If you're a fan of Ari Shapiro on NPR, you'll want to read this book. This memoir starts at the beginning of his life, chronicling how he came out as gay as a teenager and began a life of "translating" and presenting cultures in front of groups of listeners. The book is well written and interesting. I would have preferred to skip straight to his professional career, but that's just my personal preference.

I didn't know Ari Shapiro really before this book. I really liked the book and liked him. He has an interesting perspective and good mix of ego and insecurity. I liked most of the essays and a few I could've done without, but overall a strong collection.

I guess thiscwasnt quite what I was expecting.itdid get there, telling stories of amazing people Mr Shapiro hasmet along the way, butforprobably 65% ofthebook, it was just about Arti. Interesting of course, just not the story telling I anticipated. I quickly felt bored but kept trudging through. Finally getting to some heartfelt stories of others brought me back in. Overall, this isn't totally my normal read, so perhaps my thoughts are not valid, but it didn't move me. As always I do however appreciate the opportunity to review this prepublication edition. Thank you!!!

The Best Strangers in the World: Stories From a Life Spent Listening by Ari Shapiro #fourteenthbookof2023 #arc

CW: discussions of homophobia, war zones and casualties of war

From the publisher: As the self-reinforcing bubbles we live in become more impenetrable, Ari Shapiro keeps seeking ways to help people listen to one another; to find connection and commonality with those who may seem different; to remind us that, before religion, or nationality, or politics, we are all human. The Best Strangers in the World is a testament to one journalist’s passion for Considering All Things—and sharing what he finds with the rest of us.


So I really like Ari Shapiro based on nothing but his voice and his work on NPR. I knew almost nothing about him, but I was excited to read this book because I assumed it would be as well done as his news stories. I was right. What a perfectly lovely book with interesting stories about interesting and fascinating people. He sounds like a great person to sit next to at a dinner party, and I enjoyed this book immensely.

Thank you to @netgalley and @harperonebooks for the advance copy. (Pub date 3/21/23)

#arishapiro #memoir #celebritymemoir

Ari Shapiro's exceptional storytelling translates from broadcast to the written page in the captivating THE BEST STRANGERS IN THE WORLD. Early on, Shapiro shares his tales of growing up as the in-between, the one who could translate and straddle different communities -- and this book is evidence of a storyteller who mesmerizes, delights, and helps make the world the smaller, more connected community he envisions for us. To Shapiro, I would say, Thank you for writing -- I am honored to have read your book. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Loved it. Go get this one. You know Ari Shapiro - or if you don’t, you know his voice on NPR’s All Things Considered. After I said “ohhh THAT’S what he looks like!” I jumped into this lovely, smart, nuanced, real book with great writing loving story after story of an incredible start to his well-known career on NPR. I loved reading about the feats and foibles - all rounding out to such a cool, smart, interesting, curious guy. Learned a lot - related to a lot - and was inspired - a lot. Great book. Thanks to Harper One for the advanced copy.

i really loved this memoir. it was simulatenously light and fun as well as thought provoking. The timeline hopping could get a little confusing, but I loved getting a glimpse into the life of an NPR reporter. I wasn't very familiar with Ari, but now I want to listen to him!

Well written and engaging. Memoirs are generally my genre, yet I still found this book engaging and well-written. For connoisseurs of autobiographies, this will be a hit!

I got this book from NetGalley and although I wouldn't say I'm super familiar with Ari Shapiro, I knew enough about his work with NPR that I thought it might be worth reading. And it was! Obviously his work with NPR and the people he's met and places he's been are a big part of this memoir but also his experiences as a gay man moving through the world. It's about living a life where you care about the lives and stories of other people.

I don't think this one is an absolute must purchase, if there is a NPR user crossover within your library, add as appropriate

I absolutely loved this book. Ari has such a way with words, and though I've never listened to his NPR show, I definitely will now! I was pulled into every single story, from the journalistic ones to his personal life, and I both teared up and outright cried several times over. I constantly felt like I was just sitting across from him having a cup of coffee while he shared all these interesting stories from his lifetime, the people he's met, the situations he's found himself in, and he weaves it all together so flawlessly with how it's poignant and relevant to what's going on today, right in this moment, no matter when the story took place, that I didn't want to put the book down.

I would love to read another book by him, or ten (I'm sure he'd have the stories to fill it!), and I'm also going to check out Pink Martini now! =)

*I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley. I am voluntarily leaving this review, and the thoughts and comments contained within are my own.*

The Best Strangers in the World by Ari Shapiro is Ari at his best. He shares stories of his childhood, his days at college and the days when he met his husband and about the remarkable people he has met all over the world as he travelled as a reporter for NPR. Always a delight to listen to Ari on All Things Considered and now to read his book, don't miss this one!

Thank you to the author, HarperOne and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This is a really wonderful book. I was always a fan of Ari Shapiro's work on NPR, but his book
really shows us so much more about who he is and his path to NPR.
This book is especially important during this time when the media is under attack and so many
tune out news or learning about anything beyond what's in their backyards.

As an avid NPR listener, you don’t often think about the people and lives behind the voices. In "The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening" by Ari Shapiro you get a glimpse and learn a little about a reporter’s life.

First of all I was shocked to learn that Shapiro spent the first 8 years of his life in Fargo, ND. As someone who grew up with Fargo as the “big city” they’d visit it blows my mind a little. But it was also touching to hear about someone who was an outsider, one of the only Jewish kids in a heavily Christian area of the country, to being an old gay teenager in the 90s, trying to start his schools first Gay Straight Alliance.

I was also aware that Shapiro sometimes performed with Pink Martini. Getting the background of how that relationship started, and how that’s bloomed into another side act as a cabaret performer with Alan Cummings was entertaining and fun.

But, perhaps the best part of the book is getting an understanding of how radio reporting for NPR works, seeing behind the scenes of how some of Shapiro’s most famous stories were captured, and finding out what subjects have made a lasting impression on his life.

I received an ARC of "The Best Strangers in the World" for free, this had no bearing on my rating and review. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperOne!

Dear Ari,

I feel I know you well enough after reading this memoir to write this directly to you. Your self-deprecating humor made me laugh out loud several times. When you described yourself appearing in a picture like a meerkat in the Savannah, I snorted.

I really loved how you and Mike met and got married, though unfortunately not actually married. I enjoy how you intertwine history with your personal story.

I guess what I want to tell you, Ari, is that you're as good a memoirist as you are a reporter and host. I've listened to you for a lot of years, and the first chapter in the book solidified what I like about your reporting - your sense of curiosity. You genuinely want to hear what people have to say. I never feel like you're just waiting for them to hurry up and finish.

Thanks. How long until the next installment?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a prepub ebook of this title.
I enjoy listening to Ari Shapiro on NPR and jumped at the chance to read this memail.
The reasonable length of the book was full of life events and stories that I had not heard, snd was very interesting.
Easy to read style, interesting subject matter.
I'm a fan. Of the book and of Mr. Shapiro

The Best Strangers in the World was a fantastic read, I very much appreciated getting a peek into Ari Shapiro’s life! Throughout the memoir, he covered a wide range of personal and professional highlights, from coming out in high school to reporting in war zones. He approached his stories in such a thoughtful way, focused on including the individual human narrative instead of only the cold hard facts. For instance - one of my favorite tales during his time as White House Correspondent wasn’t related to politics or President Obama (although those were good too) - but the connection he had with one of the White House Christmas decorators, and the domino effect that happened because of it. Reading this made me feel motivated to be more curious, and also served as a reminder to always be compassionate and help others if given the chance.

The ebook was great, but I bet it would make an amazing audiobook. Either way, I highly recommend this, even if you have not listened to All Things Considered before.

This was a comfortable companion to the Ari Shapiro I’ve gotten to know listening to him for many years on NPR. Very interesting to read how his personal life affects his reporting philosophy and motivates the kinds of storied he seeks to tell.

Thanks much to NetGalley and Harper One for this ARC ebook and the chance to review.

From Portland to Washington to London and Ukraine...Ari Shapiro takes us around the world with him as we learn about his life and the stories behind the stories he shares on All Things Considered. Reading The Best Strangers in the World was like listening to him on the radio; the tone and cadence of his writing is the same as his speech. Each chapter is interesting and adds to the enjoyment of the overall.
I highly recommend this book for those who are already fans of NPR and Ari Shapiro and for anyone who enjoys a well-written true story.

I wanted to like this book so much more than I did, and I'm so sad about that. I love Ari Shapiro's work on NPR and All Things Considered, and I am a sucker for journalism memoirs, especially when they are rooted in public information and stories of humanity.

The chapters stood on their own as short explorations of specific topics, which sometimes can truly work in a book, but somehow, and maybe it was the sequencing, it didn't flow right. Some of the chapters didn't feel like they held as much weight--and I'm not saying that, say, a chapter on covering DC politics is more important than the joys Shapiro felt in Pink Martini, but there was some disconnect for me that didn't let the book take off.

And sometimes a storyteller is just better when heard out loud. Maybe if I heard Shapiro reading the book instead of reading it on the page, I would have felt more connected.

There were chapters that were absolute fives though. Of course there were--it's Ari Shapiro.