You Are A Stranger To Me.
A 28-year-old African American woman, Sandra Bland, was pulled over by a white male trooper, Brain Encinia. Sandra was sent to jail following the escalated clash between her and Brian. Sandra was found hanged in a jail cell in Waller County, Texas, on July 13, 2015. Her death was ruled a suicide whereas Brian was ordered to end his law enforcement career. Obviously, something went very wrong.
Sandra's case opens and closes the book, "Talking To Strangers", by Malcolm Gladwell. The book is not meant to be uplifting. Rather, Malcolm asks readers to rethink grim topics like police brutality and misconduct, child sexual assault, suicide and campus rape. Readers are encouraged to revisit the deceptions of Bernie Madoff, the trial of Amanda Knox, and the suicide of Sylvia Plath. Those topics give readers a chance to reflect on things they would not otherwise.
Malcolm Gladwell is a Canadian journalist, a sought-after speaker, and a top-rated podcast host. He is well known for his work dealing with the unexpected implications on research in the social sciences. He uses extensive academic work in the areas of sociology, psychology, and social psychology. Malcolm does not fail to make readers think, debate, and ask questions. Said that, some book critics dislike Malcolm's conclusions. Nonetheless, Malcolm's case studies are being used as discussion material for intellectual debates and conversations. It is definitely up to the reader to challenge notions we assume to be true.
