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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
gladwell is a fantastic storyteller, bringing events across time and space and making them cohesive. his message is simple, to stay trustful of others, to be wary of appearances and judging others on first impressions, but done really well!
challenging
informative
medium-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Unexpectedly ominous
informative
Originally read in 2020, reread for bookclub in 2025. In general I like Malcolm gladwell’s storytelling style. But I will add that some of his points, although intriguing, didn’t really feel like they related to Talking to Strangers.
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Content is extremely dark in nature. Sensitive readers/listeners highly cautioned!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Police brutality
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I haven't read any of gladwells books before so I found the jumping between case studies a little difficult to follow at times. However the last chapter really helped bring it all together for me. It's definitely given me some interesting lessons to take away.
I'm never going to believe anything you say ever again. But, can a society function without trust? How can I trust you, though, when the evidence is so overwhelming? But, is it possible that there are details that I don't and cannot understand?
While this book probably raised more questions than it answers, I did find it very ponderable and very well done.
While this book probably raised more questions than it answers, I did find it very ponderable and very well done.
At no point did Gladwell effectively define "stranger". What are the factors that make the other strange to us? What defines the other? Gladwell conveniently glosses over cultural, racial and gender differences and uses a head-spinning number of disparate examples to illustrate his point. Which is? It's hard to talk to strangers.
Of course Gladwell is as ever a master storyteller, but save yourself the time and just read a review. There are excellent ones in the NYT, the Guardian and the WSJ.
Of course Gladwell is as ever a master storyteller, but save yourself the time and just read a review. There are excellent ones in the NYT, the Guardian and the WSJ.
Some interesting ideas, but not talking about racism or privileged expectations (entitlement) is a gaping hole in any thesis he's presenting. He also didn't mention how the APA reacted to psychologists helping with torture and "enhanced interrogation," but at least he mentioned that torture does not produce credible information.