Learn to Properly “Talk to Strangers” with Malcolm Gladwell’s New Best Seller

In September, Malcolm Gladwell released his latest book.

Almost immediately, Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell ended up on the New York Times bestseller list.

It’s remained there, too, at the number seven spot for the past eight weeks.

Why is this book of such interest to people?

When discussing how to talk to strangers, Malcolm Gladwell looks at the reason why such encounters are so often awkward. He looks at why people tend to judge a book by its cover and how it’s possible for people to be so off when making internal judgments about the people they meet.

Malcolm Gladwell’s new book, Talking to Strangers, is a must-read for anyone interested in a book that makes them think, that makes them contemplate their own behavior, as well as that of society.

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell: A Brief Synopsis

Talking to a stranger isn’t the most comfortable thing a person has to do in their lifetime. Even if a person follows the tools and strategies that so-called experts suggest we try, talking to a stranger isn’t easy.

The horrible thing is that when a person talks to a stranger the wrong way, miscommunication and conflict are bound to occur.

Gladwell argues that it is because of society’s lack of ability to talk to strangers that some conflicts are on the rise. These conflicts are often compounded amongst groups of people, leading to conflicts between certain groups, cities, and even countries.

To back up his theory that not knowing how to talk to strangers is one of the things that’s increasing the conflict in the world, Gladwell reviews some major court cases and news stories.

In Talking to Strangers, Gladwell shows how a simple miscommunication can lead to dire consequences.

Why do these miscommunications occur? Oftentimes, it’s because people draw conclusions about a person based on preconceived notions about a person’s background or even how they look. People tend to draw those conclusions either because they refuse to talk to someone they don’t know and who is different from them, or because they don’t know how to properly talk to strangers.

To help make his point, Gladwell draws on history. He dissects and examines everything from Sylvia Plath’s suicide and the Amanda Knox trial in Italy to Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme and the placement of a mole in the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency by Fidel Castro.

Listen to Talking to Strangers for Only $7.95

So, How Does One Talk to Strangers?

Does Gladwell have any suggestions on how to talk to strangers? Malcolm Gladwell’s book mainly discusses how people get it all so wrong and why.

However, he does offer some words of advice.

First, it would be a disaster personally and as a species to completely stop trusting people. It’s important to be careful whenever someone is getting to know someone new as they don’t know anything about the person. That doesn’t mean trust is thrown completely out the window. It just means that people need to be careful and give new relationships some time.

Second, people need to be thoughtful and humble when trying to understand another person’s words and actions. In other words, people should avoid jumping to conclusions or thinking that they know the reasons why someone acted a certain way.

Malcolm Gladwell’s Talking to Strangers Review

Curious about what people are saying about this book? On Amazon, Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell has a 3.8 out of five-star rating, with 52% of readers giving it a five-star rating.

Those who enjoyed the book liked the way it was produced and the way it made them think about this topic from a different perspective.

Those who weren’t a fan of the book typically didn’t enjoy it because they wanted something more scientifically factual. It’s important to note that this book is based on Gladwell’s opinions, theories, and musings. He backs up what he has to say with some infamous examples, as well as some that aren’t as well-known.

Critics say his book doesn’t convey objective scientific proof. Instead, they view it as the narrative of a very narrow opinion. They have complained that the book should be considered a commentary, as opposed to simply non-fiction.

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell: PDF, Book, or Audiobook?

When a new book comes out, a lot of people wonder if they should invest in the actual book or not. It’s no wonder, then, that some have considered getting the Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell PDF.

The interesting thing about this book is that the inspiration for it came from Gladwell’s podcast. He then turned some of what was on the podcast into his book, complete with a theme song (Hell You Talmbout by Janelle Monae).

Yes, readers can check out the book and they’ll have something enjoyable and thought-provoking to read. The audiobook version, though, is an experience like none other.

Readers get to hear the actual voices of people that Gladwell has interviewed for the book, including scientists, psychologists, and criminologists. Court transcripts are acted out, bringing them to life. The audiobook version gives readers an engaging, visceral experience that won’t soon be forgotten.

Malcolm Gladwell Might Not Change Reader’s Minds, But He’ll Keep Them Interested  

Malcolm Gladwell has an incredible gift: The ability to tell a great story.

Gladwell’s storytelling ability is what’s made him a bestselling author numerous times over.

Literary critics have said that Gladwell is not necessarily the best social scientist, that he tends to go the route of pseudoscience. Everyone has an opinion, right?

Even though certain critics aren’t keen on Gladwell’s subject matter, most of them agree that he is an amazing writer – one that will keep readers engrossed until the very last page.

When discussing Malcolm Gladwell’s new book Talking to Strangers on Goodreads, some reviewers said that though they didn’t agree with everything he had to say, they admit that he made them think. And the way he was able to accomplish that was by keeping them engaged throughout the book.

Whether a reader agrees with Gladwell’s philosophies from his previous works or not, Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell is a great read for those who are open to different perspectives.

Are you fascinated by social science? We have hundreds of titles in our social sciences section. If you love Malcolm Gladwell, we’re sure you’ll find your new favorite book or social sciences author when you check out our wide selection of audiobooks.