11 Oct E25: Malcolm #TalkingToStrangers Audiobook

The podcast episode here:

In this final episode on Malcolm Gladwell’s book Talking to Strangers, I circle back to the first episode where we discussed his podcast Revisionist History.

Once I got home and started reading the paper version of the book ‘Talking to Strangers – What we should know about the people we don’t know’, I knew I wanted to hear Malcolm read it aloud.

As he travels the world launching this book, he says that his podcast inspired this book – and in fact ideally one should listen to it.

It was a revelation.

An audiobook with the polish of a podcast

As Malcolm Gladwell puts it in the Opening Credits of the book:

“What you are going to hear is a different kind of audiobook”

Instead of just reading the book as written, he delivers the audio version as “an audiobook with the polish of a well-produced podcast” complete with soundbytes from  Janelle Monae’s haunting ‘Hell You Talmbout?’

He has incorporated actual audio clips from court cases and interviews wherever possible.
This makes the book come alive.
You hear the intensity and the emotion that this research evoked in his writing.

Warning

This is a book about Trust and the betrayal of that Trust.

He researches and references a number of very high-profile murder, espionage, and pedophilia cases.

He has audio from the Stanford Rape case, conversations about the technique of waterboarding, and podcast interviews with parents and gymnasts in the Larry Nassar case.

These were very uncomfortable to read.
They are almost unbearable to listen to.

But if you are into audiobooks or podcasts, I would highly recommend that you consume this one that way.

The Fraternity Party and alcohol – required listening

There is one chapter in particular that I would like to single out.
Chapter 8 is titled Case Study: The Fraternity Party. It discusses the chilling effects of alcohol on our judgement, discussing how it severely affects our ability to form any kind of memories, especially once we reach the point of being ‘blind drunk’.

It should be required listening – each year – for all young adults, especially college & university students. Gladwell discusses it in reference to many rape cases including the Stanford rape case and includes clinical references to studies on the effects of alcohol.

How to regain your ability to trust

This book interlaces components of the various stories as it destroys our faith in certain humans.
And then, it tries to re-establish it in humanity.
I strongly recommend reading it right through so that you can create your own impression of balance between despondency and hopefully leave with a dose of cautious optimism. Do not cherry-pick.

What did you take away?

As you read the book, I hope you will reflect, circle back and comment on what lessons we can learn, and what changes we can make as a community and individuals as we interact with those around us.

I hope you will end up with your faith re-established, understanding the daily trade-offs we each choose to make as we navigate life. And throwing a healthy dose of caution for that first face-to-face, those instances where we end up

‘Talking to Strangers‘

It has been a journey sharing this special book with you.