Humans

by Brandon Stanton

Overview

The Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller

"Just when we need it, Humans reminds us what it means to be human . . . one of the most influential art projects of the decade.” —Washington Post

Brandon Stanton’s new book, Humans—his most moving and compelling book to date—shows us the world.

Brandon Stanton created Humans of New York in 2010. What began as a photographic census of life in New York City, soon evolved into a storytelling phenomenon. A global audience of millions began following HONY daily. Over the next several years, Stanton broadened his lens to include people from across the world.

Traveling to more than forty countries, he conducted interviews across continents, borders, and language barriers. Humans is the definitive catalogue of these travels. The faces and locations will vary from page to page, but the stories will feel deeply familiar. Told with candor and intimacy, Humans will resonate with readers across the globe—providing a portrait of our shared experience.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250114297
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	10/06/2020
Pages:	448
Sales rank:	100,761
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.10(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

BRANDON STANTON is the creator of the #1 New York Times bestselling books Humans of New York and Humans of New York: Stories as well as the children's book, Little Humans. His photography and storytelling blog, also called Humans of New York, is followed by a global audience of over thirty million people across several social media platforms. In addition to sharing thousands of stories from around the world, the blog has raised over $12 million for featured individuals and nonprofits. Stanton is a graduate of the University of Georgia and lives in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

"Just when we need it, Humans reminds us what it means to be human . . . one of the most influential art projects of the decade.” —Washington Post

“A panoply of interesting stories . . . and what stories they are. A lovely, sometimes challenging testament to the universality of human nature." —Kirkus Reviews (starred)

"A beautiful love letter to humanity in this moving compilation . . . . Stanton’s skill at putting people at ease comes through in the spontaneity of the images, as well as in the stories they share with him. It’s an outstanding survey, and each new image reveals something unique about the human condition." —Publishers Weekly (starred)

"Stanton has taken his legendary storytelling and photography global . . . millions follow [him], and the empathy and love his work engenders will be a balm to many more." —Booklist

"Profound interviews and signature stunning photography." —Newsweek

From the Publisher

05/01/2020

Famed for his No. 1 New York Times best-selling Humans of New York and Humans of New York: Stories, Stanton goes global with a full-color photo essay presenting original images and stories from people in 40 countries. One way to connect even if we are socially distanced. With a million-copy first printing.

Library Journal

★ 2020-08-18
The creator of the hit internet series Humans of New York takes it global, chasing down a panoply of interesting stories.

In 1955, Edward Steichen staged a show called “The Family of Man,” a gathering of photographs that emphasized the commonality of humankind. Stanton’s project seemingly has much the same ambition. “You’ve created this magic little corner of the Web where people feel safe sharing their stories—without being ridiculed, or bullied, or judged,” he writes. “These stories are only honestly shared because they have a long history of being warmly received.” The ask is the hard part: approaching a total stranger and asking him or her to tell their stories. And what stories they are. A young Frenchwoman, tearful, recounts being able to see things from the spirit world that no one else can see. “And it’s been a very lonely existence since then,” she says. A sensible teenager in St. Petersburg, Russia, relates that her friends are trying to be grown-up, smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol, whereas she wants to remain a child close to her parents: “I’d like these times to last as long as possible.” A few stories are obnoxious, as with a Dutch incel who has converted himself into a pickup artist and outright cad: “Of course it’s manipulation, but why should I care? I’ve been manipulated so many times in my life.” A great many stories, some going for several pages but most taking up just a paragraph or two, are regretful, speaking to dashed dreams and roads not taken. A surprising number recount mental illness, depression, and addiction; “I’d give anything to have a tribe,” says a beleaguered mother in Barcelona. Some are hopeful, though, such as that of an Iranian woman: “I’ve fallen in love with literature. I try to read for one or two hours every day. I only have one life to live. But in books I can live one thousand lives.”

A lovely, sometimes challenging testament to the universality of human nature.

Kirkus Reviews