enjoyed the more podcast feel! I liked all the history he was referring to and the stories that he added! If I could give it more stars I would!

Must listen...even if it's maddening

Gladwell has been one of my go to writers for many years now, but this one I will have to listen to again and get the book to take notes. Utterly fascinating, infuriating, alarming, mind awakening books I have listened to in a while.

Good read! Lots of info I never knew before

enjoyed reading listening to this book a lot. Found it very interesting. I would recommend to anyone.

one minor issue (probably just me) is when the soft background music started playing. At first I thought it was coming from somewhere else outside my headphones. Would catch me off guard wondering where that noise was coming from cause most audio books don't play any thing in the background.

Excellent

I loved the podcast style of this audio book. I also loved the message. The research was really interesting and often surprising. It has inspired me to interact with others differently, making fewer assumptions and asking more questions.

Another great book

by Malcom Gladwell. A great read where he uses real world events to explain how we dont know how to talk to each other and why it can have very destructive effects. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Incredible Book

Absolutely loved it. Such an important read. So enlightening on the way the human mind functions and our ability / inability to see the truth. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone elevating their Consciousness on many issues we face in the world today, and have faced in years prior.

perfect argument of both perspectives

If you want to understand both sides of the black/blue lives matter movement, definitely listen to this book. Malcolm Gladwell is on a quest for knowledge and understanding. He maintains a wonderfully objective view throughout the entire book. This is truly a masterpiece; one that can be relied upon to help us all gain understanding in such a troubling and tumultuous time. Stay well

Should be taught in schools.

Should be mandatory read for every police officer, judge, any one of a subsrantial authority.