Hello, Stranger
Stories of Connection in a Divided World
Published on 2. June 2022
Book
Paperback/Softback
336 pages
978-1-78378-566-7 (ISBN)
Description
What if meeting new people were a gift, not a burden?
How might we transform our lives if we set aside our fear of outsiders?
When Will Buckingham's partner died, the shock of his grief told him to withdraw. Instead, he sought solace in throwing open the door to new people; travelling the world - from Birmingham to Myanmar - seeking out stories of loneliness, exile and friendship, from classical times to the modern day.
Drawing from his travels, as well as insights from philosophy, anthropology, history and literature, Hello, Stranger is a powerful antidote to loneliness and xenophobia, and a heart-warming story of the power of kindness and compassion.
How might we transform our lives if we set aside our fear of outsiders?
When Will Buckingham's partner died, the shock of his grief told him to withdraw. Instead, he sought solace in throwing open the door to new people; travelling the world - from Birmingham to Myanmar - seeking out stories of loneliness, exile and friendship, from classical times to the modern day.
Drawing from his travels, as well as insights from philosophy, anthropology, history and literature, Hello, Stranger is a powerful antidote to loneliness and xenophobia, and a heart-warming story of the power of kindness and compassion.
Reviews / Votes
Following a personal tragedy, Will Buckingham propels himself out, alone, into the world, to explore what it means to be a stranger - the joys and pitfalls, the perennial truths. A glorious book, fabulously learned and funny, and filled with all manner of stirring stories * Philip Marsden, author of The Summer Isles * A treasure trove of all the possibilities strangers can be to each other. Read, learn and savour * Madeleine Bunting, author of Labours of Love: The Crisis of Care * Buckingham provides a map for others to follow, showing that when we show kindness to strangers, we may be entertaining angels unawares * John Paul Flintoff, author of How to Change the World (School of Life) * Humane and heart-warming -- Caroline Sanderson * Bookseller * A moving memoir of finding solace * Economist * Very excellent -- Reverend Richard Coles * BBC Radio 4 Saturday Live *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
236 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78378-566-7 (9781783785667)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
Book
07/2021
Granta Books
€41.07
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Will Buckingham is a writer, academic and traveller with an MA in Anthropology and a PhD in Philosophy. He has previously published books in several genres, including philosophy and fiction for children and adults. Born in the UK, he has worked and travelled all over the world. He co-directs Wind&Bones, a social enterprise that explores how writing can help us connect and reconnect, and is currently based in Sofia, Bulgaria.