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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
First read of the year. Listened to audiobook, it's great. Listen this rather than read. Great ideas, feels great to read this story of books..
The points he is making in this book are good and will change the way I look at strangers, it is his evidence that I have issues with. I appreciate Gladwell for how plain his writing style is which does not work for the extremely sensitive and emotional examples chosen to support these concepts.
Compelling, but intense, stories with plenty of research. It was hard for me to read about the torture interrogation techniques, so not a five star for me on that. Take away: always give strangers more respect and pleasantries than you think necessary. Context is everything, and we just can't know someone else's context. That said, don't always assume the best of others. There are some whack jobs out there.
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
fast-paced
DNF at 60%
It was so repetitive, I got tired of it. It's also so stupidly insensitive.
There are valid points on how people are likely to trust until there is overwhelming evidence of the contrary. And there are valid points on how body language and language can't be trusted. those two points were clear in the first few chapters, and it becomes annoying and repetitive. I understand that this is Gladwell's style. He likes the small anecdotes, and I did too. If some of those anecdotes were presented as just stories, I would have loved it, but they are instead bent into an argument that has already been argued.
I hated the blatant defense of enablers of rape. There were too many assumptions made based off of too little evidence. Not enough criticism, too many excuses.
I don't want to read books that are this disconnected from sensitivity and compassion.
It was so repetitive, I got tired of it. It's also so stupidly insensitive.
There are valid points on how people are likely to trust until there is overwhelming evidence of the contrary. And there are valid points on how body language and language can't be trusted. those two points were clear in the first few chapters, and it becomes annoying and repetitive. I understand that this is Gladwell's style. He likes the small anecdotes, and I did too. If some of those anecdotes were presented as just stories, I would have loved it, but they are instead bent into an argument that has already been argued.
I hated the blatant defense of enablers of rape. There were too many assumptions made based off of too little evidence. Not enough criticism, too many excuses.
I don't want to read books that are this disconnected from sensitivity and compassion.
The "enhanced audiobook" which really means it's something of a blend between a podcast and an audiobook was a really cool format. Having real interviews and voice acting mixed in was unique.
The book itself doesn't really literally teach you how to talk with people you don't know but rather analyzes the mistakes that we as a society make in our assumptions when talking with strangers. And eventually, how those assumptions lead to dangerous and painful conclusions.
Very thought provoking.
I think the last lines sum it up pretty perfectly:
"Because we do not know how to talk to strangers, what do we do when things go awry with strangers?
We blame the stranger."
The book itself doesn't really literally teach you how to talk with people you don't know but rather analyzes the mistakes that we as a society make in our assumptions when talking with strangers. And eventually, how those assumptions lead to dangerous and painful conclusions.
Very thought provoking.
I think the last lines sum it up pretty perfectly:
"Because we do not know how to talk to strangers, what do we do when things go awry with strangers?
We blame the stranger."
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Fascinating read! I learned quite a bit and trust people and myself less than ever Ha! I will be checking out more of this authors books for sure