STRANGERS DROWNING Grappling with Impossible Idealism, Drastic Choices, and the Overpowering Urge to Help

MacFarquhar, a staff writer for the NEW YORKER, narrates her book with an erudite yet conversational tone that may leave listeners feeling like they've attended a lecture rather than listened to an audiobook. The focus of her study is the phenomenon of radical humanitarians whom MacFarquhar refers to as "do-gooders." No ordinary "nice guys," these people forsake the well-being of their own loved ones in order to achieve true altruism--and that makes the rest of us nervous. Given the book's thesis of far-reaching kindness and its effect on humanity, MacFarquhar's narration might seem reserved. However, her tone is affable enough, making this an insightful listen. R.A. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2016]