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5.5k reviews for:
Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know
Malcolm Gladwell
3.83 AVERAGE
5.5k reviews for:
Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know
Malcolm Gladwell
3.83 AVERAGE
3.25/5 stars
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand the topics discussed (coupling, default to truth, myopia, transparency, mismatch, reliance on face-to-face impressions) were really interesting, but on the other hand there's something really gross about limiting each case study to one of these topics without discussing the other factors at play. In particular, I really despised how the sexual assault cases were talked about, and I think Gladwell himself could use a few lessons on what consent is because it is not as grey as he believes it to be.
CW: suicide, sexual assault (graphic), torture
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I have a lot of mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand the topics discussed (coupling, default to truth, myopia, transparency, mismatch, reliance on face-to-face impressions) were really interesting, but on the other hand there's something really gross about limiting each case study to one of these topics without discussing the other factors at play. In particular, I really despised how the sexual assault cases were talked about, and I think Gladwell himself could use a few lessons on what consent is because it is not as grey as he believes it to be.
CW: suicide, sexual assault (graphic), torture
Blog | Instagram (main account) | Instagram (manga account) | Twitter
I somewhat enjoyed this book until I got to sections where there was blatant victim-blaming in cases of SA. EXTREMELY disappointed with that part of the narrative.
simply characterizing abuser/victim(survivor) interactions as misconceptions is such a gross understatement and does not showcase the gravity of such a situation at all. additionally, characterizing Sandra Bland’s death as a “misguided” interaction with a stranger does little to showcase the racism being shown to Bland during her interaction with the officer. I am extremely disappointed in this book and the gross misrepresentation of survivor/abuser interactions. I don’t know about yall, but my abuser(s) didn’t do things to me because of “misunderstandings,” and I certainly will never see it as such.
simply characterizing abuser/victim(survivor) interactions as misconceptions is such a gross understatement and does not showcase the gravity of such a situation at all. additionally, characterizing Sandra Bland’s death as a “misguided” interaction with a stranger does little to showcase the racism being shown to Bland during her interaction with the officer. I am extremely disappointed in this book and the gross misrepresentation of survivor/abuser interactions. I don’t know about yall, but my abuser(s) didn’t do things to me because of “misunderstandings,” and I certainly will never see it as such.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Addresses interesting situations where interactions with strangers go wrong. Insightful and well done.
informative
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
2.75, but I'll give it a 3.
Oh Malcolm. You certainly know how to spark interest and back up your case with some convincing evidence, and I appreciate the perspective. Especially of this subject matter, a POV that I share and am genuinely interested in. Just wish you would write more about the actual POINT of view. Kept my interest throughout, but I was hoping for a bit more conclusion & call to action at the end. It just isn't his style!
Oh Malcolm. You certainly know how to spark interest and back up your case with some convincing evidence, and I appreciate the perspective. Especially of this subject matter, a POV that I share and am genuinely interested in. Just wish you would write more about the actual POINT of view. Kept my interest throughout, but I was hoping for a bit more conclusion & call to action at the end. It just isn't his style!
Let’s just begin by saying how Talking to Strangers is an eye-opening book for me.
The author, Malcolm Gladwell, talks about series of “remarkable” incidents, that took place anywhere around the world in past years. Why they are remarkable? Because reading details of each story or incident will make you realize that you know nothing about people who you might pass by in a mall, bus station, or a coffee shop that people are not who you think they are- the reader will understand about Default to Truth theory and Transparency and everything it has to do with our misconception of Strangers.
Gladwell starts off with the story of Sandra Bland, a young African- American lady who got stopped by a police officer for not indicating when moving from one lane to another. Sandra, who is no getting agitated lit up a cigarette and that was the turning point for the police officer behavior. Sandra hanged herself in the jail cell she was locked in. Gladwell discusses what went wrong in that encounter, the misunderstanding that led to a need less death of a young person.
He will also end his book the way it started, what happened between Sandra and the officer. In between, the author touches upon controversial cases of rape, child molestation, WWII, the Ponzi scheme orchestrated by Bernie Madoff, and Terrorism as well.
It was interesting to learn about the “Coupling” theory. It basically means that behaviors are linked to specific circumstances and conditions. As the author will explain that most crimes are linked and “coupled” with few specific areas/locations.
Enjoyed the book and it happened to be that I agree with most discussion points Gladwell mentioned in his book. The flow of information is smoothly moving from one subject to another and how all the points are linked together to support the theories mentioned in the book.
The author, Malcolm Gladwell, talks about series of “remarkable” incidents, that took place anywhere around the world in past years. Why they are remarkable? Because reading details of each story or incident will make you realize that you know nothing about people who you might pass by in a mall, bus station, or a coffee shop that people are not who you think they are- the reader will understand about Default to Truth theory and Transparency and everything it has to do with our misconception of Strangers.
Gladwell starts off with the story of Sandra Bland, a young African- American lady who got stopped by a police officer for not indicating when moving from one lane to another. Sandra, who is no getting agitated lit up a cigarette and that was the turning point for the police officer behavior. Sandra hanged herself in the jail cell she was locked in. Gladwell discusses what went wrong in that encounter, the misunderstanding that led to a need less death of a young person.
He will also end his book the way it started, what happened between Sandra and the officer. In between, the author touches upon controversial cases of rape, child molestation, WWII, the Ponzi scheme orchestrated by Bernie Madoff, and Terrorism as well.
It was interesting to learn about the “Coupling” theory. It basically means that behaviors are linked to specific circumstances and conditions. As the author will explain that most crimes are linked and “coupled” with few specific areas/locations.
Enjoyed the book and it happened to be that I agree with most discussion points Gladwell mentioned in his book. The flow of information is smoothly moving from one subject to another and how all the points are linked together to support the theories mentioned in the book.
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced