Talking to Strangers By, Malcolm Gladwell

I enjoy all of Malcolm Gladwell's books. As soon as I hear he has a new book coming out, I make a notation, to add it to my 'to be read' file. He does an excellent job breaking down complicated issues into piecemeal bites, that are thought provoking and provide a unique perspective.

We hear news but, do we actually process it? Every day we are inundated with news, 24 hours a day. Its easy to skim over the stories and then move onto the next one. It can be overwhelming. In this book, Malcom Gladwell takes a 360 degree perspective on the concept of talking to strangers, and ultimately, what the hazards are.

In the Athors note, we are introduced to the story. He describes, arranging an out of town visit for his parents at a swanky hotel in NYC. His father did not watch television, go to movies, or listen to popular music. When Malcolm, asked his father how his day was. He father states he had a wonderful time. He had spent the afternoon, speaking with a stranger in the lobby about gardening.

When Malcolm asked his father who he was, he stated. "I have no idea. But the whole time people were coming up to him to take pictures and have him sign little bits of paper." This light, engaging story sets the premise for the book.

I enjoy how Malcolm takes on a centralized theme,and then introduces the most improbable,eclectic choice of newsworthy notables to drive the narrative. The list of strangers talking include, Sylvia Plath, Jerry Sandusky, Amanda Knox, The Queen of Cuba to Hitler.The essence of the book, is about "Coupling" which is the idea that behaviors are linked to very specific circumstances and conditions.

He is described as being the 'master of suspense' because the more you read, the more bewildered you become. thinking 'how is this going to all come together?' It does, and the reverberations are epic. He provides thought provoking tales and spins them into a must read. In my opinion, all of his books are 5 star reads.

Other Books By Malcolm Gladwell:
David and Goliath 2013
Outliers 2011
What the Dog Saw 2009
Blink 2005
The Tipping Point 2002