Talking to Strangers

Scrolling through the multiple 1 star reviews, their points are valid and I wholeheartedly stand with the victims. The way Malcolm handles some of the cases are not great. Messy, and oversimplifies conclusions to simple take-aways. However, I'm not one to throw the whole book out because 50% of it is shit. The examples were argued badly, but the core lessons were useful to hear.

I benefitted from learning about the default to truth problem. Admittedly, I am an optimistic person always giving people the benefit of the doubt, but I see now how that can blind me from seeing people as who they truly are; strangers, acquaintances, especially those of authority. People who you assume are supposed to have your best interests at heart when in fact the only person who can help you is yourself. I knew that, but this helped reinforce it.

This is one of many lessons that I take away from this book, and that, at least, gives me reason to rate this book at least 3 stars. It's not perfect, but it's not all shit either. As long as you know where you stand in the arguments he makes, you can come away with the lessons, and leave the rest where it belongs: in the trash.