Audio only
Once Upon a Stranger
The Science of How “Small” Talk Can Add Up to a Big LifeBy Dr. Gillian SandstromNarrated by Dr. Gillian Sandstrom, Nan McNamaraLength8h 31m
About this audiobook
"If you’ve ever avoided talking to strangers, this book might change your mind about giving them their space. And that, as Gillian so perfectly explains, might change everything." —Angela Duckworth, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of GRIT
Discover how making connections with strangers leads to positive shifts in our everyday lives, from preeminent researcher and professor of the psychology of kindness Dr. Gillian Sandstrom.
Do you ever feel lonely, even in a crowd? Do you feel anxious or worried about what others think of you, or struggle to make friends? You are not alone. But the truth is, opportunities for positive connection and community are all around you.
In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Gillian Sandstrom reveals that by talking to strangers, we can unlock more joy, curiosity, and goodwill every day. In an age when loneliness is a social health crisis and harmful behaviors like groupthink increase our perception of distance and polarization, this transformational guide explains the benefits of stretching our perceived limits and connecting with our fellow humans, including:
Increased happiness and wellbeing
Improved social skills and self-esteem
Reduced anxiety and social biases
Expanded connections and social circles
Combining powerful scientific findings with stories from her own life, Dr. Sandstrom offers us a new vision of a life well lived, when we have the courage to reach out and simply say, “hello.”
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 4.3 (467)
Includes Goodreads, Amazon, StoryGraph, LibraryThing
GenreSelf-Help, Psychology, Business and Economics
Length8 hrs 31 mins
Narrated byDr. Gillian Sandstrom, Nan McNamara
FormatAudiobook
Publish dateMar 31, 2026
LanguageEnglish
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