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

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussions of racism, graphic violence, death, and mental illness.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How effective did you find Gladwell's use of Sandra Bland's story as both the opening and closing framework for exploring human interactions with strangers? What emotions or insights did this structural choice evoke?

2. Which of the case studies presented in the book most challenged your previous assumptions about human behavior? How does this book compare to Gladwell's other works, such as Outliers or The Tipping Point? How does his storytelling style evolve in this book?

3. The book presents numerous examples in which miscommunication between strangers leads to tragic outcomes. Did you find Gladwell's overall message about human interaction to be hopeful or discouraging? Why?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Reflect on a time when you completely misread a stranger's intentions or character. How does your experience align with Gladwell's concepts of "default to truth" and transparency?

2. The book discusses the fact that people often judge others based on their behavior, without considering

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