Steadily finished this one over the course of 3 weeks. I think I enjoy listening to his NPR segments more than I did enjoy this book. Thanks for the advanced read!

Some of the stories were great and others I enjoyed much less. Some were too political for me and lost the human touch. I suspect I was not the correct audience, but someone who’s more politically astute would enjoy it more.

I'll be honest -- I had no idea who Ari Shapiro was before I selected this book from NetGalley. The premise sounded incredibly compelling. So much so, that I actually picked up a hard copy from a local bookstore, totally forgetting that I had an advanced copy already downloaded to my Kindle!

I was enthralled with the details and stories behind Shapiro's journalistic endeavors. It gave me hope that there are journalists out there who are willing to humanize a story vs. write strictly for click bait. This memoir is well-written, funny and full of joy. Highly recommend buying it -- even twice!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperOne for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Self-indulgent and full of name dropping which I think longtime fans might enjoy but for me it was just meh.

I have "known" Ari Shapiro since before he started hosting All Things Considered for NPR in 2015. Which goes to show you what a consummate professional he is. That's the only part of Ari Shapiro I knew. And while that part of Shapiro is on full display in this collection of stories, what's also on display is the personal life of Shapiro, a man who's been different since he was born, one of the few Jews in Fargo, ND. He and his brother would go from classroom to classroom teaching the other students about Hannukah. He was the first person to come out in his high school. I'm certain that part of his desire to tell stories from a human point of view stems from his inherent personality, I'm equally certain that having been a young man who was constantly trying to help other people understand him, he knew that he wasn't alone in wanting that.

This collection has it all, from the kinds of stories you'd expect an NPR report to have at hand to truly funny stories to very personal stories. His life didn't lead him where he thought it would (theater), until he did, when he began performing with the group Pink Martini during vacations from NPR and doing a cabaret show with actor Alan Cumings. He's met world leaders, leaders in the arts, and journalistic titans but the best stories are the ones where Shapiro introduces us the the individuals at the heart of the stories. Bravo, Ari Shapiro; this is a terrific collection!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely loved this memoir. Ari Shapiro has lived an interesting life so far. He has great stories to share with everyone. Also the audiobook is really great. It was such a nice read after reading some more heavier things. I realized that I really like learning about other people’s lives and experiences with this book. This book was recommended by a coworker and friend and it definitely did not disappoint. I especially loved the chapter about his husband, Mike and also the one about working in the White House under the Obama administration. Ari Shapiro has such great insight about the world and has met a lot of different people. I love that he gave a genuine look at his life and his career so far.

It's always funny when you realize that you know someone's name and voice so well but know almost nothing about them. This was a satisfying blend of Shapiro's personal and professional life - a balance that can be hard to achieve. Sometimes the narrative voice slipped too much back into reporter mode, but overall it was a great journey.

Ari Shapiro is probably best known as NPR's host of All Things Considered. In his bestselling memoir, The Best Strangers in the World, he speaks openly about his life as by a journalist and a gay man. He writes like he speaks and his stories reveal him to be humble, curious, down to earth, humorous, empathetic, intelligent, and multitalented.

In his own words, "I keep seeking out ways to help people listen to one another." He often takes the road less traveled, seeking out the human side of news stories, showing us how individuals and communities are impacted.
"One of the best ways to tell a big story is by telling a small one."

Journalists like Ari Shapiro promote understanding in a divided world. We need more journalists like him. Hell, we need more human beings like him.

Loved this!! Ari Shapiro is funny, self-aware, empathetic, and a great storyteller. The books runs the gamut from stories about exploring nature, traveling the world with his journalism work and reporting on warzones, and performing in an incredibly unique band. I loved this book & appreciate what Shapiro had to say!

Ari Shapiro is a beloved public radio figure. This was an easy read as he takes us around the world on journalistic assignments and musical tours. It's also a true look into his life as a gay man and how this lens colored his reporting at times, such as marriage equality and the Pulse Night Club shooting.

I dnf’d this because it wasn’t at all what I was expecting. I was hoping to hear NPR stories that stuck with the author. Instead it was all about him. I just wasn’t expecting that.

Before this book I had heard Ari Shapiro on NPR, but otherwise did not know much about him. This book blends memoir and journalism to tell the story of Shapiro's life and events happening at that time. Each chapter comes in the form of a vignette that fully makes sense on its own, making it easy to read even when I didn't have much time. Shapiro chronicles a range of experiences in his life, from how he joined Pink Martini to the line between impartiality and cruelty in journalism. He writing is very engaging and witty, I often found myself laughing while reading this book. Public radio nerds or people who follow the news in general will enjoy this book and how it portrays navigating the world as a journalist.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperOne for the eARC for my honest review.

This was a charming yet down-to-earth memoir told in vignettes. I’ve listened to All Things Considered but knew virtually nothing about Ari Shapiro. This book covers how he got to where he is at NPR, his time as a guest vocalist for Pink Martini, and his interactions with so many people.

Shapiro says, “…one of the best ways to tell a big story is by telling a small one.” This book covers climate change to the Orlando mass shooting to the Syrian civil war through conversations with people in the thick of it. Shapiro quickly builds connection and then shares real stories—he says that he hopes his journalism can “maybe even change someone’s view of the world”.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins!

I love All Things Considered and I was curious about Ari Shapiro's background story. I knew little to nothing about him, and it was so interesting to learn more. The things this man has seen and done! I loved the overall themes of interconnectedness, humanity, and storytelling. This was a great collection of essays!

This book is a fun and poignant read - Ari is open and humble about what he has learned in life and his career. Being the only Jewish Family in South Dakota and then later coming out as Gay after moving to the West Coast as a teenager gave him an incredible amount of courage, openness and acceptance that not only makes him an incredible person, it also makes him an incredible journalist. He is also somewhat of a Renaissance man - not only as he covered world events, and flown on Air Force One with President Obama, he sings in a band called "Pink Martini" and performs in a cabaret show with Alan Cumming. The key theme for him is the art of listening - the importance of people telling their stories. In this memoir, he has done a fantastic job telling his own story. I recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperOne for an ARC and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

As a longtime listener of Ari Shapiro on the radio, I was thrilled to have a change to read this book! He comes across as personable, witty and open-minded and I really enjoyed the journey he took me on as a reader. Recommended!

I am a regular listener to NPR and was familiar with Ari Shapiro's reporting and hosting but was interested to learn more about his upbringing, how he got to NPR, and some of the more interesting stories that he covered. I was surprised to learn that he lived in Fargo for several years in his childhood around the same time that I lived there (he did mention the name of his elementary school--not mine!).

This book gives some background on Ari's early life including coming out in high school, being the only Jewish kid in his elementary school, college life and his break into journalism at NPR. I knew some of the things that he talked about (touring with the bank Pink Martini, for instance) but this guy has done some amazing things and met some amazing people. The book covers his various assignments at NPR and some interesting stories that occurred in his travels. Like his NPR persona, it is clear that he is a good storyteller and I enjoyed reading about the storied life of Ari Shapiro.

I’ve enjoyed listening to Ari Shapiro on NPR’s All Things Considered and jumped at the chance to get this book. It doesn’t disappoint and was definitely worth the read. It was a quick one for me, but a full, detailed story of his life and how he got to our ears and hearts.

Thanks to HarperOne and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed this interesting, informative, and uplifting memoir in essays by journalist and performer Ari Shapiro. It was a nice mix of stories from his personal and professional lives. I loved learning more about the band Pink Martini, as well as getting some behind the scenes information about how radio stories are produced. I found chapters about Ukraine and Gaza particularly eye-opening.

I appreciate Shapiro’s curiosity and desire for understanding and connection, themes that unite the stories in this collection. I also loved the joie de vivre that permeates these stories. Although some essays discuss discrimination, war, gun violence, and other difficult subjects, the overriding tone is hopeful.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys essays or memoirs and is curious about LGBT culture or journalism.

I received a complimentary ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review.

I'm an avid listener of Ari Shapiro, so I had high expectations for this book and it did not disappoint. The stories were compelling and approachable, as you'd expect from someone used to tailoring news for millions of listeners. I especially liked the glimpses of Shapiro's childhood in the Pacific NW and reading about his experiences interviewing average people in the wake of mass tragedies or intimate, personal milestones. He seems keenly aware of the privileged position he occupies, but there's less introspection on the privileges that landed him there than I would have liked (maybe that wasn't appropriate for this book, I don't know!). Regardless, he strikes a solid balance between self-confidence and self-deprecation, reminding me again why he is beloved by many, including me.