Chapter 63: Brandon Stanton is harnessing histories of humble human heroes

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“If you are willing to get closer to people who are suffering, you will find the power to change the world.”

That quote by Bryan Stevenson perfectly describes the incredible work of Brandon Stanton of Humans of New York, my guest on Chapter 63 of 3 Books.

Happy Harvest Moon everyone!

Are you surviving the onslaught of 2020?

If you’re anything like me you’re looking for grounding which is why I’m thrilled to be bringing you this uplifting exchange which completely filled my heart and soul.

Brandon Stanton is an American author, photographer, blogger, activist, and philanthropist. He is the creator of the viral sensation Humans of New York, which boasts a community of over 30 million people around the world who get a regular glimpse into the private lives of strangers through Brandon’s arresting photos and accompanying stories that reflect back to us the deeper nature of humanity.

Brandon is also the author of the New York Times bestsellers Humans of New York, Humans of New York: Stories, Little Humans of New York, and the highly anticipated new book Humans which comes out next week. (Side note: I believe he also holds the Guinness World Record for “Most Books With The Word Humans In The Title”).

Brandon was listed as one of TIME’s 30 People Under 30 Changing The World, and received the James Joyce award for the Literary and Historical Society for Professional Achievement. Not bad for a roaming flâneur who got fired from his bond trading job and just started walking around taking pictures all day.

In this chapter we discuss:

What did Brandon learn while photographing Barack Obama?
What’s the difference between schooling and education?
What system did Brandon adopt to improve his reading?
How do we balance artistic ambition with family contentment?
How can cannabis help with creativity?
Why is it important that kids fear drugs?
How can we rebuild trust?
And of course, what are Brandon Stanton’s 3 most formative books?

In this tumultuous year of ups and downs, pandemic havoc, incessant media and political mayhem, let this conversation be an oasis of energy to fill you back up.

Let’s go!

What You'll Learn:

Why is it so important to never judge a person from one moment?
Who was the original inventor of the self help movement?
How do we separate reading from compulsion and curiosity?
How can you design systems to realize more of your potential? ?
How do we tap into our deeper artistic selves to tell better stories?
What is freedom and how does success limit it?
What is the difference between being an influencer and being an artist?
Where does power in a modern democracy really reside?
What does it take to be a historical biographer?
Why is getting close to people who are suffering so critical to bettering the world?
What does it mean to be a moral person?