Bayou Pages | “The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening” by Ari Shapiro

review by Meredith McKinnie

“The conversations that help me see the world most clearly are generally not with researchers, policymakers, or so-called experts. They aren’t with the people journalists crassly call ‘newsmakers’ at all. They’re with artists – especially writers.” 

The essence of Shapiro’s take on journalism and life in general is curiosity. Longtime host of NPR’s podcast All Things Considered, Ari Shapiro finds the heart of the story in the unexpected, the heart of people in listening intently. This memoir filled with essays covering his personal and professional life explores humanity and what brings us together despite our differences. And while that take might sound Hallmarkish or idealistic, Shapiro catalogs a life spent doing just that and finding fulfillment in the unlikeliest of places. Whether covering the Obama administration on Air Force One, chasing war stories in refugee camps, or navigating the forests outside his hometown of Portland, Shapiro animates life by continually asking questions and following a story to its organic destination, often a conclusion he never imagined possible. 

Shapiro, though only 44 years old, speaks with the wisdom of a seasoned intellectual, alongside a boyish charm and introspective eagerness. He delves into awkward situations, chases the stories that other newsmakers pass by, and thrives on connecting with other people. While he doesn’t rest on his identity, he admits it inevitably informs his perspective, and rather than hiding who he is, Shapiro leans into that experience as a lens into the cultural hot topics of our time. Working for NPR, flying on the wings of journalism’s champions who dared to think and question outside of the box, Shapiro honors that tradition while bending the genre to suit the moment. He admits the most-asked question is always, “Who was your favorite interview?” And while he dodgers the request in face-to-face encounters, the final pages reveal an interviewer who has come to value the unknown names, the everyday people who search for the little difference they can make in spite of life’s obstacles. Similarly, Shapiro notes that a podcast is not revolutionary or life-saving but it can be life-enriching, a noteworthy goal that garners 12 million listeners per week. 

I am an unabashed fan of memoirs. I love hearing about people’s lives from the people who lived them. I especially love when authors narrate a profession for which they seem intended and remain passionate. Shapiro dares to love people in spite of our flaws. The essays touch on unique experiences in his life, ranging from performing as lead singer in the band Pink Martini to covering the U.S. Justice Department, anchored by the incessant curiosity that informs his life practice and his writing. If you love memoirs, add this one to the list. If you love journalism, Shapiro narrates its song and purpose. 

“I think so much of our attention has been placed on trying to identify what is wrong. I want to create work that is about making the world that I want, as opposed to commenting on the world that is.”