
The Power of Strangers
The Benefits of Connecting in a Suspicious World
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Narrated by:
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Jonathan Todd Ross
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By:
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Joe Keohane
About this listen
A “meticulously researched and buoyantly written” (Esquire) look at what happens when we talk to strangers, and why it affects everything from our own health and well-being to the rise and fall of nations in the tradition of Susan Cain’s Quiet and Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens
“This lively, searching work makes the case that welcoming ‘others’ isn’t just the bedrock of civilization, it’s the surest path to the best of what life has to offer.” (Ayad Akhtar, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Homeland Elegies)
In our cities, we stand in silence at the pharmacy and in check-out lines at the grocery store, distracted by our phones, barely acknowledging one another, even as rates of loneliness skyrocket. Online, we retreat into ideological silos reinforced by algorithms designed to serve us only familiar ideas and like-minded users. In our politics, we are increasingly consumed by a fear of people we’ve never met. But what if strangers - so often blamed for our most pressing political, social, and personal problems - are actually the solution?
In The Power of Strangers, Joe Keohane sets out on a journey to discover what happens when we bridge the distance between us and people we don’t know. He learns that while we’re wired to sometimes fear, distrust, and even hate strangers, people and societies that have learned to connect with strangers benefit immensely. Digging into a growing body of cutting-edge research on the surprising social and psychological benefits that come from talking to strangers, Keohane finds that even passing interactions can enhance empathy, happiness, and cognitive development, ease loneliness and isolation, and root us in the world, deepening our sense of belonging. And all the while, Keohane gathers practical tips from experts on how to talk to strangers and tries them out himself in the wild, to awkward, entertaining, and frequently poignant effect.
Warm, witty, erudite, and profound, equal parts sweeping history and self-help journey, this deeply researched book will inspire listeners to see everything - from major geopolitical shifts to trips to the corner store - in an entirely new light, showing them that talking to strangers isn’t just a way to live; it’s a way to survive.
©2021 Joe Keohane (P)2021 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
“This is one of those remarkable books you may not realize you’re going to love (or need) until you’re well into it. The Power of Strangers is deeply and gamely researched, lucidly and engagingly written (as if by a pal), informative, thought-provoking, playful, useful, and possibly life-changing. What a great way to start the post-pandemic.” (Kurt Andersen, author of Fantasyland and Evil Geniuses)
“In a thrilling, immersive journey across time and continents, Keohane upends everything we thought we knew about the people we don’t know.” (Will Storr, author of The Science of Storytelling)
“Thank Zeus, human nature, and the brilliant Joe Keohane for The Power of Strangers, an illuminating, witty - and dare I say life-affirming - blend of psychology, anthropology, and lived human experience. I never knew, before now, why strangers are chattier at farmers markets than in supermarkets, or why the vital and broadly applicable craft of listening (and the gift of being listened to) feels so good. God knows this book is timely and necessary, in this struggling republic of ours. I not only love it, I'm grateful for it.” (Paige Williams, staff writer for The New Yorker and author of The Dinosaur Artist: Obsession, Science, and the Global Quest for Fossils)
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Mindshift reveals how we can overcome stereotypes and preconceived ideas about what is possible for us to learn and become. At a time when we are constantly being asked to retrain and reinvent ourselves to adapt to new technologies and changing industries, this book shows us how we can uncover and develop talents we didn't realize we had - no matter what our age or background.
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Learning by anecdote
- By Mark B. on 08-11-17
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Brag Better
- Master the Art of Fearless Self-Promotion
- By: Meredith Fineman
- Narrated by: Meredith Fineman
- Length: 7 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Does talking about your accomplishments feel scary or icky because you're worried people will think you're "obnoxious"? Does it feel more natural to "put your head down and do the work"? Are you tired of watching the loudest people in your industry get disproportionate praise and rewards? If you answered "yes" to any of the above, you might be self-sabotaging. You need to learn to brag better. Meredith Fineman shares the surefire and anxiety-proof strategies that have helped her clients effectively communicate their achievements and skill sets to others.
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A very motivating and helpful book
- By SAE on 07-04-20
By: Meredith Fineman
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A Renaissance of Our Own
- A Memoir & Manifesto on Reimagining
- By: Rachel E. Cargle
- Narrated by: Rachel E. Cargle
- Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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There are breaking points in all our lives when we realize that the way things have been done before just don’t work for us anymore, be it the way we approach our relationships, our belief systems, our work, our education, even our rest. For activist, philanthropist, and CEO Rachel E. Cargle, reimagining—the act of creating in our minds that which does not exist but that we believe can and should—has been a lifelong process. Reimagining served as the most powerful catalyst for Cargle’s personal transformation from a small-town Christian wife to an incisive queer feminist voice of a generation.
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Heavy focus on activism
- By M. Gurley on 06-07-23
By: Rachel E. Cargle
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Changeable
- How Collaborative Problem Solving Changes Lives at Home, at School, and at Work
- By: J. Stuart Ablon
- Narrated by: J. Stuart Ablon
- Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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Why is it so hard to change problem behavior - in our kids, our colleagues, and even ourselves? Conventional methods often backfire, creating a downward spiral of resentment and frustration, and a missed opportunity for growth. What if the thinking behind these old methods is wrong? What if people don’t misbehave because they want to, but because they lack the skills to do better? Or as renowned psychologist J. Stuart Ablon asks, what if changing problem behavior is a matter of skill, not will?
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Why bring your politics in?
- By Cowgirl cool on 08-10-19
By: J. Stuart Ablon
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Making Great Relationships
- Simple Practices for Solving Conflicts, Building Connection, and Fostering Love
- By: Rick Hanson PhD
- Narrated by: Rick Hanson PhD
- Length: 7 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Relationships are usually the most important part of a person’s life. But they’re often stressful and frustrating, or simply awkward, distant, and lonely. We feel the weight of things unsaid, needs unmet, conflicts unresolved. It’s easy to feel stuck.
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He lost me at the end
- By Anonymous User on 02-27-24
By: Rick Hanson PhD
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The Power of Meaning
- Crafting a Life That Matters
- By: Emily Esfahani Smith
- Narrated by: Mozhan Marnò
- Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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This wise, stirring book argues that the search for meaning can immeasurably deepen our lives and is far more fulfilling than the pursuit of personal happiness. There is a myth in our culture that the search for meaning is some esoteric pursuit - that you have to travel to a distant monastery or page through dusty volumes to figure out life's great secret. The truth is, there are untapped sources of meaning all around us - right here, right now.
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Meandering
- By LS on 09-27-17
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Insight
- Why We're Not as Self-Aware as We Think, and How Seeing Ourselves Clearly Helps Us Succeed at Work and in Life
- By: Tasha Eurich
- Narrated by: Tasha Eurich
- Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Integrating hundreds of studies with her own research and work in the Fortune 500 world, organizational psychologist Tasha Eurich shatters conventional assumptions about what it takes to truly know ourselves - like why introspection isn't a bullet train to insight, how experience is the enemy of self-knowledge, and just how far others will go to avoid telling us the truth about ourselves. At a time when self-awareness matters more than ever, Insight is the essential playbook for surviving and thriving in an unaware world.
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Chicken noodle soup for the faux-llectual
- By Peter Hudson on 08-29-17
By: Tasha Eurich
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Infectious Generosity
- The Ultimate Idea Worth Spreading
- By: Chris Anderson
- Narrated by: Chris Anderson
- Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Let’s face it: Recent years have been tough on optimists. Hopes that the Internet might bring people together have been crushed by the ills of social media. Is there a way back? As head of TED, Chris Anderson has had a ringside view of the world’s boldest thinkers sharing their most uplifting ideas. Inspired by them, he believes that it’s within our grasp to turn outrage back into optimism. It all comes down to reimagining one of the most fundamental human virtues: generosity. What if generosity could become infectious generosity?
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I didn't really relate to this
- By Angel Girl on 11-28-24
By: Chris Anderson
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This Is So Awkward
- Modern Puberty Explained
- By: Cara Natterson MD, Vanessa Kroll Bennett
- Narrated by: Cara Natterson MD, Vanessa Kroll Bennett
- Length: 13 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Almost everything about puberty has changed since today's adults went through it. Bewildered adults have begged for reliable and relatable information about the modern adolescent experience. This Is So Awkward answers their call. Written by a pediatrician and a puberty educator—together the hosts of a lively and popular podcast on puberty, and moms to six teens between them—this is the handbook everyone has been searching for. Eye-opening and reassuring, This Is So Awkward will help adults understand the turbulent pubescent decade and become confident guides for today’s kids.
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Text book reading for understanding your kids
- By Leap4 on 09-23-24
By: Cara Natterson MD, and others
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The Confidence Game
- Why We Fall for It...Every Time
- By: Maria Konnikova
- Narrated by: Maria Konnikova
- Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Think you can’t get conned? Think again. The New York Times best-selling author of Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes explains how to spot the con before they spot you. A compelling investigation into the minds, motives, and methods of con artists - and the people who fall for their cons over and over again. From multimillion-dollar Ponzi schemes to small-time frauds, Konnikova pulls together a selection of fascinating stories to demonstrate what all cons share in common, drawing on scientific, dramatic, and psychological perspectives.
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The Confidence Game = major disappointment
- By Nicole Kiess on 02-16-16
By: Maria Konnikova
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Procrastinate on Purpose
- 5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time
- By: Rory Vaden
- Narrated by: Rory Vaden
- Length: 6 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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New York Times bestselling author and sales-performance trainer Rory Vaden brings his high-energy approach and can-do spirit to the most nagging problem in our professional lives: stalled productivity. Millions are overworked, organizationally challenged, or have a motivation issue that’s holding them back. Vaden presents a simple yet powerful paradigm that will set listeners free to do their best work—on time and without stress and anxiety.
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Mindset and action steps included!
- By Gizmo on 07-30-24
By: Rory Vaden
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Black Box Thinking
- Why Most People Never Learn from Their Mistakes - But Some Do
- By: Matthew Syed
- Narrated by: Simon Slater
- Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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Nobody wants to fail. But in highly complex organizations, success can happen only when we confront our mistakes, learn from our own version of a black box, and create a climate where it's safe to fail. We all have to endure failure from time to time, whether it's underperforming at a job interview, flunking an exam, or losing a pickup basketball game. But for people working in safety-critical industries, getting it wrong can have deadly consequences.
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A multi-level message, well written and well read
- By Loren on 11-16-15
By: Matthew Syed
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The Karma of Success
- Spiritual Strategies to Free Your Inner Genius
- By: Liz Tran
- Narrated by: Liz Tran
- Length: 5 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Most of the traditional advice about getting ahead focuses on managing other people’s impressions of you. It’s all about how to network with impressive people and accommodate yourself to people with status and power. Executive coach Liz Tran asks you to forget about those people, and instead, train yourself to listen to and be guided by your innermost voice. From tech to spiritual leadership and executive coaching, Tran has charted her own path by learning how to tune into her intuition and be true to her Inner Genius.
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The most un-pretentious self help book
- By Absolutely insane price on 07-26-24
By: Liz Tran
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The Four Tendencies
- The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How to Make Your Life Better (and Other People's Lives Better, Too)
- By: Gretchen Rubin
- Narrated by: Gretchen Rubin
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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During her multi-book investigation into understanding human nature, Gretchen Rubin realized that by asking the seemingly dry question “How do I respond to expectations?” we gain explosive self-knowledge. She discovered that based on their answer, people fit into Four Tendencies: Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels. Our Tendency shapes every aspect of our behavior, so using this framework allows us to make better decisions, meet deadlines, suffer less stress, and engage more effectively.
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Terrible, Repetitive, and Filled with Bad Advice
- By T. Hadnot on 03-08-18
By: Gretchen Rubin
What listeners say about The Power of Strangers
Highly rated for:
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- C Fit
- 06-23-23
Theory and Practice to Enrich Connections
I am a school counselor, and I appreciate this advice to look up from our screens or the ground and learn to appreciate the benefits of simple acknowledgement and connection.
Thank you!
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- Brandon J
- 07-26-21
great perspective to get out of your head
enjoyed hearing the exercises they tried. lots of great workable takeaways to apply immediately and the history gives nice context to human behaviour. a little long, but I'm not mad.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Vladimir Mendez
- 03-06-24
Interesante pero podría ser más corto
El libro y el tema son muy es interesante pero se extiende demasiado en los temas, haciendo el libro algo aburrido
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- Isaiah Clair
- 03-17-24
Great Non-Fiction
My favorite thing about this book is that it is non-fiction but it’s not sterile. There’s humor and wit and inspiration while also containing facts. Very enjoyable!
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- Sherif Hashem
- 11-09-22
Wow, what a great audio book
Great narrator. Answered many of my questions and then some. Read to open up more.
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- Pamela L
- 09-15-24
Started out Well
Being what my niece refers to as an "extroverted introvert," I expected to learn a lot from this book. It was somewhat useful, but there was not much new. And I had two issues that stood out. One: There was just too much concentrated on politics. Two: I think the phrase "talk to someone" implies talking "at" someone. If the author is truly interested in a balanced, two-way conversation, he might consider using the phrase "... talk WITH someone."
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- Kay
- 11-05-21
Thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish
This book covered in great detail the science, history, and philosophies of talking to strangers. It is one of the longest audio books I’ve listened to, but I still found myself engaged with every chapter.
I stumbled on this book seeing it was mentioned in a news article about talking to strangers. Socializing has never been a strength of mine, and something I’ve wanted to improve. I also have found myself recently craving to talk and connect with people, so the book definitely peaked my interest.
For people who don’t have the time or patience to read or listen for 13 hours, you can skip to the chapters that share tips to improve talking with strangers.
I’d recommend it to my friends, I feel it definitely changed my perspective and shared very helpful tools and tips to improve communicating and strengthen connections with people you’re meeting or encountering for the first time.
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- Sue
- 06-06-23
Fabulous Book!
Humans need connection with other humans. Communicating mostly thru the internet and social media has taken away the human connection, thus creating loneliness, depression, bias and misunderstanding of others, and thus separation. This book shows us how to connect again. Great read, and hopefully will make a small difference.
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- dm
- 08-07-24
Important book
We’re in a jam socially amd culturally and we all feel it. What can we do? Talking to strangers is a great place to start.
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- Bruce Cline
- 09-13-22
Timely advice about meeting strangers
Recommended by a good friend who is smarter than I, this is a book I seriously doubt I would have picked up absent her prompting. (For those who know me, you’re probably thinking “we’re ALL smarter than you!”) It’s actually a great book about an interesting topic, i.e., talking to strangers. The personal context for my 5 star assessment is that I am an introvert who also suffers (!) from social anxiety. As often as possible, I also take long solo wilderness trips. So, yes, I am someone who makes a habit of avoiding meeting or otherwise interacting with strangers. (Perversely, my introversion makes interactions with strangers almost inevitable given how few people I actually know.) With respect to the book, it’s an interesting look at why people tend to avoid, and often fear, strangers. Using a variety of both formal and informal studies, Keohane demonstrates how the not-so-simple act of engaging strangers in conversations can lead to multiple positive outcomes, especially for the individuals involved, but also for their community/ies. His findings were particularly perplexing when noting that some cultures can be extraordinarily welcoming to strangers, while at the same time being very leery of them. Of interest to me was the universal use of introductory customs between strangers that either allay stranger-danger fears or, in their absence, set the stage for conflict. I also enjoyed understanding how we use ritualized greetings that break the ice but typically close off anything beyond superficial interactions unless, he stresses, we take positive steps to push beyond the defenses we tend to use with people we don’t know. Some are quite simple but, require some degree of courage to implement. (I listened to much of this book while walking in my neighborhood, alternately taking pains to not even look at some people walking by, while at other times actively looking to greet some people I passed.) A point the author hammers home is that we humans need each other, and despite our fears, are better off the more we engage with people we don’t know. He believes these one-on-one interactions are more important now than ever before because of how technology allows, if not encourages, us to retreat into our inner selves. Also, in a time of polarization, he contends that we must make an effort to meet and engage with strangers to overcome ever worsening political divides. In the words of the publisher, when looking at “a growing body of cutting-edge research on the surprising social and psychological benefits that come from talking to strangers, Keohane finds that even passing interactions can enhance empathy, happiness, and cognitive development, ease loneliness and isolation, and root us in the world, deepening our sense of belonging. And all the while, Keohane gathers practical tips from experts on how to talk to strangers, and tries them out himself in the wild, to awkward, entertaining, and frequently poignant effect.”
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1 person found this helpful