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

by Malcolm Gladwell

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About This Book

In Talking to Strangers, Malcolm Gladwell explores why interactions with unfamiliar people often go wrong. Through fascinating case studies—like the Sandra Bland arrest and CIA interrogations—he shows how we misinterpret behavior by assuming transparency and relying on default judgments. Gladwell argues that context, biases, and flawed communication can lead to misunderstanding, conflict, and tragedy, urging readers to rethink how they perceive and engage with strangers in everyday life.

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