Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell - Book Review

 

Title: Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don't Know

Author: Malcolm Gladwell

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publication Date: September 10, 2019

Length: 401 Pages

About The Author
Malcolm Gladwell is the author of seven New York Times bestsellers and the cofounder of Pushkin Industries, an audiobook and podcast production company. 

Stranger Danger
Malcolm Gladwell presents case studies that illustrate how we can make mistakes when communicating with strangers. We tend to think that everyone we meet has the same mindset as we do. 

"We think we can transform the stranger, without cost or sacrifice, into the familiar and the known, And we can't."

My Thoughts
This book convinced me to rethink how I communicate with strangers. First impressions are not always accurate and it takes time and experience to really know how a person thinks. You can't automatically give strangers the benefit of the doubt. You have to be in investigative mode and collect information over time. Mr. Gladwell is not encouraging the reader to be paranoid, just be smart. 

The author was especially interested in the case of Sandra Bland. This is a heartbreaking story where a young black woman had an unfortunate encounter with a Texas state trooper. This situation shows how fast things can spiral out of control and have dire consequences.

This book presents important lessons that everyone should consider and think about. I know that I have made mistakes in the past about the character and personality of new acquaintances. After reading this book, I will talk less and listen more carefully...and proceed slowly. My future depends on it.

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

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Book Review: Robbing You With a Keyboard Instead of a Gun by Lynn Edgington

Robbing You With A Keyboard Instead Of A Gun - Cyber Crime How They Do It

Author: Lynn Edgington

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Date: August 20, 2013

Length: 279 Pages



About The Author
Mr Edgington is the founder/president of Eagle Research Associates, Inc. The purpose of this non-profit organization is to educate the public about Internet investment scams.

How Do The Scammers Scam?
This is a very comprehensive look at the many kinds of scams that are running on the Internet today.  Internet investment scams cost the public billions of dollars a year. It is estimated that 1 out of 10 Americans have either been a victim of an Internet scam or knows someone who has been.

This book is an excellent resource for details about E-mail fraud, prime bank notes, bank phishing, fake jobs, work-from-home scams, Ponzi's, HYIP/Non-HYIP scams and cash gifting. The author provides sample emails, fraudulent financial reports and bogus legal records that scammers use to deceive their victims.

Mr. Edgington explains how the crooks work and the techniques they use. He provides many "red flag warnings" and explains how investors must do basic due diligence before handing over their money.

My Thoughts 
This is the fourth book that I have read and reviewed on the subject of Internet scams. I must admit that I am getting quite depressed as I read about how these criminals work and how good people fall for these schemes.

People MUST take responsibility for their investment choices. It does not matter if your Mom, Dad, sister, brother, friend, teacher, pastor and boss ALL vouch for an investment opportunity. It is up to YOU to do your research and due diligence until you are absolutely SURE that this is a good fit for you. You do not want to give-in to peer pressure when it comes to your hard-earned money.

These scammers only stay in business because people do not do their investigative work BEFORE investing. Many people are too ashamed or embarrassed to report the scammer, so they go on to scam again.

I was shocked to find that many of these financial scammers thrive within religious and professional communities. People do not want to believe that they could be scammed by their church deacon, a coworker or a close relative.

"People who put together these schemes are very, very good at what they do. Until you listen to some of these pitches, you have no idea how good they are. Anybody who thinks they're too smart to be conned is a likely target."

This book is an excellent resource on the subjects of Internet scams and cyber-crime. I highly recommend this book and the author's web site.

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I borrowed this ebook with my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

Have you been a victim of an Internet scam? Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: The Secret Life of Captain X By MrsXNomore

The Secret Life of Captain X: My Life with a Psychopath Pilot

Author: MrsXNomore

Publisher: Telemachus Press, LLC

Publication Date: May 5, 2014

Length: 246 Pages




About the Author
MrsXNomore was born in the Midwest, then moved to NYC to pursue an acting career. At the age of 39, she met Captain X.  After decades in a dysfunctional marriage, she realized she was living a nightmare. Reading all she could about psychopaths, she wrote her story to bring about psychopath awareness.

A Dream Life Turns Into A Nightmare
Her marriage to successful airline pilot Captain X seemed like a dream come true. In reality, it was a nightmare.

From the second they met, Captain X swept MrsXNomore off her feet, constantly showering her with gifts, flattery and attention. He never left her side unless he was working his scheduled flights. 

During their marriage, Captain X had plunged them into serious debt and ruined her credit. She discovered he was a member of a secret brotherhood involving prostitution during their entire marriage. When she confronted him, he immediately filed for divorce, moved out of their family home and took their daughter with him. She was a now a victim of parental alienation.

Since experts estimate as many as 4% of people are psychopaths, a chapter titled Understanding & Avoiding Psychopaths helps readers recognize and avoid these untreatable social predators without conscience. A final chapter, Suggested Reading and Viewing, provides readers with resources to learn more about psychopathy.

My Thoughts
The author states that the purpose of this book is to educate people about the characteristics of a psychopath and the dangers involved in relationships with them. I think the author has done a considerable amount of research and has written about her personal experiences with clarity, explicitness and honesty. This book is an excellent resource for the mental illness of psychopathy and also the problem of parental alienation during a difficult divorce.

It is very unfortunate that there are predators in the world who seek out victims to prey on. This book was not an entertaining or pleasant book to read. Many ugly things happened during the author's 22 year marriage to a man she trusted with her home, finances and heart. She learned the hard way that this man was not worthy of her trust. Unfortunately, she lived many years in a state of confusion and depression before discovering the truth about her husband. 

Education is the key to making wise choices when allowing new people to come into our lives. This book will educate you and make you think twice about the people in your inner circle. Recommended!

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I borrowed this book through my Kindle Unlimited membership.

Please Share Your Thoughts In The Comments Section Below.

Book Review: Pulling the Wool Over Your Eyes - Understanding Why We Keep Getting Scammmed by Al Craig

Pulling the Wool Over Your Eyes, Understanding Why We Keep Getting Scammed and the Role You Play

Author: Al Craig

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Date: February 25, 2014

Length: 107 Pages



About The Author
Al Craig is an independent businessperson who has spent most of his life involved in various businesses and investments. From his investment experiences, he has learned to spot the con artists and cheats who take our trust and hard earned money. He has read countless books on how scammers work and what causes them to do what they do.

The Role You Play
Have you wondered why you keep getting scammed?

Have you asked yourself why you can’t spot a con-artist until it’s too late?

The purpose of this book is to create awareness about the part we play in helping the con-artist take our money, trust, and self-worth.

The author lists the following four traits that most scammers have in common:

• Lack of conscience.
• Massive egos.
• Wafer thin emotions.
• Deceitfulness

"You earn honesty and trust in your actions, not with oral hot air."

"A wise man proportions his belief to his evidence."

Scammers are professionals. They know exactly how to identify a likely victim and what to say to make a sale. The author describes how con artists work and explains why they are so successful.

My Thoughts
This is ebook #3 in my quest to read as much material that I can find on Internet scams.

This book explains how our thinking patterns and emotional states make us a target for scammers. Yes, the way you think and feel could make you a victim.

One example of a thinking pattern that can help get you scammed is a pride consciousness. This is a pride that wants to feel superior or special (typically found in a person with a low feeling of self-worth). This attitude allows scammers to spot you immediately and start flattering you. Scammers cast their spells of specialness, exclusiveness and secretiveness to start pride burning.  Before you know it...you have been scammed!

The author does a very good job explaining why a victim MUST take responsibility for his thinking and actions. The important thing is to learn from the mistakes of the past. This book explains how that can be done.

The editing in this ebook is a bit rough around the edges, but the content is well worth the time and effort it will take you to read it. If you have been the victim of a scam, this will help you understand why it happened and how you can make better choices in the future.

My Rating: 4 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I borrowed this book with my Amazon Kindle Unlimited membership.

Do you know someone who has been scammed? Please share your story in the Comments Section below.