Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don’t Know

Malcolm Gladwell examines why interactions with strangers frequently go wrong. He explores how Fidel Castro deceived the CIA for years, why Neville Chamberlain trusted Adolf Hitler, the rise of campus sexual assaults, and what television sitcoms reveal about human relationships. Gladwell argues that the tools and strategies we use to understand unfamiliar people are fundamentally flawed. This misunderstanding creates conflict with serious consequences for individuals and society. The audiobook version features interviews with scientists, criminologists, and military psychologists, along with court transcripts and re-enactments. It includes audio from Sandra Bland's arrest in Texas and perspectives from people involved in real-life cases including Bernie Madoff's deceptions, Amanda Knox's trial, and Sylvia Plath's suicide. The audiobook includes a theme song by Janelle Monae.