Talking to Strangers
What We Should Know about the People We Don’t Know
About the book
Malcolm Gladwell argues that the tools and strategies people use to make sense of strangers are flawed, and that the misunderstandings they produce can have disastrous results. He builds the argument from a series of cases, among them Bernie Madoff's fraud, the Cuban mole Ana Montes, Neville Chamberlain's dealings with Hitler, the trial of Amanda Knox, the death of Sylvia Plath and the arrest of Sandra Bland, whose case frames the book at both ends. Central to it is the truth-default theory of psychologist Timothy R. Levine, the idea that people are by nature inclined to trust. The audiobook follows the style of his Revisionist History podcast, with interview voices, re-enacted court transcripts and a theme song by Janelle Monae.
Ryan Holiday finished it in one sitting and told Gladwell he was at the height of his powers, and later told his readers it is a little less practical than the earlier books yet far more thought provoking.
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This book has 1 recommendation
Ryan Holiday (Media Strategist, Author, Founder/Brass Check)
I'll put here what I emailed Malcolm when I finished the book: "Just finished your new book in one sitting yesterday. So good. You are at the height of your powers and remain an inspiration to all of us trying to master an un-masterable profession." It's a little less practical or self-improvement oriented than his previous books, but far more thought provoking.
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