Brandon Stanton's Blog, page 325

Today in microfashion…(Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon,...

Today in microfashion…

(Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon, Vietnam)

After I took the photo, my translator sat next to her on the...

After I took the photo, my translator sat next to her on the bench, while I sat on the ground. The woman motioned for me to sit on the bench. Since there was barely any room, I declined. But she insisted. I declined again. But she insisted again, so I finally squeezed into the empty spot. Then she groaned and said: “He’s got a huge ass.”

(Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon, Vietnam)

"What’s your biggest fear?""Being alone.""When did you...

"What’s your biggest fear?"
"Being alone."
"When did you feel most alone?"
"On weekend nights in college, sometimes I’d sit by myself in the corner of my dorm room with nothing but a little light on, while all my friends went out."
"Why didn’t you go out with them?"
"It’s hard to say."

(Hanoi, Vietnam)

"What’s your favorite thing about your mom?""She’s...

"What’s your favorite thing about your mom?"
"She’s hardworking."
"In what way is she hardworking?" 
"She cooks food for her business all day. Then she comes home and cooks food for us."

(Hanoi, Vietnam)

I need to interrupt the regularly scheduled programming to...

I need to interrupt the regularly scheduled programming to announce that Little Humans is coming out in TWO WEEKS. I was going to wait until I got home to start banging that drum, but my agent emailed me that my publisher is “freaking out a bit” that I haven’t mentioned it in so long. So allow me to announce that LITTLE HUMANS IS GOING TO BE THE GREATEST KIDS BOOK IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE. 

According to Publisher’s Weekly, “the vivid collection underscores both the diversity and commonality among children, and may well inspire readers to imagine the lives and stories behind each child.” Kirkus Reviews says the photographs are “so striking” and bring such “large delight,” that you won’t notice the text is a “little platitudinous.” (Let’s be honest— we don’t know what ‘platitudinous’ means, and neither do your kids. And anyone who uses that word is not getting invited to our birthday parties.)

But in 100% seriousness, I’m really looking forward to the next few weeks because me, my girlfriend, my dog, my mom, my friends, my editor, and everyone involved in Little Humans thinks that this book came out perfect. It was really a labor of love. So I’m looking forward to seeing if you, your girlfriend, your dog, your mom, your friends, your editor, and your kids love Little Humans as much as we do. 

If you’re planning on getting the book anyway, you can help my publisher get some sleep by preordering now. The book will ship on October 7th:

AMAZON: http://amzn.to/WPMamU
BARNES AND NOBLE: http://bit.ly/1eawvWE
INDIEBOUND: http://bit.ly/1zA0Sw6

"After my son was born, there was a period of several months...

"After my son was born, there was a period of several months when I couldn’t find a job. I looked everywhere. My mind was a mess. I felt angry toward everything. The lowest point was when my son got diagnosed with malnutrition. I hated myself."

(Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon, Vietnam)

"Do you remember the happiest moment of your life?""The first...

"Do you remember the happiest moment of your life?"
"The first time I kissed her."

(Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon, Vietnam)

"The new recruits had to walk in front."(Ho Chi Minh City /...

"The new recruits had to walk in front."

(Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon, Vietnam)

"My father was in charge of land and forest management for the...

"My father was in charge of land and forest management for the government of our area. Many men in similar positions grew quite rich, because it was an easy position to abuse. But my father never accepted any bribes. He lived a very simple life and wore the same three suits until the day he died. I still keep those suits to remember him."

(Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon, Vietnam)

"Whenever my parents got mad, my sisters and I would climb into...

"Whenever my parents got mad, my sisters and I would climb into the branches of a tree behind our house. We’d play games up there and weave the leaves into our hair. Now whenever I have a bad customer or I’m getting yelled at by the boss, I try to imagine that tree."

(Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon, Vietnam)