Once Upon a Stranger

<p><b>'If you've ever wondered about, worried about, and avoided talking to strangers, this book might change your mind about giving strangers their space.' - Angela Duckworth, author of </b><i><b>Grit: Why Passion and Resilience are the Secrets to Success</b><br></i><br><b>'Its clarity, coherence, and humane intelligence are real.' Demetris Papadimitropoulos, Goodreads<br></b> <br>In an age when we live head down in our phones, working remotely and wary of strangers, interacting with our fellow human beings feels increasingly uncomfortable. And the result - an epidemic of loneliness and isolation in a polarised society. Over 80% of people say they have experienced loneliness with the old and young suffering the most.<br><br>In <i>Once Upon a Stranger</i>, Professor in the Psychology of Kindness and a self-confessed introvert Gillian Sandstrom, draws on her own experiences as well as the latest scientific research to show the life-transforming potential of a tiny everyday exchange with a stranger. For Gillian, such moments led to an entirely new career, a move to a new country and meeting her life partner.<br><br>Not every exchange that you have, whether it's with the person who makes your coffee or the one you stand next to in a lift, will lead to such momentous events but they will give you a tiny moment of joy, a spark of connection, the recognition of a fellow human. Just start small...look up, and say hello - you never know where the conversation will lead.</p>