Talking to Strangers

Malcolm Gladwell is a Canadian journalist, author, and public speaker. He has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1996. He is the author of five books, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference (2000), Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking (2005), Outliers: The Story of Success (2008), What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures (2009), and David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants (2013). Gladwell’s books and articles often deal with the unexpected implications of research in the social sciences and make frequent and sometimes controversial use of academic work.

The series of work that I will be writing is a collection of essays exploring the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality. I plan to explore how these three social constructs interact with and influence one another. In addition, I hope to unpack how my own identity is shaped by these three factors. By critically examining my own experiences, I hope to gain a better understanding of the ways in which race, gender, and sexuality operate in our society. In doing so, I hope to contribute to the larger conversation about these important topics.

In the “Talking to Strangers” series, we explore the challenges and opportunities of talking to people we don’t know. We discuss the importance of listening and being open to others’ perspectives, and we offer tips for how to connect with others in meaningful ways.

If you would like to listen to the Talking to Strangers (100 words), please scroll down to the player section below.