Image courtesy of Humansofny home page.

Appreciate the people you see around you

I was given the book Humans of New York: Stories by Sarah, a young entrepreneurial woman who I respect. I read it in a single sitting. I recommend it to all of you. Like poetry, it made me feel, smile, laugh and sometimes sigh. It is not a novel, not fiction. Each page has a photograph of a New Yorker, with his/her own words candidly sharing a thought or answering a question.

It will touch you and give you new perspective on the faces of strangers around you. Author and blogger Brandon Stanton brings out the essence of people, without judgement – just humor, empathy, candor and authenticity. His photos and short insights into his subjects intrigued and touched me.

In 2010, in his twenties, Stanton began to take photographs of individuals on the streets of New York City. He interviewed his subjects with a few well-chosen questions and began a blog. He now has over 17 million followers on Facebook. He has published two Humans of New York – HONY – books. Time Magazine selected Brandon as one of their ‘30 People Under 30 Changing the World’. In the summer of 2014, the UN chose him to travel around the world on a goodwill mission meeting people from Iraq to the Ukraine and Mexico City.

His first book Humans of New York was based on his blog and stayed on the New York Times Best Seller list for over 45 weeks. The photographs were his focus and he gave them captions. With Humans of New York: Stories, Brandon has refined his craft with skillful questions which result in deep, candid, often revealing responses from his subjects.