Publisher's Hardcover ©2020 | -- |
Portrait photography.
Street photography.
Biography. 21st century. Portraits.
Anecdotes.
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.
ALA Booklist (Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2020)Stanton (Humans of New York, 2013) has taken his legendary storytelling and photography global. From the importance of showering every day to the challenges of first grade, Stanton captures slices of life across the globe in Humans, which he calls the "collected conversations of a single photographer o traveled to as many places as he could, and met as many people as he could." Those places were 40 countries including Spain, New Zealand, Japan, Argentina, and many more, capturing the stories of hundreds of people. Readers will be drawn into the rich photographs (full-color in the finished version) and the souls of the storytellers, even as most narratives are familiar life experiences, like memories of beach days with grandparents, being accepted into school, the birth of a child, or the joy of a new job. Sometimes photos omit faces, only showing a glimpse of a hand resting on a knee, obscuring the faces of those who struggle. Humans of all ages will enjoy leafing through this book and relating to global experiences that unite us.[HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Millions follow Stanton, and the empathy and love his work engenders will be a balm to many more.]
Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)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.
Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)Stanton (
Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)
ALA Booklist (Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2020)
Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)
Library Journal
Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)
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.