Once Upon a Stranger
The Science of How ‘Small’ Talk Can Add Up to a Big Life
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Once Upon a Stranger
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About this listen
Angela Duckworth, author of Grit: Why Passion and Resilience are the Secrets to Success
In an age when we live head down in our phones, working remotely and wary of strangers, interacting with our fellow human beings feels increasingly uncomfortable. And the result - an epidemic of loneliness and isolation in a polarised society. Over 80% of people say they have experienced loneliness with the old and young suffering the most.
In Say Hello to Strangers, Professor in the Psychology of Kindness and a self-confessed introvert Gillian Sandstrom, draws on her own experiences as well as the latest scientific research to show the life-transforming potential of a tiny everyday exchange with a stranger. For Gillian, such moments led to an entirely new career, a move to a new country and meeting her life partner.
Not every exchange that you have, whether it's with the person who makes your coffee or the one you stand next to in a lift, will lead to such momentous events but they will give you a tiny moment of joy, a spark of connection, the recognition of a fellow human. Just start small...look up, and say hello - you never know where the conversation will lead.©2026 Dr. Gillian Sandstrom (P)2026 HarperCollins Publishers
Critic reviews
If you've ever wondered about, worried about, and avoided talking to strangers, this book might change your mind about giving strangers their space.
Gillian Sandstrom's voice is at once wise and warm. While her insights are grounded in rigorous research, they never feel overly academic. The result is immediately relatable and deeply necessary.
A fascinating, fun, and inspiring look at all the good things that happen when we set aside our hang-ups, re-enter the world, and talk to strangers.
Gillian Sandstrom makes her case for talking to strangers using research, expertise, and a reading experience that feels like sitting in a pub and having a chat with a friend. Her subject matter couldn't be more crucial in a world that's suffering from a loneliness epidemic, but the book is welcoming, compassionate, and filled with cheery humor.
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