Product review (3 stars): Good topic, very entertaining, not truly new and novel
In  this engaging, readable book, author Gregrerman argues that business and personal growth come when we are open to interacting with strangers. This advice isn't especially new; as the author notes, Granovetter's concept of "weak ties" has become familiar. However much I wanted to like this book, I found it hard to identify insights that were truly new and novel and the recommendations, in some cases, impractical.

For instance, on page 26, the author suggests tips to create a plan for success. It's pretty standard: set an objective, develop a plan and so on. One step, "Find strangers to fill those [knowledge] gaps," makes a lot of sense; it's the essential premise of networking. But these days, getting strangers to share information requires fairly sophisticated networking skills.

While the book's premise relates to the importance of strangers, a good part of content is about overcoming resistance to people who might seem to have nothing to teach us. The issue here doesn't seem to be about strangers but about topics related to stereotyping and false appearance. It's important to differentiate true strangers from those we meet in a familiar setting that confers credibility.

Additionally, the people who gain most from dealing with strangers tend to transform the relationship so they're now dealing with friends and personal acquaintances. The stranger factor disappears! For instance, the author describes a meeting with a university administrator who becomes a mentor and advocate. Although the two were strangers initially, they met in a fairly structured situation that was conducive to creating a relationship, and at some early point they stopped being strangers

Perhaps our real challenge is not about breaking down barriers with strangers, but deciding which strangers to approach and how to assess their input. Career changers are urged to seek help from experts in their industry, yet often the "advice" they get is inappropriate; however, these people can be valuable as informational resources when approached with carefully designed questions.

In the end, the stranger question becomes both simple and complex. Yes, we will grow by interacting with diverse people who are outside our inner circles. However, sometimes resistance to strangers can help us avoid traps, especially when we're paying or placing ourselves in a vulnerable position.

For instance, the author says he met his wife by connecting with strangers in a particularly clever way - offering a big reward to friends who'd set up an introduction. Sure, these women were strangers, but they were already connected through his own friends, creating an effective filter.

The toolkit at the book's end includes some useful but not entirely novel ideas. In my experience the best way to meet new people in a meaningful is to engage in some new activity. His idea to "get out of the office" is a good start, but what about joining a new gym or a new club, trying new networking events, or even taking a class that brings you in contact with people you wouldn't meet otherwise?

Overall the book entertains.  You might have some interesting conversations and talking points when you share the examples But the title leads us to expect something that radically shifts our mindset ... sort of like what happens when we connect with strangers.