The Power of Strangers Quotes

“The arrival of a stranger breaks up the eternal recurrence of daily events and opens the door to the extraordinary,”
― Joe Keohane, The Power of Strangers: The Benefits of Connecting in a Suspicious World

“Why does the prospect of talking to strangers feel so unnatural, but when we do it, once we get past our initial anxiety, it feels like we’d been designed to act this way? The answer is, because we have been designed to act this way. A long process brought us here. We not only evolved to do this: We evolved because we did it.”
― Joe Keohane, The Power of Strangers: The Benefits of Connecting in a Suspicious World

“Why does the prospect of talking to strangers feel so unnatural, but when we do it, once we get past our initial anxiety, it feels like we’d been designed to act this way? The answer is, because we have been designed to act this way.”
― Joe Keohane, The Power of Strangers: The Benefits of Connecting in a Suspicious World

“We need more smaller things that can work in concert, based on a simple assertion that we’re not all one, but we are all here.”
― Joe Keohane, The Power of Strangers: The Benefits of Connecting in a Suspicious World

“six sessions of loving-kindness meditation reduced depression and negativity in participants; increased well-being, life satisfaction, and the perception of social support and social connectedness; and improved existing relationships. A 2008 study led by psychologist Cendri Hutcherson found that even a few minutes of loving-kindness meditation fostered a stronger sense of social connection with, and positivity toward, strangers, suggesting that “this easily implemented technique may help to increase positive social emotions and decrease social isolation.”
― Joe Keohane, The Power of Strangers: The Benefits of Connecting in a Suspicious World

“they even speak. But as you sit there across from these people, you start to care what they think or say. You can’t help it. They are right there, after all. You see their eyes, hear their voices, observe their body language, and quickly discover that these are not lesser minds. Their humanity is undeniable. And as they speak, and stubbornly refuse to conform to type, their complexity reveals itself. It’s a world apart from a lot of debate on Facebook or Twitter, where you can say whatever you want without ever having to register the look of pain or anger on the face of the person you’ve insulted, and they can do the same to you, and where likes and clicks and approval from your allies serve as incentives to reduce the complexity of others. Here, however, these are no avatars. And being in the physical company of these individuals both makes for a better conversation and”
― Joe Keohane, The Power of Strangers: The Benefits of Connecting in a Suspicious World