[Online] Books Discussion. Talking to Strangers.

This will be an online meeting on Zoom. It will be recorded and published on Youtube.

During the book discussion the leader of the discussion presents the most interesting parts of the book. The great emphasis is placed on discussion.

Reading the book is not required.

Book Description
The discussed book will be Talking to Strangers - What We Should Know About the People We Don't Know by Malcolm Gladwell.

Something is very wrong, Gladwell argues, with the tools and strategies we use to make sense of people we don’t know. And because we don’t know how to talk to strangers, we are inviting conflict and misunderstanding in ways that have a profound effect on our lives and our world.

Discussion Topics

• Default to Truth Theory – Gladwell argues that humans are predisposed to believe others are telling the truth. Do you see this as a strength (enabling trust and cooperation) or a weakness (making us vulnerable to deception)?
• Transparency & Misjudgment – We assume we can read people based on expressions or behavior, but often we can’t. How has this shaped real-world cases in the book (e.g., Amanda Knox, Bernie Madoff), and have you ever experienced this in your own life?
• Cultural Context & Miscommunication – Gladwell highlights how misunderstandings often arise when we interact across different cultures or backgrounds. How can we balance cultural sensitivity with critical judgment in everyday encounters?
• The Sandra Bland Case – The book opens and closes with Sandra Bland’s tragic traffic stop. How does this story encapsulate Gladwell’s main argument about how miscommunication and assumptions can escalate situations?
• The Role of Institutions – To what extent is it individuals’ responsibility to “talk better to strangers,” and to what extent should systems (policing, law, workplaces) adapt to avoid catastrophic misunderstandings?
• Practical Takeaways – After reading, do you feel better equipped to interact with strangers, or do you feel more skeptical of your own judgments? What concrete habits might help us improve communication with people we don’t know?