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Humans
Modern · Nonfiction, Young Adult, History

Humans

by Brandon Stanton
2020 · 307 pages · Nonfiction
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 8 hours to read · about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

Photographer Brandon Stanton, creator of Humans of New York, spent years traveling the world, photographing strangers and recording their stories. This book collects portraits and quotations from people in dozens of countries, about love, loss, struggle and hope, each a short, true glimpse into another life.

Why it's worth reading

It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It's moving and surprising, and it makes the world feel smaller.

You'll love it if you liked

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood, Tuesdays with Morrie or Educated: A Memoir

Good to know

It's a book to dip into rather than read straight through. The print edition shows the photographs best.

Quick answers

Is Humans worth reading?

Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It ranks #647 of the 2,819 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.6 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Humans about?

Photographer Brandon Stanton, creator of Humans of New York, spent years traveling the world, photographing strangers and recording their stories. This book collects portraits and quotations from people in dozens of countries, about love, loss, struggle and hope, each a short, true glimpse into another life.

How long does it take to read Humans?

About 8 hours (307 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Humans?

If you liked it, try Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah, Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom or Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover.

By the numbers

76.6Must-Read Score
  • Readers94 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller40 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

#1 New York Times bestseller (2 weeks at #1).

Where it ranks

Bestseller

Reads as

True story

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

More by Brandon Stanton

Humans of New York: Stories
Humans of New York: StoriesBrandon Stanton

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