Why read The Poetry of Strangers?

Book cover of The Poetry of Strangers

Book description

It might surprise you who’s a fan of poetry — when it meets them where they are.

Before he became an award-winning writer and poet, Brian Sonia-Wallace set up a typewriter on the street with a sign that said “Poetry Store” and discovered something surprising: all over America, people want…

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North Dakota

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Poetry of Strangers as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Richard Polt

Author

I’ve tried my hand at street poetry with a typewriter and been surprised by the hugs and tears my little efforts sometimes provoke. This book shows me why: people are hungry for someone to listen and care. And something about a mechanical intermediary promotes attention, while digital tech pushes us apart.

I was absorbed by Sonia-Wallace’s stories and jealous of his chance to be Amtrak’s writer-in-residence, typing poems on a train across America.

From Richard's list on The best books for tech skeptics with an imagination.