Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know ... - Goodreads

In this book, Malcolm Gladwell introduces the idea that many tragedies across the globe were caused by miscommunication between strangers. His thesis is that ... Goodreadshelpsyoukeeptrackofbooksyouwanttoread. Startbymarking“TalkingtoStrangers:WhatWeShouldKnowAboutthePeopleWeDon’tKnow”asWanttoRead: WanttoRead saving… WanttoRead CurrentlyReading Read Othereditions Enlargecover WanttoRead saving… Errorratingbook.Refreshandtryagain. Ratethisbook Clearrating 1of5stars2of5stars3of5stars4of5stars5of5stars OpenPreview SeeaProblem? We’dloveyourhelp. Letusknowwhat’swrongwiththispreviewof TalkingtoStrangersbyMalcolmGladwell. Problem: It’sthewrongbook It’sthewrongedition Other Details(ifother):   Cancel Thanksfortellingusabouttheproblem. ReturntoBookPage Notthebookyou’relookingfor? Preview—TalkingtoStrangers byMalcolmGladwell TalkingtoStrangers:WhatWeShouldKnowAboutthePeopleWeDon’tKnow by MalcolmGladwell 4.02  ·  Ratingdetails ·  230,734 ratings  ·  19,729 reviews MalcolmGladwell,hostofthepodcastRevisionistHistoryandauthorofthe#1NewYorkTimesbestsellerOutliers,offersapowerfulexaminationofourinteractionswithstrangers--andwhytheyoftengowrong.HowdidFidelCastrofooltheCIAforageneration?WhydidNevilleChamberlainthinkhecouldtrustAdolfHitler?Whyarecampussexualassaultsontherise?Dote MalcolmGladwell,hostofthepodcastRevisionistHistoryandauthorofthe#1NewYorkTimesbestsellerOutliers,offersapowerfulexaminationofourinteractionswithstrangers--andwhytheyoftengowrong.HowdidFidelCastrofooltheCIAforageneration?WhydidNevilleChamberlainthinkhecouldtrustAdolfHitler?Whyarecampussexualassaultsontherise?Dotelevisionsitcomsteachussomethingaboutthewaywerelatetoeachotherthatisn'ttrue?Whiletacklingthesequestions,MalcolmGladwellwasnotsolelywritingabookforthepage.Hewasalsoproducingfortheear.IntheaudiobookversionofTalkingtoStrangers,you'llhearthevoicesofpeopleheinterviewed--scientists,criminologists,militarypsychologists.Courttranscriptsarebroughttolifewithre-enactments.YouactuallyhearthecontentiousarrestofSandraBlandbythesideoftheroadinTexas.AsGladwellrevisitsthedeceptionsofBernieMadoff,thetrialofAmandaKnox,andthesuicideofSylviaPlath,youheardirectlyfrommanyoftheplayersinthesereal-lifetragedies.There'sevenathemesong-JanelleMonae's"HellYouTalmbout."Somethingisverywrong,Gladwellargues,withthetoolsandstrategiesweusetomakesenseofpeoplewedon'tknow.Andbecausewedon'tknowhowtotalktostrangers,weareinvitingconflictandmisunderstandinginwaysthathaveaprofoundeffectonourlivesandourworld. ...more GetACopy AmazonOnlineStores ▾AudibleBarnes&NobleWalmarteBooksAppleBooksGooglePlayAbebooksBookDepositoryAlibrisIndigoBetterWorldBooksIndieBoundThriftbooksLibraries Hardcover,388pages Published September10th2019 byLittle,BrownandCompany MoreDetails... OriginalTitle TalkingtoStrangers:WhatWeShouldKnowAboutthePeopleWeDon’tKnow ISBN 0316478520 (ISBN13:9780316478526) EditionLanguage English URL https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/malcolm-gladwell/talking-to-strangers/9780316478526 LiteraryAwards GoodreadsChoiceAwardNomineeforNonfiction(2019) OtherEditions(89) AllEditions | AddaNewEdition | Combine ...LessDetail EditDetails FriendReviews Toseewhatyourfriendsthoughtofthisbook, pleasesignup. ReaderQ&A Toaskotherreadersquestionsabout TalkingtoStrangers, pleasesignup. PopularAnsweredQuestions In2009awellknownHarvardpsychologist,Stevenpinker,wrotethefollowinginareview: "ReadershavemuchtolearnfromGladwellthejournalistandessayist.ButwhenitcomestoGladwellthesocialscientist,theyshouldwatchoutforthoseigonvalues." PinkeradvocatesthinkingpeopletoavoidGladwell.Doesthisbookservetoshowpinkerwrong? https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/books/review/Pinker-t.html 29likes · like 2yearsago Seeall17answers Summer Gladwellwritesmainstreamnon-fictionforanon-academicaudience.OfCOURSE,it'snotgoingtobeanintellectuallyrigorousasanarticleinapeer…moreGladwellwritesmainstreamnon-fictionforanon-academicaudience.OfCOURSE,it'snotgoingtobeanintellectuallyrigorousasanarticleinapeer-reviewedjournal.I,forone,enjoyitasitis.(less) flag Whatdoesitabout? 9likes · like 2yearsago Seeall3answers CindySchneider MalcolmGladwellhasagiftfortakingtheseeminglymundane,orinvisible,andshowingusthemajorinfluenceithasinourlives. flag Seeall11questionsaboutTalkingtoStrangers… ListswithThisBook 2020:WhatWomenBornInThe1970sReadIn2020 6,468books — 831voters BestBooksof2019 1,276books — 1,887voters Morelistswiththisbook... CommunityReviews Showing1-30 Averagerating 4.02  ·  Ratingdetails  ·  230,734 ratings  ·  19,729 reviews AllLanguagesAzərbaycandili‎(1) BahasaIndonesia‎(24) BahasaMelayu‎(1) Dansk‎(4) Deutsch‎(9) Eesti‎(3) English‎(19137) Español‎(49) Français‎(3) Italiano‎(14) Lietuviųkalba‎(11) Magyar‎(4) Nederlands‎(26) Norsk‎(5) Polski‎(9) Português‎(29) Pусскийязык‎(8) Română‎(3) Slovenčina‎(5) Suomi‎(10) Svenska‎(10) TiếngViệt‎(8) Türkçe‎(6) Íslenska‎(1) česky,čeština‎(5) Ελληνικά‎(3) българскиезик‎(1) українська‎(2) עברית‎(1) العربية‎(32) فارسی‎(7) বাংলা‎(1) ไทย‎(6) 中文‎(2) Morefilters  |  Sortorder StartyourreviewofTalkingtoStrangers:WhatWeShouldKnowAboutthePeopleWeDon’tKnowWriteareview Jun02,2019 Mimi ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: i-own, life-learnings, non-fiction, have-a-copy, diversity-inclusion-belonging AsIsatattheairport,headdeepinabook,Isuddenlyheard,"Hi!"What?Tomyleftstoodahandsomeman."IjustthoughtIshouldsayhisinceIseeyou'rereadingTalkingtoStrangers."ItoothoughtMalcolmGladwell'snewbookwasgoingtoteachmehowtoliterallytalkwithpeopleIdon'tknow,butasalwaysheturnsallmyassumptionsontheirheadwiththisbook.Ifthat'swhatthebookwasabout,thatstrangerandImightbeonadatebynow.IfIcanconvinceyouofonethinginthis AsIsatattheairport,headdeepinabook,Isuddenlyheard,"Hi!"What?Tomyleftstoodahandsomeman."IjustthoughtIshouldsayhisinceIseeyou'rereadingTalkingtoStrangers."ItoothoughtMalcolmGladwell'snewbookwasgoingtoteachmehowtoliterallytalkwithpeopleIdon'tknow,butasalwaysheturnsallmyassumptionsontheirheadwiththisbook.Ifthat'swhatthebookwasabout,thatstrangerandImightbeonadatebynow.IfIcanconvinceyouofonethinginthisbook,letitbethis:Strangersarenoteasy...Wethinkwecaneasilyseeintotheheartsofothersbasedontheflimsiestofclues.Atthe2019bookconferenceBookExpoAmerica,MalcolmpointedoutthattheproblemsexemplifiedbythedeathofSandraBland,ablackwomanarrestedbyawhitepoliceman,areeverywhere,notjustinthedarkestareasofAmerica.Itliesnotonlywiththeseindividualsbutwithineachofus.Inhisbook,hetakeshugescandals(andwhodoesn'tlovetoreadaboutascandal?),reachesdeepinsidelikeyouwouldyourskinniestjeansandthenpullstheminsideout.Exceptthatwhenhedoesthis,yousuddenlyrealizeyourjeanshadactuallybeeninsideoutbefore.Itismindbending,whichmeansthatyouhavetofollowalongtoatleastpage54beforeyoustarttounderstandwhereMalcolmisgoing.Youwilleitherfindthistooconvolutedtokeepgoingatsomepointoryouwillreaditallinonesitting,asIdidflyingfromNYtoCA.MyonefrustrationwiththisbookisthatattheveryendMalcolmspendsonly2pages(2!)sayingwhatweshoulddoaboutallhejusttaughtus.Afterspeedingthroughthebook,thatfeelslikeanabruptstop.Ontheotherhand,Ican'tstopthinkingaboutwhatherevealsalongtheway.Ican'tunseewhathehasshownmeandnowmyframeworkoflookingattheworldisdifferent.Andisn'tthatthemissionofanygoodbook?SPOILERALERT:Forthoseofyouwhodon'tkeepreadingthebook,herearemykeyinsights.ButtoreallyunderstandwhatMalcolmargueshappenedincaseslikeFidelCastro'sfoolingoftheCIA,thedeceptionsofBernieMadoff,thetrialofAmandaKnox,thesuicideofSylviaPlath,theJerrySanduskypedophiliascandal,andthedeathofSandraBlandyouneedtoreadthewholebook.1.THEDEFAULTTOTRUTHPROBLEMWedonotbehave,inotherwords,likesober-mindedscientists,slowinggatheringevidenceofthetruthorfalsityofsomethingbeforereachingaconclusion.Wedotheopposite.Westartbybelieving.Andwestopbelievingonlywhenourdoubtsandmisgivingsrisetothepointwherewecannolongerexplainthemaway.Foraveryfew,thereisnohighthresholdbeforedoubtsturnintodisbelief-dishonestyandstupidityiseverywhere.InRussianfolklore,thisarchetypeiscalledyurodivy,the"HolyFool."Weshouldbestrategicallyinsertingthesepeoplewhereoursocietyhasablindeye,tobewhistleblowers,howeverwedon'twantthesetoblankettheirjudgementoneveryone.Whilewethinkwewantourguardianstobealerttoeverysuspicion,thatisactuallykeytowherethepoliceofficersotragicallyfailedSandraBland.Itwasn'tthathedidn'tdowhathewastrainedtodo,butthathedidexactlywhathewastrainedtodo.Hewastaughttoblanketperfectlyinnocentpeoplewithsuspicionincaseoftherareinstanceofacriminal.Thiskindofthinkingleadstothedistrustweseebetweenpoliceandthecommunitytoday.Toassumethebestofanotheristhetraitthathascreatedmodernsociety.Thoseoccasionswhenourtrustingnatureisviolatedaretragic.Butthealternative-toabandontrustasadefenseagainstpredationanddeception-isworse.2.THETRANSPARENCYPROBLEMTransparencyisamyth.HowpeoplearefeelinginsideoftendoesNOTperfectlymatchhowtheyappearontheoutside,whichmeanswearemisjudgingother'sintentions.Thisdoesn'tmatterasmuchwithclosefriendswhereyouunderstandwhattheiridiosyncraticexpressionsmean(Ihadafriendwhowouldoftenabruptlygetupandleave.Otherpeoplewouldthinkshewasveryangryatsomethingsomeonehadsaid,butIsawnothingwrongbecauseIcouldtellshewasn'tangryatall.)Whenweareconfrontedwithastranger,wehavetosubstituteanidea-astereotype-fordirectexperience.Andthatstereotypeiswrongalltoooften.Howeverwhilethisstrategyfordealingwithstrangersisdeeplyflawed,itisalsosociallynecessary.Therequirementofhumanitymeansthatwehavetotolerateanenormousamountoferror.Thatistheparadoxoftalkingtostrangers.Weneedtotalktothem.Butwe'reterribleatit...we'renotalwayshonestwitheachotheraboutjusthowterribleatitweare."3.THEMISMATCHPROBLEMWearebadlie-detectorsinthosesituationswhenthepersonwe'rejudgingismismatched.Amismatchiswheresomeone'sleveloftruthfulnessdoesNOTcorrespondwiththewaytheylook.IthinksomeoneishonestbasedonhowtheylookandactbutinactualitytheyarelyingandIcan'ttellthedifference.MalcolmdissectsthecaseofBrockTurner,wherebecausethesetwostrangerswereblinddrunk,myopiaremovedthehighestorderconstraintontheirbehavior.Myopiamakesithardtoconsiderthelong-termconsequences,soasexuallyaggressiveteenager'simpulsesarenolongerkeptincheckbyanunderstandingofhowinappropriatethosebehaviorsareandthelongtermrisksofthosebehaviors.Combinethatwithmismatchingandtransparencyproblemsandit'sadisaster.Ifyouwantpeopletobethemselvesinasocialencounterwithastranger-torepresenttheirowndesireshonestlyandclearly-thentheycan'tbeblinddrunk.4.THECOUPLINGPHENOMENONThefirstsetofmistakeswemakewithstrangers...havetodowithourinabilitytomakesenseofthestrangerasanindividual.Butthere'sasecondcategoryoferrorthathastodowithourinabilitytoappreciatethecontextinwhichthestrangeroperates...Couplingistheideathatbehaviorsarelinkedtoveryspecificcircumstancesandconditions.Forinstance,bothcrimeandsuicidesarecoupled-tiedtoveryspecificplacesandcontexts.Outsideofthoseplacesandcontexts,therateofbothgodowndrastically.Thatmeanswhenyouconfrontthestranger,youhavetoaskyourselfwhereandwhenyou'reconfrontingthestranger-becausethosetwothingspowerfullyinfluenceyourinterpretationofwhothestrangeris.SOWHATSHOULDWEDO?Wecouldstartbynolongerpenalizingeachotherfordefaultingtotruth...Weshouldalsoacceptthelimitsofourabilitytodecipherstrangers...Butfarmoreimportantthanalittlegraceandhumilityoverwhatwecannotdo,weshouldbeclearaboutwhatwecan[do]...Therearecluestomakingsenseofthestranger.Butattendingtothemrequireshumilityandthoughtfulnessandawillingnesstolookbeyondthestranger,andtaketimeandplaceandcontextintoaccount.MalcolmGladwellwasmotivatedbyaneedtounderstandthetruthofwhathappenedwithSandraBlandandotherrecentscandals.Hisconclusionisthatthe"truth"...isnotsomehardandshinyobjectthatcanbeextractedifonlywedigdeepenoughandlookhardenough.Thethingwewanttolearnaboutastrangerisfragile(justbystressingsomeoneoutyoucanaffecttheirmemoryofwhathappened)...Weneedtoacceptthatthesearchtounderstandastrangerhasreallimits.Wewillneverknowthewholetruth.Wehavetobesatisfiedwithsomethingshortofthat.Therightwaytotalktostrangersiswithcautionandhumility.Becausewedonotknowhowtotalktostrangers,whatdowedowhenthingsgoawrywithstrangers?Weblamethestranger.*MyhonestreviewwasmadepossiblebyanAdvancedReaderCopyfromBookExpoAmerica.*Update:I'vesincewrittenasimilarreviewforSoYouWanttoTalkAboutRacewhichisabookthatgivesyoutipsonhowtotalkwithpeopleofotherraces,makingitagoodpairingwiththisbook. ...more flag 1118likes · Like  · seereview Viewall56comments Oct26,2019 Allie ratedit didnotlikeit Shelves: nonfiction, psychology, hell-no TW:detaileddescriptionsofrapeandpedophiliaIfitwerepossibletogiveabooknegativestars,thiswouldbea-10forme.MalcolmGladwellisincrediblyinfluential.FrombookstopodcaststoTEDtalks,heseemstobeeverywhereandhisstory-basedapproachreachesalargenumberofpeoplewhodon'tquestionhiscredentialsasajournalist(withnoscientifictraining)whowritesaboutscience.IenjoyedBlinkandOutliersdespitetheoftendodgyclaimsGladwellmakesbasedonstudiesthata TW:detaileddescriptionsofrapeandpedophiliaIfitwerepossibletogiveabooknegativestars,thiswouldbea-10forme.MalcolmGladwellisincrediblyinfluential.FrombookstopodcaststoTEDtalks,heseemstobeeverywhereandhisstory-basedapproachreachesalargenumberofpeoplewhodon'tquestionhiscredentialsasajournalist(withnoscientifictraining)whowritesaboutscience.IenjoyedBlinkandOutliersdespitetheoftendodgyclaimsGladwellmakesbasedonstudiesthataresmall,poorlydesignedand/ornotreplicable.Themandoesknowhowtocreateanengagingnarrativeandcreate‘aha’momentsthatexcitethereader.And,afterall,headmitsheisn'tascientist,butinstead"...astorytellerwhousesresearchtoaugmentthestories—whoplacesthestoriesintheleadandthescienceinasupportingrole,ratherthantheotherwayaround."Okay,Ihearyoushrugging.Sowhat?Well,inTalkingtoStrangers,Gladwellbringshisfolksyapproachandtendencytopresenthisopinionsastruthtoapainfulandhorrifyingsubject:sexualabuse.Thebookexploresourinabilitytotellwhenpeoplearelying,especiallywhentheyareconfidentandlackobvioustells(e.g.,shiftyeyes,coveredmouth).Gladwellsuggestsmostpeople"defaulttotruth"wheninteractingwithstrangersandthatconsiderableevidenceisneededbeforewebelievesomeoneislying.Moreover,hefeelsthisapproachisvitaltooursocialcompact.Bycontrast,hebelievesapproachingpeoplewithdistrustasadefault(suchaspoliceofficerswhoseeeverypersonasapotentialsuspect)wouldmakenormalfunctioningimpossible.Inmakinghiscase,Gladwelldescribestwocasesofserialpedophileswhooperatedfordecadesbeforebeingcaught:LarryNassar,thedoctorwhomolestedyoungfemalegymnastsinhiscare(ofteninthepresenceoftheirparents),andJerrySandusky,thecoachwhosodomizedyoungboysinhissportsprogramsandfostercare.Readingthesestories--whichdescribedhowtheyoungvictimswererapedandassaultedinpageafterpageofexcruciatingdetail--mademewanttoscrubmybrainwithbleach.AndthenwegettoGladwell'sconclusion:thatourinabilitytodetectliesmeansthatweshouldnotbetooharshinjudgingthevariousadultswhofailedtoprotectchildrenwhowerebeingsexuallyassaulted.Here'showheputsit:"...thosevictimizedbydefaulttotruthdeserveoursympathy,notourcensure."Toclarify,the"victims"inthissentencearenotthechildrenwhowereraped,buttheadults(parents,teachers,employersofpedophiles)whoignoredwarningsignsandsuspiciousbehaviorforyears.Peoplewhoburiedevidence.Peoplewhodismissedthediscomfortexpressedbythechildrenwholackedthevocabularytoexplainthehorrorofbeingviolatedbyanadultinapositionoftrust.GrahamSpanier,theformerPennPresident,wastoldbyoneofhisownemployeesthatSanduskywasseenintheshowerwithayoungboy,atnightindesertedgymfacilities,withhisbodyrightupagainstthechild.Hedidnotgotothepolice.HedidnotcallChildServices.HeacceptedthesuggestionfromanotherstaffmemberthatSanduskywasjust"horsingaround"andletthematterdrop.GladwellhasalotofsympathyforSpanier,stating:"...peoplelikedGrahmanSpanier.It'swhyhehadsuchabrilliantcareer.It'swhyyouandIwouldwanttoworkforhim.WewantGrahamSpanierasourPresident.Wethinkwewantourguardianstobealerttoeverysuspicion.Weblamethemwhentheydefaulttotruth...withoutstoppingtoconsidertheconsequencesofthoseactions."Actually,no.Idon'twantSpanierasmyuniversityPresident.Oranywhereexceptinaprisoncell.NordoIthinkanyconsequencescouldbeworsethanasocietythatallowschildrentobeabused.Alittledistrust(oratrustbutverifyapproach)isagoodthingwhenthevulnerableareinvolved.GladwellalsospendsquiteabitoftimethrowingdoubtonthestoriesoftheboysvictimizedbySandusky,notingcontradictionsandinconsistencies.Gladwellisnotatrainedpsychologist,psychiatristoratraumaabusecounselor.Hehaszeroexperienceindealingwiththevictimsofsexualabuse.Contradictorystoriesarecommonincasesofchildmolestation,asthevictimsoftentrytorepressorjustifytheirabuse.Gladwelldidnotpersonallyknowanyofthechildreninvolved.It'sunclearifheknowsanyonewhohassufferedfromsexualabuse.Yethefeelsitisappropriatetosuggestthatthevictimswerelying(orwrong)andthatSpanierwasmistreatedforbeingtootrusting.Laterinthebook,hedefendsrapists,includingBrockTurner.(Incasethenameringsabell,thatwasthefratguywhoundressed,fingered,andtriedtorapeanunconsciouswomanbehindadumpster,onlytobescaredoffbytwootherstudents.)Gladwellfeelsthatalcoholandmixedsignalsaremainlyresponsibleforrape.Brock'svictimcallsforsensitivelytrainingoncollegecampusestohelpmenlearntorespectwomenandsaysthatwhileheavydrinkingwasafactorinwhathappened,itwasnotthereasonforherrape.Herpowerfulopenlettertothecourtmademecry.YetGladwelldisagreeswithherassessmentofwhytherapehappened,stating:"BrockTurnerwasaskedtodosomethingofcrucialimportancethatnight-tomakesenseofastranger'sdesiresandmotivations.Thatisahardtaskforallofusunderthebestcircumstances.Askingadrunkandimmaturenineteen-year-oldtodothatinthehyper-sexualizedchaosofafratparty,isaninvitationtodisaster."Notrapingsomeoneisahardtask?Gladwellacknowledgesharmwasdone,buthealsoaskswhetherthevictimflirtedwithBrock,whethershestruggled,orwhethershestumbledoutsidewillingly!Iagreealcoholcloudsjudgementandhavenoproblemlimitingitaspartofastrategytoaddressassaultoncampus.Butagoodmandoesn'trapeawomen,regardlessofhowmuchhehasbeendrinking.Atbest,limitingalcoholmightdetermonsterslikeBrockbygettingthemtothinkaboutthepossibleconsequencesoftheiractions(e.g.,jail).Readingthisbookwaslikewadingthroughasewer.ThefactthatsomeonewithGladwell’sinfluenceisusinghisplatformtoexcusepeoplecomplicitinsexualassaultisdisgusting.IwillcertainlyneverreadanythingbyGladwellagain.FormoreonGladwell'smisrepresentationofscience:https://slate.com/technology/2013/10/...https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/arc...Formoreonhimasanapologistforabusers:https://www.theguardian.com/books/201... ...more flag 1382likes · Like  · seereview Viewall165comments Sep01,2019 EmilyMay ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: nonfiction, 2019 IwastryingtoworkthroughmythoughtsonthisbookwhenGoodreadsdidaninterviewwithMalcolmGladwellandthisonethinghesaidjustmadeeverythingclearforme: “I'veneverbeenawriterwho'slookedtopersuadehisreaders;I'mmoreinterestedincapturingtheirinterestandcuriosity.” Because,truthfully,Idon'tknowthatGladwelldidfullyconvincemeofhiswayofthinkingwiththisbook.Idon'tknowthatIactuallyagreethathecandrawalinkbetweenthepoliceofficer“misu IwastryingtoworkthroughmythoughtsonthisbookwhenGoodreadsdidaninterviewwithMalcolmGladwellandthisonethinghesaidjustmadeeverythingclearforme: “I'veneverbeenawriterwho'slookedtopersuadehisreaders;I'mmoreinterestedincapturingtheirinterestandcuriosity.” Because,truthfully,Idon'tknowthatGladwelldidfullyconvincemeofhiswayofthinkingwiththisbook.Idon'tknowthatIactuallyagreethathecandrawalinkbetweenthepoliceofficer“misunderstanding”SandraBlandandNevilleChamberlain“misunderstanding”Hitlerandmakethatwork.AndIdon'tknowthatIagree-actually,no,I'mprettysureIdon't-aboutthewayheviewstheStanfordrapecaseasa"misunderstanding".*But,still,Icouldn'tlookawayfromthisbook.It'sthefirstbookI'vereadbyGladwellandIcanseenowwhyhehasbecomesomethingofapop-nonfictionwriterbecausehedefinitelyknowshowtocaptureyourattention.It'sgotsomepsychology,abitofanthropology,atouchofpolitics,adashofespionage...what'snottolike?Ifounditabsolutelyfascinatingandhorrifyingwhenheshowshowa"blind"machinecanmorecorrectlyjudgethecharacterandbailriskofcriminalsthanhumanjudgesandtrainedlawenforcement.IreallyenjoyedlearningaboutthewaywecharacterizeandjudgefacialexpressionsandhowthisisbothmisleadingANDdiffersacrosscultures,sonotonlydoweoftenincorrectlyjudgethoseinourownsocietyandculture,butwe'vegotnochancewhenfacedwithsomeonefromadifferentcountry.Youeverbeentoaforeigncountryandthoughtpeoplewerelookingatyouweird?Turnsouttheirfacemightjustbein"neutral"orthey'reevenbeingfriendly!Hebacksthingsupwithrespectablestudiesandacknowledgeslimitationswhenappropriate,whichIliked.Idothinkheumbrellasalotofverydifferentexamplesunderthe"TalkingtoStrangers"label,andnotallofthemseemrealisticallylinkedtome.Buttheyareinteresting,nevertheless. Wethinkwecaneasilyseeintotheheartsofothersbasedontheflimsiestofclues.Wejumpatthechancetojudgestrangers.Wewouldneverdothattoourselves,ofcourse.Wearenuancedandcomplexandenigmatic.Butthestrangeriseasy.IfIcanconvinceyouofonethinginthisbook,letitbethis:Strangersarenoteasy. Intheend,though,hebringsallthisinformation,allthesestudiesandexamplestogethertoleaveuswithanideathatisnothingnew,butthatIthinkwearealltooquicktoforget:peoplearemorecomplexthantheyfirstappear.Don’tjudgeabookbyitscover,ifyouwill.Somepeopleareassholes;othersarejustsocially-challenged(me!).Somepeopleareguilty;othersjustgetthatshiftylookwhenwalkingthroughthemetaldetectorsattheairport(alsome!).Ican'tdenythatInowwanttoreadallhisotherbooks.*InGladwell'sdefense,hespokewithanumberofsensitivityreadersforthischapterandhediscussesitinfarmoredepththanI'vegiventheimpressionof.Hegoesoutofhiswaytostressthatheisn'tmakingexcusesfortheculprit,butismostlycriticalofblackoutdrinkingcultureandhowthismakesanunderstandingofconsentimpossible.Blog|Facebook|Twitter|Instagram|Youtube ...more flag 1470likes · Like  · seereview Viewall80comments Feb23,2021 Cindy ratedit didnotlikeit  ·  reviewofanotheredition WhenIstartedthisbook,IwasconvincedthatIwouldatleastgiveit4stars.MalcolmGladwellisagreatnarrator,andtheaudiobookisverywellproduced,includingmusic,voiceactors,andexcerptsfromrealinterviewsandvideotapes.Heexploresinterestingtopicsrangingfrommyopia,defaulttotruth,andthewaywemisreadothers’facialexpressions.However,Ihavehugeissueswithhislimitingtakesonrapeandpolicebrutality.Hetakesseveralbig-namecases(SandraBland,BrockTur WhenIstartedthisbook,IwasconvincedthatIwouldatleastgiveit4stars.MalcolmGladwellisagreatnarrator,andtheaudiobookisverywellproduced,includingmusic,voiceactors,andexcerptsfromrealinterviewsandvideotapes.Heexploresinterestingtopicsrangingfrommyopia,defaulttotruth,andthewaywemisreadothers’facialexpressions.However,Ihavehugeissueswithhislimitingtakesonrapeandpolicebrutality.Hetakesseveralbig-namecases(SandraBland,BrockTurner,JerrySandusky,etc.)anddilutesthemintoissuesofmiscommunicationwhileignoringlargefactorslikeracism,sexism,andpower.Toframeabusersandtheirvictimsasstrangerswhohadmisconceptionsofeachotheroversimplifiesthetragediesandassumesallpartiesoperatedfromthesameplayingfieldwithnoillmotives.Iftheissuewasthatpolicedonotknowhowtoproperlyde-escalatesituations,wewouldhaveuniversalcasesofciviliansofallracesbeingmurdered,ratherthanhavethesedeathsbestatisticallyhigherforblackpeople.HowisitthatGladwellcanelaborateonthepoliceofficerbeingafraidforhislifewhenaccostingSandraBlandduetomisreadinghersocialcues,butnotgointoWHYthese"misreadings"happenmorefrequentlywithblackcivilians?IgnoringtheseracialmotivationsseemspurposelyobtuseandtakesawaythenuancesheCOULDhavemadewithhisarguments,whileveeringdangerouslycloseintojustifyingthesecrimes.Theauthorwouldbealotmorecrediblewithhispointsifhehadbeenmoreselectivewithhiscasestudiesratherthanchoosingthemostcontroversialforshockvalueandcontention.Saying“BrockTurnerhadtomakesenseofastranger’sdesiresandmotivations”andcallingit“ahardtask”,whilespendinganentirechapterondrinkingculture,isaslapinthefacetosexualassaultvictims.I’msurethereisvalidityindiscussingthedifferentwayspeopledefineandunderstandconsent,aswellastheeffectsofhowdrinkingmuddlescommunication,butthisistheworstcasetopickbecauseTurnernevercaredto“makesense”ofhisvictim’sdesiresormotivationsinthefirstplace.IfGladwellhaddoneactualresearchintothis,hewouldhaveknownthatthiscasewasneveraboutconsentordrinking-itwasaboutpower.Toattributerapeasaresultofmuddycommunicationsandfrombeingintoxicatedisabsolutelyfalse,becausepeoplewhodon’tunderstandsocialcuesarenotrapists,norarealcoholics.Itisonethingtotakesprolificstoriesandforcethemtocomplytoblanketgeneralizations,butitisabsolutelyirresponsibletoapplypseudoscienceuponsystemicissuesthatactivelyharmwomenandpeopleofcolor.Theseargumentsaredangerous,lacknuance,andareaninsulttovictims.Iwouldnotrecommendthisbooktoanybody. ...more flag 1944likes · Like  · seereview Viewall53comments Mar27,2021 Sofia ratedit didnotlikeit Recommendsitfor: Absolutelynooneatall,ever Shelves: problematic, nonfiction, idek-anymore-guys, le-sigh, my-villain-origin-story, better-off-as-kindling, i-am-disgusted WhogaveMalcolmGladwelltheauthoritytoinvalidatethetraumaofthousandsofpeople?Ican'tbelievetreessacrificedtheirlivessothispieceofgarbagecouldbeprinted😃ThismightjustbethemostproblematicbookI'veeverread,andIdon'tsaythatlightly.Itwassodisgustingly,blatantlywronginallwaysthatIwastemptedtothrowmyphoneacrosstheroom.Inthisbook,MalcolmGladwellintroducestheideathatmanytragediesacrosstheglobewerecausedbymiscommunicationbetween WhogaveMalcolmGladwelltheauthoritytoinvalidatethetraumaofthousandsofpeople?Ican'tbelievetreessacrificedtheirlivessothispieceofgarbagecouldbeprinted😃ThismightjustbethemostproblematicbookI'veeverread,andIdon'tsaythatlightly.Itwassodisgustingly,blatantlywronginallwaysthatIwastemptedtothrowmyphoneacrosstheroom.Inthisbook,MalcolmGladwellintroducestheideathatmanytragediesacrosstheglobewerecausedbymiscommunicationbetweenstrangers.Histhesisisthatmisreadingsocialcuescausesmurder,assault,andaggression.⚠️Awarning:Igenerallykeepmyreviewsfreeofthemesthatcouldpossiblybetriggering,butsincethisbookrevolvesaroundthosesortsofincidents,Ihavetodiscussthem.Triggerwarnings:Discussionofassault,rape,suicide,murder,policebrutality,racism,alcoholism,pedophilia⚠️*sigh*Ineedtolaydownsomepointsfirst.✧"Misreadingcues"isnotanexcuseforterriblecrimes.Adultsshouldknowhowtomakedecisions,andiftheydon'tmaketherightones,therewillbeconsequences.Don'tyoudaretrytoexcusetheiractionswithweakspeculation.✧Itisnot"ahardtask"tonotassaultawoman.Here'show:-don'ttouchherwithoutherpermissionWow,howdifficult.✧Racismexistsandwillplayaroleinallsocialinteractionsbecausethat'sjusthowourmessed-upworldworks.Refusingtoacknowledgethatfactcriticallydamagesthisthesis.✧Pedophiliaisbad.Ican'tbelieveIactuallyneedtosaythisBadpeopledon'twanttounderstandtheirvictims,andthat'swhatGladwelldoesn'tget.It'snotsimplyamatterofgettingthemtounderstandeachother. Inallofthesecases,thepartiesinvolvedreliedonasetofstrategiestotranslateoneanother'swordsandintentions.Andineachcase,somethingwentverywrong. Inmostoftheincidentshebringsup,thevictimsmadethemselvesveryclear(Forexample:thecaseofSandraBland,wheresheliterallytoldthepoliceofficerthatshewasuncomfortableandhedidn'tlistentoher).Thesehorriblecrimeshappenbecausesomeonesetouttorape/kill/assault/antagonizesomeoneandsotheydid.Sayingthatitwasasimplemisunderstandinginvalidatesthetraumaofsomanypeople.It'stheworstvictimblamingI'veeverseen.Besides,thisbookdoesn'ttakeintoaccountracism/sexism/homophobia/transphobia.They'renotjusttwostrangerswhohappenedtomisunderstandeachother.That'spreposteroustosay.Noteveryonestartsoutwithequalfooting.ThemostblatantlydisgustingstoryhetwistedwasthatofChanelMiller,morecommonlyknownasEmilyDoe.Mostofusarefamiliarwiththecase-BrockTurnerassaultedanunconsciouswomaninStanford.Seemsprettyeasytoseewho'satfaulthere,right?ButGladwelldecidesthatit'snotactuallyTurner'sfault.Itwasthealcoholthatdidit,Gladwellcries.Sure.Sure.Let'sjustplayalongwiththisforasecondandseehow,evenifyouremovetheproblematicaspects,histhesisdoesn'tmakesense.Let'sreviewhisclaim.Hesaysthatmisunderstandingscausetragedy.Andthenhechangeshistuneandsaysthatalcoholcausestragedy.Pickone.Hespreadshimselfouttoothin,andasaresult,hesoundsveryunprofessionalandjuvenile. Ayoungwomanandayoungmanmeetataparty,thenproceedtotragicallymisunderstandeachother'sintentions-andthey'redrunk. Idon'tbuyit.Ijustdon'tbuyit.Goodpeoplewon'tassaultothers,evenifthey'redrunk.Youcan'tjustblamethealcoholandexcusetherapist.Anyway,ontotheproblematicparts.ThisiswhatMillersaid,andwhatactuallymakessense: Campusdrinkingculture.That'swhatwe'respeakingoutagainst?Youthinkthat'swhatI'vespentthepastyearfightingfor?Notawarenessaboutcampussexualassault,orrape,orlearningtorecognizeconsent.Campusdrinkingculture....Yourealize,havingadrinkingproblemisdifferentthandrinkingandthenforcefullytryingtohavesexwithsomeone?Showmenhowtorespectwomen,nothowtodrinkless. Afterthisamazing,wonderful,stunning,convincingspeech,MalcolmGladwellsaysthis: Butthat'snotquiteright,isit?...BrockTurnerwasaskedtodosomethingofcrucialimportancethatnight-tomakesenseofastranger'sdesiresandmotivations.Thatisahardtaskforallofusunderthebestcircumstances. Ah,yes.Notrapingsomeoneissucha"hardtask."Ifalcoholweredirectlyconnectedtosexualassault,thenmostalcoholicswouldberapists.Andthat'sjustnotthecase.HemovesontothecaseofJerrySanduskyandsays: Thosevictimizedbydefaulttotruthdeserveoursympathy,notourcensure. He'snottalkingaboutthevictims.HeisliterallytalkingaboutSandusky.Heismakingexcusesforthisterribleman.Heissayingweshouldhavesympathyforrapists.Notonmywatch,Mr.Gladwell.0.01stars ...more flag 373likes · Like  · seereview Viewall81comments Sep17,2019 BlackOxford ratedit itwasok Shelves: sociology, canadian NeverTrustaBloodRelativeTalkingtoStrangersisanelaborationofasimple(trivial?)idea:It’sverydifficulttotellwhenpeoplearelying.AccordingtoTimothyLevine,theacademicpsychologistonwhomGladwellreliesforhisbasicargument,thepresumptionthatpeopletellthetruthisalmostuniversal,afewHolyFools(and,Isuppose,JudgeJudy)excepted.LevinecallsthishisTruthDefaultTheory.Gladwellappliesitentertainingly,ifratherrepetitively,tocasesofduplicityrang NeverTrustaBloodRelativeTalkingtoStrangersisanelaborationofasimple(trivial?)idea:It’sverydifficulttotellwhenpeoplearelying.AccordingtoTimothyLevine,theacademicpsychologistonwhomGladwellreliesforhisbasicargument,thepresumptionthatpeopletellthetruthisalmostuniversal,afewHolyFools(and,Isuppose,JudgeJudy)excepted.LevinecallsthishisTruthDefaultTheory.Gladwellappliesitentertainingly,ifratherrepetitively,tocasesofduplicityrangingfromdoubleagentsingovernmentagenciestointernationalfinancialfraud.TheinterestingpartofGladwell’sthesisisthatwecan’tbetrainedoutofourpredispositiontobelievewhat‘credible’people,thatis,folkwhoexhibitfacialtraitsandbodylanguagewhichconformtoculturalconventions,havetosay.Police,judges,regulatoryofficials,evencounter-espionageexpertshaveequallypoorrecordsfordetectingfalsehoodcomparedtotherestofus(italsoworkstheotherwayround:truth-tellingappearsaslyingifaccompaniedby‘mis-matched’behaviouralsignals).Wearegeneticallyprogrammedtobedupes(Isuspectsexastheevolutionarymotive!).Andthereisnoreliabletechnologythatdoesanybetter.Theimplicationformeisthatthemoreanyoneisfamiliarwithexpectedconventionalbehaviouralresponses,andcanperformtheseasneeded,themorecredibletheywillbe.Notaterriblyinnovativeconclusionadmittedly,butitdoessuggestthatGladwellhasthewrongendoftheauthenticity-stick.Wemayhavetoworryaboutstrangersbeinghonest;buttherealdangeristhemendacityofthoseclosesttous,thosewhoknowwhatwefindcredible,namelyintimatefamilymembers,notstrangers.There’sanotherissueaswell.It’sclearthatmost0fuslietoourselvesfromtimetotime,thatis,weconvenientlyandselectivelyrecalleventswhichconfirmourself-rationalisingnarratives.Wecannotobserveourownphysicalbehaviourtodeterminetheextentofmismatch.Norwoulditmakeanydifferenceifwecouldsincewemayactuallybelieveourownpress,asitwere.Iknowacademicsandbusinesspeoplewhoactthiswayasamatterofroutine.It’spartoftheirstrategyforsuccess.Theyspeakandwritewithtotalconvictionaboutthingstheyreallyknownothingabout.OneofthesemaybethepresidentoftheUnitedStates.Whoknows,perhapsevenGladwellisamongsttheseexpertsatself-delusionandissimplyscammingtherestofuswithcompletesincerity.OramImerelyprojectingasortofcynicismaboutGladwell’sslickrapportage?Possibly.Buthedoesseemtohaveasomewhatmurkypastasadefenderofseveraldodgyindustriesliketobaccoandpharmaceuticals(See:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...).Presumablyhewasquitehandyatspinningcrediblepublicityoutofotherwisedamagingfacts.“Transparency,”Gladwellsays,“isamyth—anideawe’vepickedupfromwatchingtoomuchtelevisionandreadingtoomanynovels.”Onewonderstowhatdegreehisbookmightbeaninstanceofthephenomenonheisdescribing.Oh,andasanaside,theattributionofthedeathofablackstudentinthecustodyofaTexasjailtoan‘escalatingmiscommunicationbetweenstrangers’vergesontheobscene.Hisuseofthisexampletobook-endhisnarrativeandhisreferencestoitasarecurringthemesuggestsomeseriousjudgmentaldeficiencies.Idon’tfeelmyselfdefaultingtotruth,orGladwell’spurportedtruth,intheleast.Postscript18Sept19:itappearsthatGladwell’sbubbleisbursting:https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/arc... ...more flag 357likes · Like  · seereview Viewall66comments Sep16,2019 Megan ratedit didnotlikeit Shelves: non-fiction, psychology, alcohol, race, racism, secrecy, crime, abuse, lies, male-author UPDATE9/23/19Ihavenowchangedthistoonestar.ThemoreIreadaboutthisandotherpseudopsychcraphepushes...nonono.Theenjoymentofsomepartsofthebookdoesnotoutweighthetotalgarbageofpartsofit.Twoexamplesarelinkedbelow,withaparticularlyshockingtidbitfromone:https://deadspin.com/malcolm-gladwell...https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/arc...Themostimportantpartofthefirstlink:Gladwell:YouknowIhavethatchapteronJerrySanduskyinmybook,andit’sall UPDATE9/23/19Ihavenowchangedthistoonestar.ThemoreIreadaboutthisandotherpseudopsychcraphepushes...nonono.Theenjoymentofsomepartsofthebookdoesnotoutweighthetotalgarbageofpartsofit.Twoexamplesarelinkedbelow,withaparticularlyshockingtidbitfromone:https://deadspin.com/malcolm-gladwell...https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/arc...Themostimportantpartofthefirstlink:Gladwell:YouknowIhavethatchapteronJerrySanduskyinmybook,andit’sallabouthowIfeeltheleadershipofPennStatewastotally,outrageouslyattackedoverthis.Ithinkthey’reblameless.Simmons:Yeah.Gladwell:ButwithJoePaterno...JoePaternoessentiallydidnothingwrong.Hehearstheallegationandimmediatelytellshissuperiors,andthecritiqueofJoePaternowasessentially,“Whywasa75-year-oldfootballcoachnotbehavingtowardsasuspectedpedophilewiththesavvyandinsightofapsychiatrist?”Simmons:Right.Gladwell:He’safootballcoach!Hedoesn’tevenknowwhattheword—therewasthishilarious—[regretfulsigh]hilarious—therewasthismomentin,Ithinkoneofthetrialtranscripts,wheresomeonewasasked,“Didyouuse,whenyouwentto”—thequarterbackwhogoestoPaterno,McQueary,theformerquarterback,goestoPaternototellhimthisallegation—“Didyouusethewordsodomy?”Andhe’slike,“NoIdidn’tusethewordsodomy.”Andthenthere’sthissortofthing,Ithink,wherethey’rewonderingwhetherPaternoactuallyknewwhatthewordsodomywas[laughing].Simmons:Right.Gladwell:Hedoesn’t!He’sbeenthinkingfootball24hoursaday,365daysayear,for60years.Heisnotgoingtobealerttothedarknessinsidetheheartofoneofhisformercoaches.Youcan’taskhimtodothat.That’swhyyouhavementalhealthprofessionalsorfit,trainedpsychologistsintheworldtohandlethosekindofproblems.Wedothisthingsometimeswhenacrisishappens,whenwesuddenlyexpectourleaderstobeskilledatabsolutelyeveryjobunderthesun.They’renot.NO,IJUSTEXPECTLEADERSTOHAVEAFEWBRAINCELLSTHEYCANPOOLTOGETHERTOUNDERSTANDAPPROPRIATERELATIONSHIPS!!WWWWTTTF!Alsoasateacher(andtherearemanyotherprofessionsthatwearmanyhats--doctors,nurses,socialworkers,businessowners,entrepreneurs,literallyalmostanyjob)IamABSOLUTELYexpectedtoperformmorethanonespecificrole.Imanagedata,helpwithemotions,involvethecommunity,reportsuspectedabuseandsoon.Asdomanyotherunderpaidandundervaluedprofessions.Soit'sDISGUSTINGandinsultingtoliterallyeveryonetoimplywecanallowandexpectrichfootballcoachestobeall,"awshucks,Iwasonlythinkingaboutmynextgame."------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ugh.Thepositiveis,Gladwellalwayskeepsmeinterested.Hesomehowfindsthemostinterestinganecdotesandstories.Eventheonesyouhaveheardbefore---hehasawayofmakingthemseemlikethereisalwaysmorethanmeetstheeyeandthattheyaremoreinteresting.Iwasneverboredlisteningtothisbecauseevenifyoudon'tlikeonesection,he'salmostontosomethingelse.Butthen..Histhingistotakestoriesthatonthesurfacearecompletelyunrelatedandtriestojamthemtogethertofithiscentralthesis.Inthisbook,themainthesisistheideathatwecan'tappropriatelyunderstand/analyzestrangersbecausewetrytogetthemtofitinabox.Thatdoesn'tworkbecausewedon'tunderstandeverythingaboutthatpersonandtheircontext/background.Forexample,Ifapersonismean,heactslike__________.Ifapersonisacrook,hewillact__________.Themactingoppositeofwhatweassumetheyshouldactlikecausesustomisjudgethemandgetthewrongidea.Well,surelythisisnotanewidea...?Tome,manyoftheexamplesheuseeitherdon'tfitthis,havemanyotherfactorsinvolved,orattimesheevencontradictshisowntheories.Let'sstartwithSandraBland.Hisfavoredincidentinthebook.Hisargumenthereisthatshedidn'tfittheideaof"lawabidingcitizen"thecophadinhisheadwhenhepulledheroveranditcausedhimtobeafraidandassumeshewasacriminal.Shewas"shifty","irritable,"andgenerallynothappytobepulledover.Well,whois?I'vehadsometicketsinmydayandIhaveonlyoncebeenwhatwouldbecalledabitsnappytoacop,butevenwhenpolite,Igenerallyalwaysfeelonedge.I'veevencriedbeforewhenIwasstrugglingwithmoneyandafraidofgettingaticket.Idon'twantaticket,andifI'mgettingone,IwantthesituationtobeoverASAP.Don'tweall?SocomparemetoSandra,whoasablackwomanhasawholeextraleveloffearofthesituation,aswellasthefactthatshehashadmanymoretrafficstopsthanIovergenerallyminorstuff.Thesecostheralotofmoneyandareverystressful.Eveniftheofficerdidn'tknowshegotstoppedofteninthepast,anyonewhohasbeenwatchingthenewsLIKEEVERknowsAfrican-AmericansmayattimesactmorenervousoraggravatedthanwhitedriversbecauseofcaseslikeFreddieGray,MichaelBrown,etcetc.AndifANYONEknowsthis,itdamnwellwouldandshouldbeacop!HowarewetobelievehehadnoclueabouttheracialsubtextofpullingoverAfrican-Americandrivers?Beyondthefactsofrace,copsshouldknowaboutde-escalationwhichifyouhearthetape,hedidnotdothisatall.Hedidn'tevenattemptit.Let'srecallsheispulledoverfornotsignalingwhichGladwellfullyadmitsthecopcausedbytailingher.Whichaddstoherirritation.Hegetspettywithheroverlightingacigaretteandscreamsathertostepoutofthecaroverit.Sothispseudo-psychtheorythat"sheisn'tactingashewouldexpectanditmadehim'terrified'ofher,"isjust.....BS.Idon'tdiscountcopshaveahardjobandit'sharderthanwecaneverknowtostaycalmandreadstrangers.But....but....thiswasliterallyallonthecop.Ifme,beinganaveragecitizenknowsaboutdeescalationandhowraceplaysaroleintrafficstops,nowayhedidnot.Wasshealittlerude?Maybe,butpublicserviceemployees(cops,teachers,nurses,etc)havetobeabletodealwithpeoplewhoarealittlerude.Youdon'tscreamatthemtogetoutofthecarorsayyouaregoingtolightthemuporsay'good'whentheytellyoutheyhaveepilepsyandtheyareworriedfortheirhealthnow.Ialsodon'tthinkhewasterrifiedofherandifhewasandthat'sallittook,he'seitherracist,haspowerissues,orjustanawfulcop.Oralloftheabove?Nopsychaboutit.Sheshouldneverhavewalkedawaywithfelonycharges.Tobefair,heisnotathappywithhowthecopactedthatday,butIammorebotheredbyhisover-analysisofthecop.Likethispsychologyexplainshisbadbehavior.ThencomesJerrySandusky.REALLY??Isthisthehillyouwannadieon,Malcolm?ThatSanduskywas"unfairlytreated?"Isitpossibleheisinnocent?Iguess.Savevideotapeofsomeonecommittingacrimeanddozensofwitnesses,it'spossibleANYconvictedcriminalcouldbeinnocent.Itriedreallyhardtokeepanopenmindbutit'sneverevenclearWHYhebelievesthissostrongly.Hesays"it'snothingliketheLarryNassarcase,"whichitisoftencomparedto.Whydoesacrimehavetobeverysimilartoanothercrimeofit'stypetobetrue?Hesaystheyhadmorevictims.Thosevictimsalsoneverwaverintheirstoriesandtoldmanypeopleovertheyears.Firstofall,thoseweregirlsandtheseareallboys.Onewouldimaginetheymaybehavedifferentlyinthesituation.Secondofall,andhearmeout---isitpossiblethesevictimsofassaultdidn'tactthewayGladwellfeltvictimsofassault"shouldact?"Whichishiswholetheory(wehavesetideasofhowpeopleshouldactincertainsituations)andyethecomesoutontheothersideimplyingSanduskymaybeinnocent?!Thenalso,whatexactlyisthenakedshoweringwithslappingsoundsifnotsex?Justhorseplay??MoreBS,andifitwas....whatadultmanwouldnotknowhorseplayofthatmannerwithachildisdestinedtobeconstruedassomethingelse??Heneverevencomesdownorattemptstoexplainwhyagrownmanwouldengageinnakedhorseplaywithachild.Thenofcourse,BrockTurner.Yes,collegekidsshouldprobablydrinklessalcohol.Wow.Revolutionary.Thefacthehastosayoutrightit'snotvictimblamingrevealsheknowswhatshakygroundheison.Just,no.Hetriessohardandhassomanyholesandflawsinhisarguments.Iwishhewouldstoptryingtoforcethingsintohispre-plannedthesisthatDON'Tfitandrealizethathisgimmicky,pseudo-sociologycrapshouldhavebeendonewithhisfirstfewbooks.Heneedstostoptryingtorepeathissuccesswiththesameformula. ...more flag 293likes · Like  · seereview Viewall47comments Sep21,2019 Jenn ratedit didnotlikeit IDNF'dthisbookafterreadingtoomanycringeystatementsfromGladwell.Hewantstocategorizeawholerangeofevils--fromthevictimizationofunarmedblackpeople(SandraBland)towomenbeingrapedatcollegesparties(BrockTurner)--asmere"communication"issuesbetweenpeople.Sure,theremightbesomeelementofmiscommunication,butitcompletelymissesthepointthattherearemuchlargerproblemsandbiggerthingsgoingonbeyondthat.Igetthathe'stryingtocramthesesitua IDNF'dthisbookafterreadingtoomanycringeystatementsfromGladwell.Hewantstocategorizeawholerangeofevils--fromthevictimizationofunarmedblackpeople(SandraBland)towomenbeingrapedatcollegesparties(BrockTurner)--asmere"communication"issuesbetweenpeople.Sure,theremightbesomeelementofmiscommunication,butitcompletelymissesthepointthattherearemuchlargerproblemsandbiggerthingsgoingonbeyondthat.Igetthathe'stryingtocramthesesituationsintohispremiseinordertowritethisbook,buttheresultiscompletelytone-deafandhelpstojustifycrimesandignorance.Insteadofencouragingpeopletobeeducatedonthingsthedon'tunderstandlikeconsentorwhyprejudiceagainstblackpeoplecanleadtoexcessiveforceagainstthem,Gladwellchalksitupto"communication"barriers.Tobeclear,Gladwelldoesn'ttrytosaythatBlandwasatfaultforherdeath,butratherthattheofficerdidn'tproperlyde-escalate.However,healsotakestimetoexplainwhyracehadnothingtodowiththesituation.Forexample,heignoresthemountainofevidencethatshowsthatblackpeopleareroutinelypulledovermorefrequently.Instead,Gladwellexplicitlystatesthattheofficer'sdecisionwasnotrace-motivated.However,hereachesthisconclusionbasedonnothing.Hissolesupportforthatstatementisthestatisticthatshowsthisofficeroftenwrotetickets--tothetuneof1,557justthatyear--butit'sameaninglessnumberthatdoesn'tproveanythingifwedon'tknowifthoseticketswereevenlyorfairlydistributed.There'salsothequestionofwhetherthisbookstatesanythingnew.Theideathatblackpeoplearetreatedexactlythesameaseveryoneelseandracismisamythorthatwomenwhodrinkarepartiallytoblameforbeingrapedaretwoextremelyoldarguments.There'snothingneworinterestingaboutit.It'sold,tiredandnotworthanyone'stime.There'salsoquestionablelogicalleapsthatGladwellmakestoputforthhisantiquatedarguments.Mystifyingly,asurveyshowingthatpeoplehavedifferentideasonwhatconstitutes"consent"leadshimtotheconclusionthatthere"arenorules"whenitcomestoconsent.Ummwhat?SoifItookasurveythatshowedthatmostpeopledon'tknowwheretheUkraineislocated,doesthatmeantheUkrainehasnolocationordoesitmeanthatpeopleareignorant?Gladwell'storturedlogicforthesakeofjustifyingrapeismind-boggling.Skipthisawful,intellectuallyvapidbook. ...more flag 218likes · Like  · seereview Viewall3comments Apr03,2020 Paromjit ratedit itwasok Shelves: non-fiction, netgalley MalcolmGladwellisviewedasahugelyinfluentialwriterandIwaseagerlyanticipatingreadingthis,myfirsttasteofhiswork,abodyofhisthinkingonhowwe,thepeople,areextraordinarilygulliblewhenitcomestostrangers,alltooeasilytakeninbytheminourgeneraleagernesstotrustratherthanbemorecautious.Hegivesaraftofwellknownexamplesfromhistory,suchasNevilleChamberlainbeingalltowillingtotakeHitleratfacevalue,andmorerecentcontemporaryexamples, MalcolmGladwellisviewedasahugelyinfluentialwriterandIwaseagerlyanticipatingreadingthis,myfirsttasteofhiswork,abodyofhisthinkingonhowwe,thepeople,areextraordinarilygulliblewhenitcomestostrangers,alltooeasilytakeninbytheminourgeneraleagernesstotrustratherthanbemorecautious.Hegivesaraftofwellknownexamplesfromhistory,suchasNevilleChamberlainbeingalltowillingtotakeHitleratfacevalue,andmorerecentcontemporaryexamples,suchastherunawaysuccessofBernieMadoff'sfraudulentponzischemeuntilitallfellapart,interspersedwithinterviewswithprominentpersonalities.Itturnsoutthatoverall,Iwasdoomedtobedisappointedwiththisbook.Formehemakesfartoomanygeneralisations,oftenjumpingtoillthoughtoutjudgementsandconclusionswhilstomittingkeyvariables,andalltookeentoletoffthosewithresponsibilitiestopreventabuse.Theproblemisthathesoundsfrighteninglyplausibleandgenialinthemannerinwhichhelaysouthisoftencontroversial,poorlyresearchedthinking,sodisarminglyseductive,andthereareoccasionsthatIcannotdenyheiscertainlyinterestingandthoughtprovoking.Thelatterisinsufficientformetorecommendthistometootherreaders,Iwouldprefertodirectreaderstothemanyfarmoreexpertandwellthoughtoutotherpsychologicalstudiesonthecomplexitiesofhumancommunication,whichinmyviewwillturnouttobeamorehelpfulandproductiveexperience,andadditionallyaremoreacademicallyrigorous.ManythankstoPenguinUKforanARC. ...more flag 213likes · Like  · seereview Viewall25comments Sep20,2019 Leftbanker ratedit didnotlikeit IfthishadjustbeenstoriesaboutspiesandthemeetingbetweenHernánCortésandMontezumaorwhatever,Iwouldhaverateditfivestars.There’snoquestionthatMalcolmGladwellisagoodstoryteller,Ijustwishthathewouldleaveitatthatandstoptryingtoshoe-hornabunchoftalltalesintosomesortofcoherentstatementaboutthestateoftheworld.I’mnotascientist,butIthinkthatIknowsciencewhenIseeit.Iain’tseeingithere.“ThedeathofSandraBlandiswhathappens IfthishadjustbeenstoriesaboutspiesandthemeetingbetweenHernánCortésandMontezumaorwhatever,Iwouldhaverateditfivestars.There’snoquestionthatMalcolmGladwellisagoodstoryteller,Ijustwishthathewouldleaveitatthatandstoptryingtoshoe-hornabunchoftalltalesintosomesortofcoherentstatementaboutthestateoftheworld.I’mnotascientist,butIthinkthatIknowsciencewhenIseeit.Iain’tseeingithere.“ThedeathofSandraBlandiswhathappenswhenasocietydoesnotknowhowtotalktostrangers.”ThisisthestupidestthingI’veheardconcerningthistragedy.ThiswasalsothewholepointofthisbookandGaldwell’sfacileexplanationiscompletelywithoutmerit.Thecopwas,quitesimply,aginormousfuckingasshole.Wehaveitallonfilm,forChrist’ssake.Hejustcouldn’tletitgothatthisblackwomanwasn’tbowingdowntohimandhadthetemeritytolightupacigaretteinhismajesticpresence.Hepulledherover(ashestates)forfailingtosignalalanechangewhenhepulledbehindher.Areyoukiddingme?Whatkindofcopdoesthat?BrianEncinia:OK,ma’am.[Pause.]YouOK?Bland:I’mwaitingonyou.Thisisyourjob.I’mwaitingonyou.When’reyougoingtoletmego?Encinia:Idon’tknow,youseemvery,reallyirritated.Bland:Iam.Ireallyam.Ifeellikeit’scrapwhatI’mgettingaticketfor.Iwasgettingoutofyourway.Youwerespeedingup,tailingme…soyeah,I’malittleirritated.BrianEncinia:Areyoudone?“Areyoudone?”Whatatotalasshole!Thereisabsolutelynoquestionthathistonewascompletelynasty,justlistentothevideo.HeaskedherifshewasOK.Whatdoesheexpecthertosay?“Thankyouforpullingmeoverandfuckingwithmefornoreasonwhatsoever.”Thiswasthatpointwhenitwentfromabullshittrafficstoptosomethingsinisteronhispartwherehehadsomethingtoprovetohimself.Unfortunately,itcameattheexpenseofanotherhumanbeingwhowassimplytryingtomakeitthroughtheday.IwishthatSandraBlandhadaskedhim,“Isthiswhyyoubecameacop?Tohasslepeoplefornogoodreason?”Shewassoincrediblyreasonable,andthecopwasjustahugeasshole.Endofstory.Therearenotwosidestothis.Heisunfitforthejob.Heeitherhatesblackpeople,orhejusthatespeople.Eitherway,hedoesn’tdeservethepublictrustthatisnecessarytobeapoliceman.Thisbringsuptheentirenatureofpolicework.LikemostotherAmericankids,IgrewuponasteadydietofTVandmoviesinwhichtheheroeswerecops,yetIneverconsideredbeingapolicemanforevenasplitsecond.Why?ProbablybecauseIjustneverfelttheneedtohavepoweroveranyoneelse,IneverfeltthatIhadsomethingtoprove.Weneedtotestpolicerecruitsforthistendencyandweedthemoutiftheyhaveachipontheirshoulder,likeBrianEncinia.Heshoulddefinitelynotbeapoliceman.Heisaterriblehumanbeing,especiallyafterthefactwhenhetestifiedthathefelthislifewasindangerjusttocoverhisass.Humanbeingsaresometimes—oroftentimes—fooledbyaloadofshitsomestrangerpassesoffonthem.Gladwellisnowinfamousforcherry-pickingexamplesthatprovehispointwhileignoringvolumesthattellofadifferentoutcome.Peopleareoftenwrongabouttheintentionsofstrangerstheytalkto…exceptwhentheyareright.InallofhisramblingsabouttheCIA,theonlyconclusionweshouldcometoisthattheU.S.shouldjuststopspyingandtrybeingstraightforwardandopenasanation,justtoseewherethatgetsus.Spyinghasproducedsolittlebenefit,especiallywhenyouconsiderhowmuchmoneywe’vepouredintothatblackhole.OK,wegotBinLaden,buthowmuchdiditcostustohuntdownandassassinateonehairy,oldreligiousfanatic?Imagineinsteadifwehadusedallofthatmoneytobuildschoolsandhospitalsaroundtheworldthusbuildinggoodwill.Ithinkgoodwilltrumpssomedeadfanatic.“Theissuewithspiesisnotthatthereissomethingbrilliantaboutthem.Itisthatthereissomethingwrongwithus.”Icouldn’tdisagreewiththismore.Iwouldturnthisthoughtonitshead:Theissuewithspiesisnotthatthereissomethingbrilliantaboutthem.Itisthatthereissomethingwrongwiththem.Ofcourse,theSoviets,EastGermans,andCubansbeattheU.S.inspy-craftoverthecourseofdecades,becausetheyareapeoplehatchedinduplicitousdictatorshipswhereobfuscationanddeceitarerequiredforsurvival.Thisispreciselywhyweshouldhavenevertriedtobattletheminthisarena.Weshouldhavegonetherouteofhonestyandfulldisclosure.Asanation,wouldweratherexcelatdeceptionorhonesty?“Whyarewesobadatdetectinglies?”Thisisastupid,meaninglessquestionthatmakesaboutasmuchsenseasaskingwhywearesobadatpredictingtheoutcomeofasportingevent.Youwinsome,youlosesome.Withthatsaid,ifyourjobistoferretoutdoubleagentsinanintelligenceorganizationandyouinterviewsomeoneyoususpect,andthenletthemoffthehook,yousuck,toputitmildly.Gladwellextrapolatessomeincrediblyoutrageousoutcomesfromhislittlemodernfairytales.IhadtoskipoveralmosttheentiresectiononthePennStatepedophilestory.So,youareagrownmaninalockerroom.Youseeanothermanhavingsexwithachildinplainsight,andyourunawaywithoutdoinganything?Whatabunchofcowardsweare!TheMcQuearyguy“ranupstairstocallhisparents.”WhatIwouldhavedone,hadIbeeninthatsamesituation,beforerunningupstairstocallmyparents,wouldhavebeentobeatthatpedohalf-to-death.ThatwouldhavebeenabetterstorytotellmomanddadthantosaythatIhadwitnessedachildrapeanddidfuckallaboutit.Icouldn’tlivewiththatlevelofcowardice.IhadtoskipoverChapterSixbecauseitdealswiththeTVshowFriendswhichmakesmephysicallyill.TooGoodJustfortheCommentsGoodreadsUserJames(https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4...)wrote:“MalcolmGladwell:professionalultracrepidarian”Ithoughtthiswasbrilliant,atleastIdidafterIlookeduptheword.Assomewhatofaprofessionallinguist,IsoughtouttherootsofthewordandfoundprobablythemostfascinatingoriginstoryofanywordI’veeverlookedup.Ultracrepidarian:1)onewhoispresumptuousandoffersadviceoropinionsbeyondone’ssphereofknowledge.2)aninsufferablegasbag(atleastinGladwell’scase)ETYMOLOGY:FromLatinultra(beyond)+crepidarius(shoemaker),fromcrepida(sandal).Earliestdocumenteduse:1819.NOTES:ThestorygoesthatinancientGreecetherewasarenownedpainternamedApelleswhousedtodisplayhispaintingsandhidebehindthemtolistentothecomments.Onceacobblerpointedoutthatthesoleoftheshoewasnotpaintedcorrectly.Apellesfixeditandencouragedbythisthecobblerbeganofferingcommentsaboutotherpartsofthepainting.Atthispointthepaintercuthimoffwith“Nesutorultracrepidam”meaning“Shoemaker,notabovethesandal”oroneshouldsticktoone’sareaofexpertise.Addition:ThestorywastoldbytheRomanwriterPlinytheElder,henceLatin. ...more flag 172likes · Like  · seereview Viewall20comments Nov12,2019 carol. ratedit didnotlikeit Shelves: do-not-be-misled, don-t-count Mostdamningself-analysisever:"I'dratherbeinterestingthanberight"--MalcolmGladwell,toJanePauley,CBSSundayMorning,06/20/21Notforme,unlessIfeellikedoingarant-review.WhichI'mnotrulingout.Allie'sinsightfulreviewonexcusingthosewhoexcusedpedophiles:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...Leftbanker'sthoughtfulcommentsontheSandraBlandcase:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...Guardian'sreviewontheobviousnessofGladwell'stalkingpointsandrace-bl Mostdamningself-analysisever:"I'dratherbeinterestingthanberight"--MalcolmGladwell,toJanePauley,CBSSundayMorning,06/20/21Notforme,unlessIfeellikedoingarant-review.WhichI'mnotrulingout.Allie'sinsightfulreviewonexcusingthosewhoexcusedpedophiles:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...Leftbanker'sthoughtfulcommentsontheSandraBlandcase:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...Guardian'sreviewontheobviousnessofGladwell'stalkingpointsandrace-blindapproach:https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...Atlantic'sreviewonthelackofthesis:https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/arc...Bestreviewever:"ToputitinHamlet’swords,onemaysmile,andsmile,andbeavillain.Makesyouthink,doesn’tit?"Ifanyofthisissurprisingtoyou,thenyouareinexaltedcompany,becauseitalsosurprisesMalcolmGladwell,whosejobitistobepuzzledbybanalitiesandthenreplacethem,afteragreatpseudo-intellectualcircumambulation,withbanalities."--StevenPoole,TheGuardian ...more flag 169likes · Like  · seereview Viewall13comments Sep01,2019 Betsy ratedit itwasok Shelves: netgalley 9/2/2019--I'mknockingthisdowntotwostars.Gladwell'sreallybadtakesonthingslikeraceandsexualassaultjustdon'tdeserveanokayrating.Wow,doesthisbookeversufferfromaseverecaseoffoot-in-mouthdisease!Ialmostdidn’tmakeitpasttheintroduction.Inmypre-publicationcopy,Gladwellwrites,“TheSandraBlandcasecameinthemiddleofastrangeinterludeinAmericanpubliclife”andthengoesontodiscussaseriesofcasesofpoliceviolenceagainstblackpeoplethatha 9/2/2019--I'mknockingthisdowntotwostars.Gladwell'sreallybadtakesonthingslikeraceandsexualassaultjustdon'tdeserveanokayrating.Wow,doesthisbookeversufferfromaseverecaseoffoot-in-mouthdisease!Ialmostdidn’tmakeitpasttheintroduction.Inmypre-publicationcopy,Gladwellwrites,“TheSandraBlandcasecameinthemiddleofastrangeinterludeinAmericanpubliclife”andthengoesontodiscussaseriesofcasesofpoliceviolenceagainstblackpeoplethathappenedaround2014.“Strangeinterlude.”Really?ThatphrasingsuggeststhatthistreatmentwassomesortofaberrationinAmericanhistoryandthattheviolenceonlyhappenedduringthefewyearshereferences.DidGladwellreallymeantoignoreAmerica’slonghistoryofthisproblem?Idon’tthinkso?Ithinkhemayhavemeantthattheattentionpaidtopoliceviolencewasunusual,butdude,chooseyourwordsmuchmorecarefully.Lateron,therearesomegoodpointsmadeabouthowandwhywetendtomisunderstandeachother.But,again,Ialmostputthebookdown,thistimewhilereadingthechapterontheBrockTurnersexualassaultcase.Withoutgoingintodetail,thatchaptercouldonlyhavebeenwrittenbysomeonewho'sburiedhisheadinthesandoverthepastfiveyearsorso.It’stoughtoignoretheproblematicelementsofTalkingtoStrangers.Icouldabsolutelyseethediscussionofthecausesofsexualassaultoffendingsomereaderstothepointthattheyabandonthebookaltogether.I’vedefinitelyenjoyedotherbooksbytheauthoralotmorethanthisone.Threestars,butthat’sbeinggenerous.ThankstoNetGalleyandLittle,BrownandCompanyforgivingmeaDRCofthisbook,whichwillbeavailableforpurchaseonSeptember10th. ...more flag 166likes · Like  · seereview Viewall36comments Sep21,2019 Stephie ratedit didnotlikeit Shelves: psychology, audiobook Well.IthinkI’vegottajumpofftheMalcolmGladwellbandwagon.Thisbookreallyirritatedme.Firstofall,withhispreviousbooks,themainargumenthasbeenveryclear.But‘TalkingwithStrangers’isdirectionlessand,attimes,confusing.Ididn’tevenknowwhathemeantby“strangers”ashisdefinitionseemedtokeepchanging.AndIfoundmyselfwonderingwhathispointwasonmorethanoneoccasion.Furthermore,Gladwellhasanannoyinghabitofpresentinghisopinionsorhis“research Well.IthinkI’vegottajumpofftheMalcolmGladwellbandwagon.Thisbookreallyirritatedme.Firstofall,withhispreviousbooks,themainargumenthasbeenveryclear.But‘TalkingwithStrangers’isdirectionlessand,attimes,confusing.Ididn’tevenknowwhathemeantby“strangers”ashisdefinitionseemedtokeepchanging.AndIfoundmyselfwonderingwhathispointwasonmorethanoneoccasion.Furthermore,Gladwellhasanannoyinghabitofpresentinghisopinionsorhis“research”(it’sdebatablehowmuchofitisactually*his*research)asfacts.Heisverygoodatpickingandchoosingdataandstatisticsandframingthemtomakewhateverpointhewants,whileignoringalltheotherevidencethatmightdisprovehisstatements.Makesforagoodbestseller,Iguess.Butfunnyforabookthattalkslargelyabouttruthandthe‘default-to-truth’theory.Iguessweshouldjustassumethathe’stellingusthetruth?Maybethebookisapsychologicalexperimentinitselftoseehowmanypeoplebuythisbullshit?Hemakessomebizarrearguments.Heexcusesthedefendersofpaedophilesbecauseofthis‘default-to-truth’ethos.Heseeminglyempathiseswiththem,becausedespiteallevidencetothecontraryit’sstill(accordingtohim)perfectlyunderstandablethatwewouldignoresaidevidencebecauseweliketoassumethatpeoplearetellingthetruth.AccordingtoGladwell’sclaimintheBrockTurnerchapter,thatrapewasacaseof“miscommunication”compoundedbyalcoholconsumption.Itvergesonvictimblaming.Hmmm.Andfortheicingonthecake,heattributesthedeathofSandraBland,ayoungblackAmericanwoman,againtoa“miscommunicationbetweenstrangers”insteadofacknowledgingtheratherobvioussystemicracismthatleadtoherdeath.Itjustdoesn’tsitrightwithme.Ifeelthatplacingtheblameon“miscommunication”ignoresotherveryimportantfactorslikeracism,sexism,corruptionandsoon.It’sanoversimplification,inmyopinion.Also,IlistenedtothisonAudible,andGladwellsays“Artic”insteadof“Arctic”.Wtf. ...more flag 123likes · Like  · seereview Viewall7comments Oct04,2019 TraciThomas ratedit didnotlikeit  ·  reviewofanotheredition REREADREVIEW:thisbookwasevenworsethesecondtimethrough.Thiskindofvictimblamingbileisahugepartofwhatupholdswhitesupremacyandtoxicmasculinity.Everythingbelowholds,butI’msomehowmoreenragedthistime.ThepersuasiveskillsdisplayedincraftingGladwellsargumentsaresickeningandinbadfaith.ThisbookhassomeMAJORissuesandwasprettyenragingandfrustrating.Thebiggesttechnicalissueisthatthereisnodefinitionof“stranger”whichallowsGladwelltomo REREADREVIEW:thisbookwasevenworsethesecondtimethrough.Thiskindofvictimblamingbileisahugepartofwhatupholdswhitesupremacyandtoxicmasculinity.Everythingbelowholds,butI’msomehowmoreenragedthistime.ThepersuasiveskillsdisplayedincraftingGladwellsargumentsaresickeningandinbadfaith.ThisbookhassomeMAJORissuesandwasprettyenragingandfrustrating.Thebiggesttechnicalissueisthatthereisnodefinitionof“stranger”whichallowsGladwelltomoldhisthinargumentstoanyhotbuttontopichechooses.Itfeelslikeapublicitystunttocramasmanycontroversialpeople/eventsintothebookformaximumshockvalue.Theotherhugeissueisabouthowhediscussesrape/racism/abusewithouttalkingaboutrace/power/toxicmasculinityetc.it’snegligentanddangerous.Gladwellisfantasticatcraftingargumentswhichiswhatholdsthisbooktogetherbutthecontentisflimsyandoffensive. ...more flag 121likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Jun27,2021 David ratedit didnotlikeit I'mmorethanalittlegobsmackedbythisone.WhendidMalcolmGladwellgetred-pilledintoarightwingapologist?Orisitjustaftercountlessbestsellingbooksandalucrativepodcastempirehethoughthe'djustgoforitwiththisFoxNewsreadyhot-take?ImeanitstartswithSandraBland,pulledoverinTexas,arrested,jailedandfounddeadbysuicideinhercellthreedayslater.InabookcalledTalkingtoStrangersaboutourinabilitytoproperlycommunicatewithpeoplewedon'tknow, I'mmorethanalittlegobsmackedbythisone.WhendidMalcolmGladwellgetred-pilledintoarightwingapologist?Orisitjustaftercountlessbestsellingbooksandalucrativepodcastempirehethoughthe'djustgoforitwiththisFoxNewsreadyhot-take?ImeanitstartswithSandraBland,pulledoverinTexas,arrested,jailedandfounddeadbysuicideinhercellthreedayslater.InabookcalledTalkingtoStrangersaboutourinabilitytoproperlycommunicatewithpeoplewedon'tknow,thisseemsanarrowviewofthewholeinteraction.It'sliketheconversationalequivalentof"youshouldn'thavewornthatdress."Let'signorethefactBlandwasjailed3daysforafailedlanesignal.ThatStarbucksbaristashavebetterde-escalationskillsthanthearrestingofficerwhowas,let'snotforget,indictedforperjury.Thisreadslikeyetanotherstoryof"drivingwhileBlack"notoneofcrossedwiresandanincompletetransferofinformation.ButthenGladwelldecidestoweighinonthecaseofcampusrapistBrockTurner.BrockTurnerofcourseistheformerStanfordUniversityswimstar,sonofaciviliancontractorfortheUnitedStatesAirForcewhowaschargedfor"20minutesofaction"andserved3monthsofasixmonthsentenceafterJudgeAaaronPerskey(aStanfordAlumnushimself)feltthatprisonwouldhaveasevereimpactonhim.AndherecomesGladwellusingthis,ofallincidents,toputforwardthenotionthatsexualassaultisafailuretoagreeontherulesofconsentbecausealcoholcausesmentalmyopia.ThatBrockTurnersimplywasill-equippedtoknowwhathewasdoingwhenwewasrapinganunconsciouswoman,neglectingthefacthestillsomehowhadenoughofaself-preservationinstincttotryandrunawaywhenhewasdiscovered.Thatwe'retominimizethisisacrimeofviolencewhereindividualsexerttheirpowerandcontroloveranotherindividualsexuallyandinsteadspeakofitasmiscommunication-toshiftingtheblametothevictimfortheirfailuretocommunicateclearlyisahardfuckingno.Andit'snotjustreprehensibleonthepage,ithasrealworldramifications.Infact,justthisyeartheMinnesotaSupremeCourtruledthatitisn'trapetohavesexwithanunconsciouswomanifshe'sgottendrunkvoluntarily.What.The.Fuck.Andtherethebookgoesfrombeingwillfullydumb,narrowlyfocused,andcherrypickingwhateverhelpsthepreexistingargumenttodownrightdangerous.I'vejustreada300pageopinionpiecefromaConservativeragwithallthehard-hitting,well-researchedrigourofanonlineanti-vaxxer.Hardpass. ...more flag 101likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Dec31,2019 ElyseWalters ratedit reallylikedit Audiobook..narratedbyMalcolmGladwellBeinghonesthere....alotofthisbookwentrightovermyhead.ThereissomuchIdon’tknow-it’spathetic&embarrassing.Alsoreadingthis(listening)duringthelastfewdaysoftheyearwaschallengingmylazybrain.Iknewitwouldhavebeenhelpfultolookupinformation-(visitmybuddy,Google),butIwasoftensoakinginourwarmpool,oroutsidewalking.Iwasalazyreader/listenerwiththisbook....butthankfullyIownit...thankstomy Audiobook..narratedbyMalcolmGladwellBeinghonesthere....alotofthisbookwentrightovermyhead.ThereissomuchIdon’tknow-it’spathetic&embarrassing.Alsoreadingthis(listening)duringthelastfewdaysoftheyearwaschallengingmylazybrain.Iknewitwouldhavebeenhelpfultolookupinformation-(visitmybuddy,Google),butIwasoftensoakinginourwarmpool,oroutsidewalking.Iwasalazyreader/listenerwiththisbook....butthankfullyIownit...thankstomyfriend-*Iris*....(shegiftedmethisaudiobook-sweetgirl-knowingIwas1,927onthewaitlistatthelibrary)—THEHISTORICAL-PASTCURRENTEVENTS-were*ABUNDANT*...asintoomuchformybraintotakeinatonetime.Theaudiobookhadsomeinteresting-awesomepodcasttypesoundsgoingon-andthatILOVE.It’sexcitingtoseeaudiobook’sraisethebarwhenitcomestocreativity-thisonedoesthat!But...backtothingsItookaway-thingsIlearn-andthingsIstumbledwith.........IlearnedalittlebitmoreonhowFidelCastrofooledtheCIAforageneration.....IlearnedalittlemoreaboutNevilleChamberlainandhisconnectiontoHitler.....IcameawayalittlemoreafraidaboutthethingsIdon’tknowaboutpeople…(strangers),than,IdidbeforeIstartedthisbook.....Istilldon’tknowwhycampussexualassaultsareontherise...(willsomebodyexplainthistomeplease)....AND........Somepartsofthebookwereeye-opening-somepartsshocking:-onechapterwasgraphicallycreepy!!(childmolestationdetailswereYUCK/YUCK/YUCK!!!Itwasalittletoolongwindedinparts.Ihadtoforcemyselftonotdriftoff-UltimatelyI’mleftwondering:AretherepartsofthisbookIshouldstudymore?(yes,maybe:volunteersarewelcomed)...I’lldiscussthisbookmore.I’mwillingtolearnmore....Butonthelastdayof2019?Nope...Ineedabrainbreak!Isincerelythankmyfriendforgiftingmethisbook.Idon’tthinkit’sanaccidentthatthisisthelastbookoftheyearI’mendingwith.IamhopingthatPaulwilllistentothisbook...asheisalwaysagreatbuddytochatwithabouttheseheavyissues.Thankyou…tomanyoffriendshereinbook-land-community....WishingeveryoneawonderfulNewYear🥳3.5...ratingup....(forgivingpartsthatwerehardformetocomprehendduetolimitationsandlaziness) ...more flag 95likes · Like  · seereview Viewall20comments Aug26,2019 GretchenRubin addedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition IalwaysfeelluckywhenIgettoreadabookbeforeitsofficialpublicationdate.Afascinating,accessibleexaminationofthemiscommunicationsthatcanarisewhenwetalktostrangers.We'regoingtointerviewMalcolmGladwellfortheHappier podcast,can'twaitforthat. IalwaysfeelluckywhenIgettoreadabookbeforeitsofficialpublicationdate.Afascinating,accessibleexaminationofthemiscommunicationsthatcanarisewhenwetalktostrangers.We'regoingtointerviewMalcolmGladwellfortheHappier podcast,can'twaitforthat. ...more flag 88likes · Like  · seereview Viewall4comments Apr16,2022 AhmadSharabiani ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: 21th-century, non-fiction, self-help, psychology, sociology, canadian, adult, science, business, language TalkingtoStrangers:WhatWeShouldKnowAboutthePeopleWeDon’tKnow,MalcolmGladwellMalcolmTimothyGladwellCMisanEnglish-bornCanadianjournalist,author,andpublicspeaker.Miscommunication,interactionsandassumptionspeoplemakewhendealingwiththosethattheydon'tknow.TalkingtoStrangersisaclassicallyGladwellianintellectualadventure,achallengingandcontroversialexcursionthroughhistory,psychology,andscandalstakenstraightfromthenews.Herevisitsthedecept TalkingtoStrangers:WhatWeShouldKnowAboutthePeopleWeDon’tKnow,MalcolmGladwellMalcolmTimothyGladwellCMisanEnglish-bornCanadianjournalist,author,andpublicspeaker.Miscommunication,interactionsandassumptionspeoplemakewhendealingwiththosethattheydon'tknow.TalkingtoStrangersisaclassicallyGladwellianintellectualadventure,achallengingandcontroversialexcursionthroughhistory,psychology,andscandalstakenstraightfromthenews.HerevisitsthedeceptionsofBernieMadoff,thetrialofAmandaKnox,thesuicideofSylviaPlath,theJerrySanduskypedophiliascandalatPennStateUniversity,andthedeathofSandraBlandthrowingourunderstandingoftheseandotherstoriesintodoubt.عنوانهایچاپشدهدرایران:«گفت‌و‌گوباغریبه‌ها:هرآنچهکهلازماستراجعبهکسانیکهنمی‌شناسیمبدانیم»؛«گفت‌و‌گوباغریبه‌ها:چرادرتشخیصحالاتدرونیدیگرانشکستمی‌‌خوریم»؛«صحبتباغریبه‌ها:آنچهدرموردافرادغریبهبایدبدانیم»؛«سخنگفتنبابیگانه‌ها:(آنچهدرموردکسانیکهنمی‌شناسیمبایستیبدانیم)»؛نویسنده:مالکوم(مالکولم)گلدول؛تاریخنخستینخوانشروزشانزدهمماهآوریلسال2022میلادیعنوان:گفت‌و‌گوباغریبه‌ها:هرآنچهکهلازماستراجعبهکسانیکهنمی‌شناسیمبدانیم؛نویسنده:مالکومگلدول؛مترجم:مهبانمقدم؛ویراستار:فرزانهفرزانیان؛تهران،هورمزد؛سال1399؛در283ص؛شابک9786227251203؛موضوعروانشناسیازنویسندگانبریتانیا-سده21معنوان:گفت‌و‌گوباغریبه‌ها:چرادرتشخیصحالاتدرونیدیگرانشکستمی‌‌خوریم؛نویسنده:مالکومگلدول؛مترجم:رضااسکندری‌آذر؛ویراستار:نازنینسرکارات‌پور؛تهران،کتابمرو؛سال1399؛در249ص؛شابک9786226202824؛عنوان:صحبتباغریبه‌ها:آنچهدرموردافرادغریبهبایدبدانیم؛نویسنده:ملکومگلدول؛مترجم:محمدرضامهم؛آران،پیامامین؛سال1399؛در263ص؛شابک9786008562139؛عنوان:سخنگفتنبابیگانه‌ها:(آنچهدرموردکسانیکهنمی‌شناسیمبایستیبدانیم)؛مالکولمگلدول؛مترجم:اصغراندرودی؛کرج،دردانشبهمن،سال1399؛در392ص؛شابک9789641742524؛مالکولمگلدولباوردارند،دربارهیابزارواستراتژیهاییکهدربارهیفهمیدنافرادیکهنمیشناسیمبهکارمیبریماشتباهاتیوجوددارد؛ونمیدانیمچگونهباانسانهاییکهنمیشناسیمگفتگوکنیم؛بایدبدانیدکههمهغریبههستند؛ایشاندراینکتابخویشبهبررسیپروندههای«جریسانداسکی»؛«آمانداناکس»؛«امیلیداو»؛«سیلویاپلات»؛و«ساندرابلاند»نیزپرداختهاندتاریخبهنگامرسانی28/01/1401هجریخورشیدی؛ا.شربیانی ...more flag 81likes · Like  · seereview Viewall4comments Sep19,2019 Andy ratedit itwasok  ·  reviewofanotheredition Gladwellisanexcellentstoryteller,butIthinkthatsometimeshe'sdangerouslywrong.WhenthepresidentofPennStatehearsaboutaformeremployeecomingbacktothecollegeatnightto"horsearound"withanaked11-year-oldboy,wellthemostlikelyexplanationisnotbenign.Gladwellkeepssayingpeopledefaulttothe"truth"andtothe"mostlikely"explanation.Butinexampleslikethispeoplearedefaultingtodenial.Andthat'snotokayforthosewhosejobistobesuspiciousandres Gladwellisanexcellentstoryteller,butIthinkthatsometimeshe'sdangerouslywrong.WhenthepresidentofPennStatehearsaboutaformeremployeecomingbacktothecollegeatnightto"horsearound"withanaked11-year-oldboy,wellthemostlikelyexplanationisnotbenign.Gladwellkeepssayingpeopledefaulttothe"truth"andtothe"mostlikely"explanation.Butinexampleslikethispeoplearedefaultingtodenial.Andthat'snotokayforthosewhosejobistobesuspiciousandresponsible.Gladwellseemssurprisedthatpeoplearegullibleandthatsocialtrustisimportantforsocialanimalstothrive.HetalksabouttheMilgramexperiments,andgetslostintheweedsabouthowtheywerebadtheater,underemphasizingthemainpoint,i.e.that65%ofpeopleweresheepwhoobeyedauthorityfigurestellingthemtodoinsaneevilthings.Theimplicationforwhathe'stalkingaboutisthatdecisionsaremadebyafewpeoplewhocreatetheconditionsthatthenaffecteveryoneelse.Andsowhatreallymattersiswhattheshepherdsandsheepdogsaredoingtoprotectthesheepfromthewolvesandotherperils.Thoseprotectorsaresupposedtosniffoutwolvesinsheep'sclothing--that'stheirjob.Soyeah,it'sliterallyancientwisdomthatwecan'thaveeverybodycryingwolfallthetime,butwedoneedsomeonetolookoutforwolves.Idon'tgetjournalistswhodon'tgetthatsomepeoplehavetheroleinsocietyofbeingskeptical.IfGladwell'sfactsarecorrectabouttheSandraBlandcase,thenthebigissuethereisthecorruptionofthescientificevidenceoneffectivepolicing(basicallythe80/20rule:concentratepolicescrutinywherethecrimesare).DoingtrafficstopseverywhereallthetimeisjustBS,regardlessofracismissues.Wouldn'titbeniceifsomeonehadthejobofcallingBSonbadpublicpolicy?MichaelLewis'spodcastseries"AgainsttheRules"issofarallaboutthedeclineofthe"referee"inAmerica,andIthinkhisinsightsaremoreappositeforthisdiscussionabouttrustandsocialcohesionthanGladwell's.Youcan'tplayagamewithoutreferees.Refereescan'tjustdefertotheplayers/cheatersonwhetherornotthey'vebrokentherules.Theunderminingofarbitersiswhatdestroyssocieties. ...more flag 79likes · Like  · seereview Viewall7comments Jan29,2020 Carole ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition TalkingtoStrangersbyMalcolmGladwellappearstobeacontentiousbook:thereadersandreviewershaveeitherhateditorlovedit,nothinginbetween.Iselectedtheaudiobookversionbecausetheauthorusuallyreadshisbooks,ashedidinthisone.Theaudiobookhadanaddedbonusofprovidingthereaderwithactualorreproducedinterviewsandtranscriptsofthecasesheusedasexamples.Gladwellextensivelyusedwell-knowncasesthatshowthat,whendealingwithpeoplewedonotknow,w TalkingtoStrangersbyMalcolmGladwellappearstobeacontentiousbook:thereadersandreviewershaveeitherhateditorlovedit,nothinginbetween.Iselectedtheaudiobookversionbecausetheauthorusuallyreadshisbooks,ashedidinthisone.Theaudiobookhadanaddedbonusofprovidingthereaderwithactualorreproducedinterviewsandtranscriptsofthecasesheusedasexamples.Gladwellextensivelyusedwell-knowncasesthatshowthat,whendealingwithpeoplewedonotknow,wearenotalwaysthebestjudgesoftheircharacter.ExamplesofthisvaryfromHitlertotheAmandaKnoxcaseinItalyandmanyothers.Subjectsdealtwithincludespying,childsexualabuse,bigotry,prejudice,financialdishonesty,etc.ThisbookprovesagainthatMalcolmGladwellisanastuteobserverofthesocietywelivein.Ithoughtthesubjectmatterwasinterestingandtheresearchwell-done.Highlyrecommendedifyouenjoystudyinghumannature. ...more flag 70likes · Like  · seereview Viewall8comments Jul05,2019 Celeste ratedit didnotlikeit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: giveaways Thisiscertainlyaprovocativebook,enoughsothatdespitemyangerandfrustrationIfinishedreadingitinthehopeitwouldconcludewithacomplexandthoughtfulanalysisofwhyourdifferencesandhistoryresultinsomuchmisunderstandingwhenstrangersinteractwitheachother.Sadlymyexpectationswerenotrealized.Thereallifeexamplesthatheusedwerenottrulyexaminedindepthandthelackofcomplexityoftenleftmefrustrated.Imayjustbeunabletofeelanysympathyforac Thisiscertainlyaprovocativebook,enoughsothatdespitemyangerandfrustrationIfinishedreadingitinthehopeitwouldconcludewithacomplexandthoughtfulanalysisofwhyourdifferencesandhistoryresultinsomuchmisunderstandingwhenstrangersinteractwitheachother.Sadlymyexpectationswerenotrealized.Thereallifeexamplesthatheusedwerenottrulyexaminedindepthandthelackofcomplexityoftenleftmefrustrated.ImayjustbeunabletofeelanysympathyforaconvictedsexoffenderlikeBrockTurner,evenifhedranktoomuch,Ijustdon'tseethatasanexcuseforhisbehavior.ButthatwasthebasisIgotfromthatexample,theywerebothdrunkandsotherewasmisunderstanding,whenIwaswaitingforrapeculturetobebroughtupandaddedintothemix.Maybetheauthordoesn'tseerapecultureasaproblemorafactorinthiscase.Iamsuretherearepeoplethatwillbenefitfromreadingthisbook,itcertainlyisn'tbad.ButIdonotthinkIwastheaudiencetheauthorwaswritingfor. ...more flag 67likes · Like  · seereview View1comment Sep14,2019 Mehrsa ratedit reallylikedit WhattosayaboutGladwell?IreadeverythinghewritesandIlistentohispodcasts.EvenasIcringewhenheoversellshissimplistictheoriesandmisinterpretsacademicdatatofitintocutestories.Therearealotofgreatstoriesinthisbookandsomenewtakesonoldones,butattheendofthedaythelensthroughwhichhedemandsweseethesestories(i.e.our"defaulttotruth"intalkingtostrangers)doesn'twork.SandraBland'sexchangewiththeofficerdidnotresultinherdeathb WhattosayaboutGladwell?IreadeverythinghewritesandIlistentohispodcasts.EvenasIcringewhenheoversellshissimplistictheoriesandmisinterpretsacademicdatatofitintocutestories.Therearealotofgreatstoriesinthisbookandsomenewtakesonoldones,butattheendofthedaythelensthroughwhichhedemandsweseethesestories(i.e.our"defaulttotruth"intalkingtostrangers)doesn'twork.SandraBland'sexchangewiththeofficerdidnotresultinherdeathbecausewearen'tgoodattalkingtostrangers.NeitherdidBrockTurner'srapingtheStanfordwomannorSandusky,etc.Igetthatthesestoriesareallcomplicated.Ithinkeveryonegetsthatit'scomplicatedandthattherearetwosidestothesestories,butIdon'tthinkthistellingisallthathelpfulinunderstandingtheseintricacies.Infact,itseemstotrivializethem.Still,Idon'tthinkthebookisbad.He'sanexcellentwriterandstorytellerandtherearetwofewgoodwritersthesedayssoIwillreadallofthemifIcan--evenwithoutbuyingwhatthey'reselling. ...more flag 60likes · Like  · seereview Viewall3comments Nov22,2019 RobinBonne ratedit didnotlikeit Shelves: nonfiction Clearlytheauthorhasneverbeensexuallyassaulted.Ifyoufindreadinggraphicdescriptionsofrapeandpedopheliaupsetting,thisisn’tabookyou’llenjoy.Theauthorisdismissiveofrapevictims.Heconcludesthatthepeoplewhoprotectpredatorsanddisbelieverapevictimsare“defaultingtotruth.”TherewereseveraltimeshedefendsthepeoplewhoprotectedpedophileslikeJerrySanduskyandNassar.Thissectionofthebookwashorriblydisgusting.His“defaulttruth”inthiscasemean Clearlytheauthorhasneverbeensexuallyassaulted.Ifyoufindreadinggraphicdescriptionsofrapeandpedopheliaupsetting,thisisn’tabookyou’llenjoy.Theauthorisdismissiveofrapevictims.Heconcludesthatthepeoplewhoprotectpredatorsanddisbelieverapevictimsare“defaultingtotruth.”TherewereseveraltimeshedefendsthepeoplewhoprotectedpedophileslikeJerrySanduskyandNassar.Thissectionofthebookwashorriblydisgusting.His“defaulttruth”inthiscasemeansdisbelievingvictims.Thisbookhonestlymademequestionwhetherornottheauthorisarapistwhohassexuallyassaulteddrunkpeopleinhispast.Whyelsewouldhebemotivatedtowritesomethinglikethis? ...more flag 59likes · Like  · seereview Viewall3comments Nov18,2019 Blaine ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: from-library, 2019 Wethinkwecaneasilyseeintotheheartsofothersbasedontheflimsiestofclues.Wejumpatthechancetojudgestrangers.Wewouldneverdothattoourselves,ofcourse.Wearenuancedandcomplexandenigmatic.Butthestrangeriseasy.IfIcanconvinceyouofonethinginthisbook,letitbethis:Strangersarenoteasy.TalkingtoStrangersisabookwithaboldpremise:tryingtoexplainwhyayoungblackwomannamedSandraBlandwaspulledoverforaminortrafficviolationinrural Wethinkwecaneasilyseeintotheheartsofothersbasedontheflimsiestofclues.Wejumpatthechancetojudgestrangers.Wewouldneverdothattoourselves,ofcourse.Wearenuancedandcomplexandenigmatic.Butthestrangeriseasy.IfIcanconvinceyouofonethinginthisbook,letitbethis:Strangersarenoteasy.TalkingtoStrangersisabookwithaboldpremise:tryingtoexplainwhyayoungblackwomannamedSandraBlandwaspulledoverforaminortrafficviolationinruralTexas,arrestedandjailed,andwhyshecommittedsuicideinhercellthreedayslater.Aswithhisotherbooks,Mr.Gladwellattemptsthisexplanationthroughanexplorationofpsychologicalandsocialscienceresearch.Theparadoxoftalkingtostrangersisthatneedtotalktothem,butwe’reterribleatit.Weinstinctivelyhavea“defaulttotruth”operatingassumptionthatthepeoplewearedealingwitharehonest.Wefalloutofthattruthdefaultmodeonlywhenourdoubtsandmisgivingsrisetothepointwherewecannolongerexplainthemaway.Thisdefaultisallowstheefficientcommunicationrequiredbyoursociety,butitplacesusatriskofoccasionallybeinggrosslydeceivedbythelikesofaJerrySanduskyoraLarryNassar.Webelieveintransparency—theideathat“thewayastrangerlooksandactsisareliablecluetothewaytheyfeel”—andwetendtojudgepeople’shonestybasedontheirdemeanor.Well-spoken,confidentpeoplewithafirmhandshake,thosewhoarefriendlyandengaging,areseenasbelievable.Nervous,shifty,stammering,uncomfortablepeoplewhogivewindy,convolutedexplanationsarenotseenasbelievable.Whilepeople—includingprofessionalinvestigators—aregoodatjudgingthecredibilityofthosewhosehonestyanddemeanormatch,peopleareterribleatjudgingthecredibilityoftheconfidentliarorthenervoustruthteller,whichishowyouendupwithAmandaKnoxspendingyearsinanItalianprisondespitenoevidencelinkinghertothecrime.Finally,wealsofailtoappreciatethecontextinwhichthestrangerisoperating.Suicideratesarecoupledtoeaseofavailability.Ifyoutakeawayaneasyway,asBritaindidwhentheychangedthetypeofgasusedinthemid-20thcentury,theratedrops.Peopledonotsimplykillthemselvesanotherway.Similarly,ifyoupatrolahigh-crimecityblock,thecrimeratedropsratherthansimplyrelocatingafewblockaway.Whenyouconfrontastranger,youhavetoconsiderwhereandwhenyouareconfrontingthem,becausethosetwothingspowerfullyinfluenceyourinterpretationofthem.It’sallveryinteresting,butdoesMr.GladwellsucceedinexplainingtheSandraBlandtragedy?Idon’tthinkso,notfullyanyway,thoughIwaspersuadedaboutsomeaspectsofitperhaps,suchaswhytheofficerpulledheroverinthefirstplace.Andwhilethechapteronalcohol’spotentialroleinmisunderstandingstrangerswasbelievableataanabstractlevel,IwasnotpersuadedbyhiswaaaaaaytoocharitabletakeonBrockTurner.Still,TalkingtoStrangersisanotherthought-provokingridebyMr.Gladwell.Recommended. ...more flag 58likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Aug30,2019 Kelly addedit Shelves: read-in-2019, non-fiction WhatIloveaboutGladwell'sbooksisthethingthatIthinkmanypeoplefindfrustrating:Idon'tagreewitheverythinghesays.Butwhatbringsmebackisthathefindsinterestingthreadsandpremisesandmanagestoweavethemtogetherinsuchawaythatitmakesmethinkaboutmyownbeliefsalittledifferent.ThisbookbeginswiththeSandraBlandcase.Whydidshedie?Whydidthissituationevenoccur?ItthengoesintolookingataseriesofincidentsoftheCIAoverlookingspiesfromC WhatIloveaboutGladwell'sbooksisthethingthatIthinkmanypeoplefindfrustrating:Idon'tagreewitheverythinghesays.Butwhatbringsmebackisthathefindsinterestingthreadsandpremisesandmanagestoweavethemtogetherinsuchawaythatitmakesmethinkaboutmyownbeliefsalittledifferent.ThisbookbeginswiththeSandraBlandcase.Whydidshedie?Whydidthissituationevenoccur?ItthengoesintolookingataseriesofincidentsoftheCIAoverlookingspiesfromCubawhoembeddedthemselvesinUSoperationsandhowbecause,ashumans,wedefaulttotruth,wearereallybadatsniffingoutthosewhoaredeceivingus.Thisisthecaseevenforthemosthighlytrained.Afewpeople,however,don'tdefaultthisway.AndthisispreciselywhyBernieMadoffplayedsuchaponzischeme--onepersonwhospokeupandoutbecausethingsdidn'tfeelrightwasmadetofeelasthoughhewasoverreacting.ThatnowaycouldsomeonelikeMadoff,wholookedtoogoodtobeinvolvedinsomethinglikethat,beamastercriminal.GladwellthentakesustotheAmandaKnoxcaseandexploreswhyitisshewasbelievedtobeakeysuspectinthedeathofherroommate.TheansweristhatKnox'sbehaviordoesn'talignwithhowpeoplethinkitoughttobeinthemidstofacrisisandgrief.She'sgoofybynature,andheractionsaftersuchacrimedidn'tfitwiththemodelpeoplehaveofhowsheshouldact.So,theyreadherbehaviorsassignsofguilt,ratherthanconsideringthat,perhaps,sheactedthewayshealwaysdid.TheBrockTurnerrapecaseisexplored,too,andit'slookedatnotfromtheperspectiveofrapecultureandtoxicmasculinity--thenarrativeweallknowandagreewithbecausethosearen'tincorrect--butrather,it'slookedatfromthepointofalcoholandhowitinhibitscognitivefunction.ThiswasthecasebothforthevictimandforTurner,makingitimpossibleforatruthfulaccountofwhathappenedthatnight.There'snorapeapologizinghere;instead,it'salookatthecontextofthecasethatmakespiecingittogetherchallenging.Thisiscoupling:alcoholwaslinkedhere.SowhatoftheBlandcasethen?Gladwelltalksaboutresearchdoneinacademiaaboutcrimeandhowcontextmattersthere."Dangerous"placesoftenaren't.Theproblemisalmostalwaysisolatedtoatinyportionofaplace,likeafewblocksinacity.ThisunderstandingledtoKansasCitytryingoutanewmethodofpolicing,beinghighlyconcentratedintheworstareasinordertodecreasecrime.Itworked.Why?Peoplewerewillingtogiveupsomeoftheirprivacyforthesafeoftheirsafety.Theyliveinanareawithhighcrimeandsignificantdruguseandgunviolence,avisitfromthepolicedidn'tbotherthemknowingthatithadadirecteffectontheirenvironment.Theproblemwaswhenthattacticwasusedoutsidethecontext.ThiswaswhatGladwelllinkstogetherfortheSandraBlandstory.Apoliceofficer,trainedintheKansasCitymethod,removedthecontextfromthesituation.Healsoleanedheavilyintonotdefaultingtotruth.Bland?Herbehaviordidn'tconformtotheideasofhowsomeone"should"behaveinthesituation.Thesamepiecesofthepuzzle--thecoupling,thelackofcontext--allowstheKansasCitypolicingmethodtodefaulttofault,asopposedtotruth,tooeasily.SeewhathappensinFerguson(andnotjusttheMichaelBrowncase,butinadditionalcasesofunnecessarypolicingofacommunity).It'sareallyinterestingpremiseandonethatmakesagoodbitofsense.WhatGladwelldoesn'tdo,though,isaddresssexismhere.Hedoestouchonrace--especiallyabouthowblackcommunitiesarealreadyoverpoliced--butgenderdoesn'tcomeintoitquiteenough.Iwishwe'dseenthatlayerhere,especiallyasittiedintotheKnoxcaseANDhowtorelatesbacktotheBlandcase.Overall,it'sonethatwillmakemethinkalotmoreaboutinteractionswithstrangers,boththoseIhaveandthoseIdon't.It'sfascinatingtothinkabouthowthismight,too,connectwithsocialmediaandhowwedo/don'tconnectwithotherpeoplewhoarestrangerstous.Ratherthandefaulttotruth,itseemsthatinplaceslikeTwitter,we'vecometooquicktoignorethecontext,ignorethecouplingeffect,andwequicklydefaulttoanywherebutthetruth.Somethingtoreallychewon,andsurprisinglyconnectedtothepowerfulfirstessayaboutTwitterinTrickMirror:ReflectionsonSelf-Delusion. ...more flag 55likes · Like  · seereview Viewall5comments Aug23,2020 Kimber ratedit itwasok GladwellwritesthislikehehasA.D.D.He'sallovertheplace,anhistoriantryingtobeentertaining?Perhaps,butIpreferamorecohesiveapproach.Muchofthebookisbasedonthetheorythatmostpeopledefaulttoseeingthebestinothersandareunabletoseethebad.Andinothercases,theythinksomeoneisguiltysimplybecausetheirpersonalityisoffinsomeway.ThistheoryfitsinbestwiththeAmandaKnoxcase(clearlyinnocent)buthetriestofititinwiththecasesofJerry GladwellwritesthislikehehasA.D.D.He'sallovertheplace,anhistoriantryingtobeentertaining?Perhaps,butIpreferamorecohesiveapproach.Muchofthebookisbasedonthetheorythatmostpeopledefaulttoseeingthebestinothersandareunabletoseethebad.Andinothercases,theythinksomeoneisguiltysimplybecausetheirpersonalityisoffinsomeway.ThistheoryfitsinbestwiththeAmandaKnoxcase(clearlyinnocent)buthetriestofititinwiththecasesofJerrySanduskyandLarryNassar,criminalpedophileswhowentyearsbeforetheywerestopped.Becausethepeoplearoundthesecasesdefaultedtoseeingthegoodinothers?Whataboutthefactthatnobodywantedtodoanythingaboutit?Theseallegationswenttothetopofthechain,universitypresidentswhodidnothingandGladwellquestionsthereader,"wouldyouhavedoneanydifferent?"Well,someofusdo.Thesimplereasonnothingwasdoneisbecausethosepeoplechosenottosticktheirnecksouttostopabusefromhappening.Thisisn't"givingsomeonethebenefitofthedoubt"(Gladwell)Theylackedthecouragetodowhatisright."Defaultingtoseethegoodinothers"maybecorrect,toanextent,butit'soverblownhere.TheSandraBlandcasewasworthreadinginitself.Thiswasclearlyatragedy.Buttherewasmoretoitthan"talkingtostrangers."TheofficerneveronceadmittedithadanythingtodowithSandrabeingablackwomanandhetriedtosaytheywereinahighcrimeareawhichwasn'ttrue.IappreciatedhowheshedsomelightonthesuicidesofSylviaPlathandAnneSexton.Andthebesttakeawayfromthebookistheconclusion(basedonthestudies)thatyounevercantellwhatsomeoneisfeelingbasedontheirfacialexpression.Themostinterestingpartofthebookwasinhowwetendtoseethegoodinpeoplewhoarecriminalsandseeguiltinpeoplewhoareinnocentsimplybecausewerelyoncertainsocialcues&bodylanguagetoseeintegrityinapersonordeception,truthorlies.Hence,thenervousgirlwhoeveryonethoughtwaslying.AndBernieMadoff:awolfinsheep'sclothing.Peoplesizeupothershastily&thenareshockedwhenthetruthcomesout&inhindsighttheredflagscomebacktothem.IjustwishGladwellhadmorecontroloverhisnarrative&itdidn'tfeelsodisjointedtome.Heendsonaweaknote,hasn'tdrawnconclusions(notreally)&itallkindoffallsflatforme. ...more flag 54likes · Like  · seereview Viewall11comments Dec15,2019 Trevor ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: psychology Ihaven’tbeenallthatimpressedbythelastfewbooksGladwellhaswrittenandwasn’tevengoingtoreadthisoneatall–butthenafriendatworksaiditrelatedtosomeofthethingsI’vebeenworkingonatthemoment,andsoIgotholdofit–andI’mgladIdid.Insomewaysthisbookcouldbesummedupbysayingthatweareprogrammedtotrustandbelievepeopleandthatratherthanneedingtosuspenddisbelief,peopleoftenhavetoworkveryhardtoloseourtrust.Forinstance,Americ Ihaven’tbeenallthatimpressedbythelastfewbooksGladwellhaswrittenandwasn’tevengoingtoreadthisoneatall–butthenafriendatworksaiditrelatedtosomeofthethingsI’vebeenworkingonatthemoment,andsoIgotholdofit–andI’mgladIdid.Insomewaysthisbookcouldbesummedupbysayingthatweareprogrammedtotrustandbelievepeopleandthatratherthanneedingtosuspenddisbelief,peopleoftenhavetoworkveryhardtoloseourtrust.Forinstance,Americanspiesseemtohavearemarkablesoft-spotforCubanspies–withUSspiesseeminglyincapableofeverdetectingCubanones.IneverknowwhattomakeoftheCIA(andalltheothervariousthree-letter-agencies).I’vereadTheLegacyofAshesandtheBlowbackseries,andIdidn’tparticularlycomeawayfromreadingthosewithaparticularlyhighestimationsoftheabilitiesofUSspies.Thatsaid,perhapstheyareinfactinfinitelymorecleverthantheyseem–well,theywouldhavetobe,wouldn’tthey?Andsothesebookssayingtheyareallgormlessispartofsomeelaboratedoubleblindexercisetoputusoffourguard.PartofthisdetailsthetorturetechniquessogleefullyadoptedbytheUSinitswaronterror,andsoIhadflashbackstoreadingTheShockDoctrine.Ifindthewholeideaoftortureunspeakable.TheUShasmuchtoanswerfor,butsinceitisthesolesuperpower,Iguesswecan’texpectittoanswerforanyofitscrimesagainsthumanityanytimesoon.Onceagainitwasprettyclearthatnoneoftheinformationobtainedundertorturewasintheleastbitreliable–andnotjustbecauseyoumightlietogetthetorturetoend,butalsobecausememoryisfragileandaftertorturethevictimmightevenbelieve(reallybelieve)theywereGeorgeWashingtonifyouelectrocutedthemenough.PartoftheproblemIhadwiththisbookisthat‘strangers’isn’teverquitedefined–andsothestrangersoftenendedupbeingpeoplequitelikeyouandme.Althoughitdiscussessomeoftheblacklivesmatterincidents,thatis,wherestrangersweredecidedlynottreatedwithanexcessoftrust,whatissomewhatignoredistheproblemofthestrangerswhoarelikethechildreninYemen–thinkbacktothelasttimeyoureadaboutthatwarforamoment.Hardtoremember,isn’tit?Yet,ithasbeenonthebrinkofoneoftheworld’sworsthumanitariancrisesforthelastcoupleofyears–andwesterngovernmentsarenotonlyaidingtheatrocitiesbeingcarriedoutthere,butalsosupplyingarmsandadvicethatismakingmattersamilliontimesworse.Herearetherealstrangers.Likethestrangerswesenddronestoblowtopieces.Itallbecomeslikeahyper-realvideogame,thedeathofthesestrangersbarelyratesashrugfromus.Thereis,ofcourse,moneytobemadeinkillingthesedesperatelypoorpeople,andthisinaworldwhereyoucouldprobablybuythreeorfourdozenofthemaseffectiveslavesforlessthanthepriceofthedroneweusetokilledtwoorthreeofthem.Butstrangersatadistancearenottheconcernofthisbook.ThestrangersconsideredherearealsonotquitethestrangersSimmeltalksof–thosewhodonotquitebelongamongstus,butwhoarrive,andhavenotyetleft.Thiswouldhavemadeaninterestingbooktoo–particularlygiventhe‘BuildTheWall’hysteriaintheUSthatelectedamadmantoitshighestofficeandthe‘StoptheBoats’chantsinAustraliathathaswonacoupleofelections,orthe‘Turksarecoming’thatdecidedBrexit.Thesestrangers,thekindthatmightendupseparatedfromtheirchildrenincagesattheborder,orwhocommitsuicideonanislandnorthofAustraliansomewhere(atleasttheydidn’tdrown)arealsomostlyleftfacelessandarecertainlynotpeoplewetreatwithanexcessoftrust.Allthesame,thisbookisinterestinganditisworthknowinghowwebehavewithstrangerswhoaremorelikeus.Thebestbitsofthisbookwerethebitswhereheaddsinthecomplicationsoflife.Fartoooftenweassumethatstoriesoftherapeofchildren,forexample,aresimpleandthatifsomeonehasbeendoingthisforalongtime,andtheyhaven’tbeenimmediatelycaught,therehadtohavebeenanelaboratecoverup.Butitisnotjustthatwedelaybelievingpeoplecouldpossiblydosuchthingsbeyondthepointwherethisbecomesatallreasonable(somethingIthinkthatisalmostcertainlytrue)butalsothatwealsodoubtourownsanitywhenconfrontedwith‘evidence’thatseemstoimplysport’scoachesorCardinalscouldpossiblydosuchthings–evenwhenthatevidencecomesfromourowneyes.AdearfriendofminepostedonFacebookrecentlyanelaboratetelephonescamshewasnearlythevictimofthatwasdesignedtogethertotransfermoneyoutofheraccountandintosomeoneelse’s.Whatwasremarkableaboutthiswashowprofessionalthewholethingwasandhowpatientthescammerswere.Wearepre-programmedtotrustpeople,andthatisn’tabadthing.AsGladwellmakesclearwithacoupleofcounter-examplesinthisbook,wherepeopleendupdistrustingeveryone,andhowtheirlivesquicklybecomeunliveable.AsSocratessaid,itisbettertosufferaninjurythantocauseone–obviously,hemeantthatintermsofoursouls–andIthinkthisprovesjustastruetoday.Whatisparticularlyinterestingaboutthisbookisthenotionthatmostofwhathappensintheworldis‘contextual’.Thereisalongdiscussionofcampusrapecasesandtheproblemsthatexcessivedrinkingcancause,notmerelysincepeopleendupdiminishedmemoriesofwhathappened,evenifnotdiminishedresponsibilityforwhathappened.Butthisisthencomparedwithothercultureswereexcessivedrinkingdoesnotleadtorapeorviolence.Similarly,thecaseofSilviaPlathisdiscussedandwhethershewouldhavecommittedsuicideinsomeotherwayiftowngashadbeenreplacedwithnaturalgassooner.Weoftenthinksuicideissomethingthatyouwouldonlydoaftersomeseriousconsideration,thatitistheultimateinelaborateanddecisivedecisionmaking–butoftentheoppositecanbethecase.Ratherthanbeingelaboratelyplanned,oftenpeoplewhoattemptsuicideandwhofortuitouslyliveaftertheattemptsaythatwhatactuallyhappenedwasthattheopportunitypresenteditselfandtheyaren’tallthatsurewhy,buttheytookthatopportunity.Wehumansaredeeplystrange,muchmoresothanwegenerallygiveourselvescreditfor.Likesomuchelseinlife,weoftenactfirstandprovideareasonablesoundingmotivelater.Thebitofthisthatisprobablyworththecoverpriceofthebookisthediscussionofthewordpuzzlethingclosetothestart.Peoplearegivensomewordswithsomeofthelettersreplacedwithblanksandtheyhavetofillthoseblankstomakeactualwords.Thefinishedwordsmightendupbeing‘cheat,scare,trap’stufflikethat.Butthentheshrinkgivingthetaskasks,‘so,whatdoyoureckonthatlistofwordssaysaboutyou?Itdoesn’tseemterriblyflattering.’Towhichyouarelikelytoreply,‘well,Ithinkitsaysnothingaboutme,it’sjusttheliteraryequivalentofajigsawpuzzle.’Sofar,allwellandgood.Except,whenyoushowpeoplephotosofotherpeopleandthentellthemhowtheseothersfilledintheblanks–andthewordstheycameupwith–theyhavenotroubleatallatbeingabletoidentifythepsychologicalissuesthesepeopleclearlysufferfromgiventhewordstheygenerated.Thisis,ofcourse,alongstandingfindingandisjustoneinstanceofanall-too-humansetofconclusionswefindourselvesjumpingto–evenafterhavingjustexplainedwhythesamethingcouldn’tpossiblyapplytoour-good-selves.Wecan’thelpourselvesinfindingthatpeoplelikeusareinfinitelycomplexandmustbeunderstoodfromwithinthatcomplexity–whilepeoplewhoarenotlikeusaresimpleandbehaveinaccordancetothestereotypesweholdofthem.Thisisinterestingbook,although,clearlywiththeprovisosI’vementionedaboutwhatastrangermightlooklike. ...more flag 51likes · Like  · seereview View2comments May07,2020 Liz ratedit likedit Shelves: book-clubs Ineverwouldhavepickedupthisbookifithadn’tbeenabookclubselection.So,Gladwellstartsoffbysayingwearehorriblybadatsussingoutliarsfromourfacetofaceinteractions.Ofcourse,myinitialthoughtwasthatexplainswhyTrumplovesPutinandKimJongUn.Gladwell’sbasicpremiseisthathumanshaveadefaultsettingtobelieveothersandinordertobelievesomeoneislyingtherehastobealotofunexplainablecircumstances.So,whileit’seasytothinkyou’dneverfall Ineverwouldhavepickedupthisbookifithadn’tbeenabookclubselection.So,Gladwellstartsoffbysayingwearehorriblybadatsussingoutliarsfromourfacetofaceinteractions.Ofcourse,myinitialthoughtwasthatexplainswhyTrumplovesPutinandKimJongUn.Gladwell’sbasicpremiseisthathumanshaveadefaultsettingtobelieveothersandinordertobelievesomeoneislyingtherehastobealotofunexplainablecircumstances.So,whileit’seasytothinkyou’dneverfallforascam,thisexplainswhysooftenintelligentpeopledoexactlythat.Hepositsthatevenifyouhavedoubts,therehastobeahighthresholdofdoubtsbeforeyoustopbelievingsomeone,especiallysomeoneyouknow.Someofthechaptersmakeforuncomfortablereading.TwooftheexampleshecitesinmakinghiscasearethedelaysinprosecutingJerrySanduskyandDr.Nassar.Especiallywiththeformer,heseemstospendmoretimepickingaparttheprosecution’scasethanactuallyprovinghispremise.Anotherchaptertacklesthedaterapeissuewhichseemstobesocommonthesedays.ForgetGladwell’sargument.Thescariestpartofthischapterwasreadinghowmuchbingedrinkingyoungadultsareengaginginandtheprevalenceofblackouts.Ihadsomeproblemswiththisbook.WhendiscussingSandraBland'sarrest,hetotallyglossesoverwhethertheofficerwasracist.Tolaytheblametotallyatthefeetofthepolicecultureseemedsimplistic.Andinthecaseofthedaterapechapter,hetriestolayblameequallyuponvictimandtherapist.So,whilehemakessomeinterestingpointswhichIthinkarevalid,heundercutshisargumentsandleftmefeelingqueasy. ...more flag 43likes · Like  · seereview Viewall13comments Dec21,2020 Eliza ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: nonfiction, audiobooks, 4-stars, reviewed, kindle, owned Afterlisteningtothisaudiobook,I'mstartingtogetthehypebehindaudiobooks!Gladwellnarratedhisbookperfectly;theaddedsoundbitesfromthehistoricalfiguresmentionedwasafantasticaddition,too. Afterlisteningtothisaudiobook,I'mstartingtogetthehypebehindaudiobooks!Gladwellnarratedhisbookperfectly;theaddedsoundbitesfromthehistoricalfiguresmentionedwasafantasticaddition,too. ...more flag 42likes · Like  · seereview Viewall5comments Jul13,2019 David ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: read-psychology I'mgladthatthosenicepeopleatGoodreadschosemerandomlytoreceiveanold-schoolpapercopyofthisbook,freeofcharge.Itwillbeanovelfeelingtoactuallyhavereadacontroversialbookbeforeithitstheshelvesandgeneratesthepredictablyshallowhottakesinthefewmomentsbeforetheworld'sattentionmovesontosomethingelse.PerhapsI'mengaginginadisplayofunwarrantedoptimismtothinkthatamerebookcanhaveaneffectonthewaypeoplethink,butthisiswhatTalking I'mgladthatthosenicepeopleatGoodreadschosemerandomlytoreceiveanold-schoolpapercopyofthisbook,freeofcharge.Itwillbeanovelfeelingtoactuallyhavereadacontroversialbookbeforeithitstheshelvesandgeneratesthepredictablyshallowhottakesinthefewmomentsbeforetheworld'sattentionmovesontosomethingelse.PerhapsI'mengaginginadisplayofunwarrantedoptimismtothinkthatamerebookcanhaveaneffectonthewaypeoplethink,butthisiswhatTalkingtoStrangersattemptstodo,toitscredit.IlumpthisbookinwithtwoothersI'vereadrecently(seehereandhere)whichchampionorcriticizeattemptstofind“thirdway”solutionstoourproblems.Thisprettydamneccentricbookactuallyonlydirectlyaddressesitsmainissueintheinitialandconcludingfivepercentorsoofthetext.Therestisalongtripthroughapparently(atfirst)unrelatedphenomena(includingCuba-USrelations,AmandaKnox,andwaterboarding)beforereturningtothemainpoint.Readingbooksaboutthirdwaysisanexerciseinoptimism,becausethirdwaybooksimplythattherearealwaysnewandinterestingwaystolookatoldproblems.(Inaddition,astheLong-SufferingWife(LSW)recentlysaid,“ReadingMalcolmGladwellalwaysmakesyoufeelsmart.”)SinceIsufferachronicdeficitofoptimism,Iamconstantlymainlininganyliteraturewhichseemstosaythattheworldcouldbeabetterplace,non-fictionorno.TheissuewhichgetsthethirdwaytreatmenthereisthealarmingnumberofpolicetrafficstopsintheUSwhichendupwithsomeone(usuallythedriverofthecar)dead.Thisisaproblemwhichisripeforathirdwayanalysis,becauseasitstandsnowitseemslikeyoueithermustbeinthetribethatsays“Policeareracists”orthetribethatsays“Liberalsareapologistsforcriminals”.IadmireGladwellfordefyingthelargenumberofpeoplewhoaresovestedinoneoftheseorthodoxiesthathewillnodoubtfind,foryearstocome,hisTwitterfeedpollutedwithpoorly-proofreaddenunciationsofeverythinghehaseverdoneorsaid.SometimesGladwelldemonstratesanobvioustruthsoclearlythatyouarealmostashamedtobesurprisedbyit,likewhenhedescribesanpsychologyexperimentwhichdemonstratesthatwhilemostofusregardourselvesascreaturesofunknowablecomplexityanddepthofcharacter,wealsotendtoengageinridiculousreductionsofthepersonalitiesofothersintoeasy-to-dismissstereotypesbasedontheflimsiestofevidence.Ontheotherhand,readingGladwellmeansspendingalotoftimesayingtoyourself,“Hey,waitaminute,whatabout[fillinthingyouknowalittlesomethingabouthere]?”Forexample,GladwellhasalongchapteraboutsomeonewhomanagedtobeamoleforCubanintelligenceintheUSbureaucracyformanyyears.Havingtoiledinthevineyardsofthesprawlingfederalbureaucracymyself,IfeltthatGladwellmissedsomeveryimportantdetailsabouthowpeopleactthere,andwhy.Withoutgettingintotoomuchspoiler-ishdetail,IthinkGladwelldoesn'treallyunderstandtheintensitywithwhichfecalmattersrainsdownonthosewhorocktheboathereinthenation'scapital,afactorthatcertainlyinfluencedtheeventshenarrates.Overall,though,Iwasveryhappytohavebeengiftedthissmartbookandlookforwardtoseeingiftheworldcan,foronce,defymygrouchypessimismandactuallyallowamerebooktoincreasetheamountofunderstandinginworldandimprovehowwelive. ...more flag 36likes · Like  · seereview Viewall6comments «previous123456789…next» newtopicDiscussThisBook topics  posts  views  lastactivity    ManchesterDistri...: March2022Discussion:TalkingtoStrangers 4 4 Mar22,202206:25PM   Romancenovelaboutsinglemomwithsonwhofallsinlovewithaswatpoliceofficer 1 6 Oct09,202105:26AM   GoodreadsLibrari...: PleasechangepagesforTalkingtoStrangers 2 23 Jun01,202101:44AM   ViragoBookClub: DidyoufinishtheMarbookalready?Discusshere!*SPOILERWARNING* 4 6 Apr02,202103:14AM   Let'sdiscussthebook 12 147 Mar16,202109:13AM   ViragoBookClub: HaveyoustartedtheMarbookyet?Whatdoyouthinksofar?!*NOSPOILERS* 1 6 Feb17,202107:32PM   Moretopics... Share RecommendIt  |  Stats  |  RecentStatusUpdates Readersalsoenjoyed Seesimilarbooks… Genres Nonfiction 4,956users Psychology 1,741users Audiobook 1,133users SelfHelp 691users Sociology 446users Science 354users Business 302users SelfHelp> PersonalDevelopment 210users Language> Communication 140users Adult 121users Seetopshelves… AboutMalcolmGladwell MalcolmGladwell 31,115 followers MalcolmGladwellistheauthoroffiveNewYorkTimesbestsellers—TheTippingPoint,Blink,Outliers,WhattheDogSaw,andDavidandGoliath.Heisalsotheco-founderofPushkinIndustries,anaudiocontentcompanythatproducesthepodcastsRevisionistHistory,whichreconsidersthingsbothoverlookedandmisunderstood,andBrokenRecord,wherehe,RickRubin,andBruceHeadlaminterviewmusici MalcolmGladwellistheauthoroffiveNewYorkTimesbestsellers—TheTippingPoint,Blink,Outliers,WhattheDogSaw,andDavidandGoliath.Heisalsotheco-founderofPushkinIndustries,anaudiocontentcompanythatproducesthepodcastsRevisionistHistory,whichreconsidersthingsbothoverlookedandmisunderstood,andBrokenRecord,wherehe,RickRubin,andBruceHeadlaminterviewmusiciansacrossawiderangeofgenres.GladwellhasbeenincludedintheTIME100MostInfluentialPeoplelistandtoutedasoneofForeignPolicy'sTopGlobalThinkers. ...more BooksbyMalcolmGladwell More… ArticlesfeaturingthisbookThe60MostReviewedNewBooksofthePastFiveYears Theinternet,it’ssafetosay,haschangedalotofthings.Massiveworldwidecommunicationsystemshaveawayofdoingthat.   Oneofthemore...Readmore...281likes·51comments TriviaAboutTalkingtoStrang... 4triviaquestions Morequizzes&trivia... QuotesfromTalkingtoStrang... “Youbelievesomeonenotbecauseyouhavenodoubtsaboutthem.Beliefisnottheabsenceofdoubt.Youbelievesomeonebecauseyoudon’thaveenoughdoubtsaboutthem.” — 81likes “Toassumethebestaboutanotheristhetraitthathascreatedmodernsociety.Thoseoccasionswhenourtrustingnaturegetsviolatedaretragic.Butthealternative-toabandontrustasadefenseagainstpredationanddeception-isworse.” — 51likes Morequotes… Welcomeback.JustamomentwhilewesignyouintoyourGoodreadsaccount.