Product review (3 stars): Fish are strangers?
The stated premise of the book, that strangers can improve your insight, innovation, and success, is true and is a relevant topic.  Gregerman presents a genial book that I wanted to like. OK, I did like it, but was still left disappointed because it didn't really deliver what it promised.  This isn't really a book about strangers, or being open to the influence of strangers, it's about openmindedness in general.  That's a fine topic too, but one that I have already read and thought extensively about.  That is why I was excited to find a book that would delve deep into one aspect of that -- openmindedness toward strangers.  Alas, this did not deliver.  IF you are looking for a fun and light, but still useful, book on openmindedness, in general, you should be very pleased.  This book offers a shallow look at many dimensions of openmindedness.

Early on, Gregerman writes, "It may seem counterintuitive that strangers are to be embraced rather than ignored or avoided, but they are a necessity -- precisely because of their differences and what they know that we don't know; their objectivity and ability to be open and honest with us about the things that really matter; and their capacity to challenge us to think very differently about ourselves, the problems we face, and the nature of what is possible.  Finding and engaging the right strangers has the power to make all of us more complete, compelling, innovative, and successful."  This is exactly what I wanted, but Gregerman doesn't go into details on this.  He basically just tells us to talk with people.  Very general.  Indeed, the first chapter, Necessity, would have made a great article or Kindle Short, as that is where the heart of the idea is.  It's a great chapter in an otherwise average book.

In chapter 4, Innovation, Gregerman tells us to ask ourselves these 8 questions:  What's our best thinking to date?  What's the best thinking in our industry?  What's the best thinking in other industries?  What's the best thinking from popular culture?  What's the best thinking in other cultures?  What's the best insight from nature?  What's the best insight from science?  What are the best possibilities from science fiction?  OK, good questions, and Gregerman gives each a paragraph telling us why it is a good question, but does not give guidance on how to actually answer the questions.

Gregerman really stretches the definition of stranger.  At one point he uses fish as a "stranger" and discusses how the schooling behavior of fish led to innovations in accident avoiding cars.  Really, fish as strangers?  Isn't this really about openmindedness in general, and not openmindedness to strangers specifically?  Gregerman explicitly sidesteps the issue of strangers by stating that his approach is "driven by the reality that in many ways almost all of us are strangers."  So, are we talking about openness to strangers, or about openness to people in general?  Why did the title of this book not refer to openmindedness rather than strangers?

Some other books also offer insight into what strangers have to offer.  Check out Give And Take, by Adam Grant, which has more to offer than this book does, even though the premise is a bit different.  The Geography of Happiness may also be worth a look, though it is primarily about personal benefit, not business; but of course, these are entwined.  Another book, that Gregerman refers to is Carol Dweck's Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, which is specifically about openmindedness and closemindedness.

Gregerman seems like someone I would love to meet in person and talk with.  Really wish that he had examined the stated topic in more detail so that I could leave a more enthusiastic review.  Gergerman's last paragraph is a good summation of his book, so I present it here.  If this is what you actually want to read about, rather than an in-depth look at strangers, then you should enjoy this book:  "Use these resources as a starting point for stretching your thinking or as a call to action to look in new places for ideas that could make a real difference to you and your organization.  Then commit to the regular habit of picking up a book or ebook, reading a magazine or blog, or watching a movie or TV show that takes you off of your well-beaten path -- not because everyone else around you is doing so, but because it might take you to a new and remarkable place where the possibility of a breakthrough awaits."