What's Your Story?: True Experiences from Complete Strangers

by Brandon Doman

Everyone has a story to share. What's yours?

In 2009, Brandon Doman, who has always been curious about the people with whom we share our world, sat at a local coffeehouse and decided to ask passersby a simple "What's your story?"

Providing only paper and pens, Doman created an exploratory space that instantly intrigued people to share their stories anonymously. Now, more than 10,000 stories later, the Strangers Project has become a momentous movement, engaging strangers of all ages and backgrounds to reflect, rejoice, heal, and connect through words.

Published here for the first time, What's Your Story? showcases a selection of two hundred stories from the Strangers Project. Equal parts heartbreaking and humorous, this moving compendium lays bare our universal truths, desires, and sufferings, and illustrates the emotional power of storytelling and our shared humanity. To complete this beautiful collage of stories, a blank page is included at the end for readers to add their own personal story.

With more than fifty color photographs and illustrations

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 26, 2015

Reviews

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's a weird homogeneity to the stories in this book, even though they're about many different things. Every person seems to have written with a definite feeling of someone looking over their shoulder, and they actively worry about making a good impression. Lots of the stories have inspiring advice tacked on, instead of being a real story, which disappointed me some - I wanted these to be more interesting and original, and instead they read like a string of Upworthy articles. Many of them feel as though the authors are trying to convince themselves that what they are writing is true.

There was one story that will haunt me. A woman writes that she is Indian and has an arranged marriage, and is happy with her husband. Then she starts to write something like, "I have recently realized..." But she crosses it out and writes some platitude about making the most of life instead of completing the sentence. I am fascinated and somewhat terrified at what may have happened to her while she was writing, and wonder what her life is really like.

I do question a project like this where an organizer takes credit, and copyright, of materials they have collected from others rather than created themselves. I think this could have been a lot more.

[Heather Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

When I heard of this book, I knew I immediately had to read it. Having previously read all the Postsecret books (plus saw the live production in Milwaukee) and reading all the Humans books - I love reading little details of strangers private lives. Telling secrets to strangers is a great experience for many and I love reading them.

This book had no unique feel to it. Postsecrets - mail a secret on a postcard to a random stranger (Frank Warren) Humans - Tell a bit of your story to the (stranger) photography who happened to take your picture. This one was "write whatever you feel like" on this sheet of paper in your own handwriting, in my opinion, only changed a person's amount of space to tell their story. AND made it EXTREMELY different for the reader to actually READ!

I struggled to decipher over 85% of the letters because of the handwriting. I felt like I wasn't giving the person who wrote their story the time it allowed because I was unable to read. I tried reading some letters for so long my eyes actually hurt.

I understand why Brandon insisted whatever you choose to share had to be in your own handwriting - It does make it more personal. However, if you are going to collaborate into a book for the world to read - something needs to be changed. I know in both Postsecrets and Humans if the writing was undistinguishable the authors included a picture of the original work, but had typed out the message for readers to be able to actually read.
I am NOT discrediting anyone's story in The Stranger's Project. We all have stories and they were all meaningful, but the publishing of the book was unoriginally and not compiled well.

[Andrea Trenary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found this at the dollar store. I definitely skimmed some parts because a lot of the stories just felt really samie. Same themes over and over. Also a couple I just honestly couldn’t read the hand writing.

[Jahnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Real-life stories---unedited, anonymous, and handwritten.

What I've discovered is that the world needn't be so full of strangers. This project isn't just about reading and writing stories. It's about the connection that forms between storyteller and listener---and really, the connection is something we can explore every day in our own lives. It's about taking a moment of our day in which we give our time and undivided attention to one another. It's about acknowledging the people we share the world with and asking one simple question: "What's Your Story?"

~ Brandon Doman

[M.A. Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uniquely interesting. Everyone does have a story. My favorite was the one by the lactose intolerant person who defiantly continues to enjoy cheese.

[NYUSHUGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is reminiscent of Humans of New York, but in my opinion, different and better.

In short, these are mini 1-page “memoirs” of random people from random locations, whom chose to share their stories; collected into a book. This book is the result of a project conducted by the author whereby he went to different locations with a setup asking people face-to-face to anonymously share their stories. He provided clipboards, a pen and 1 piece of paper. The story had to be true, handwritten at the location, 1 page, and anonymous.

I especially enjoyed the fact that quite a few of the stories were written at Washington Square Park, as shared by the storyteller. The park was my old stomping grounds when I attended NYU (IYKYK). Had the author had his set up there at the time, I wondered if I would have chosen to participate and if so, what I would have shared at the time.

I read this wonderful book in one day. I suggest reading this in hard copy. The pages are all unique with peoples’ handwriting, interesting formats, scratch outs, doodles and drawings. There are also photographs added intermittently with quotes pulled from the stories. The stories ranged from happy, sad, funny, TMI, grateful, thankful, informative…you name it. The stories evoked giggles, LOL’s, SMH’s and tears from me. This would be a great gift/coffee table book! You literally can pick it up at anytime and read just one 1-page story, or a few at a time, or open it up to any random page and begin from there.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I also felt that many of the stories in the collection had a very similar feeling to them. There were a few that I felt were more unique or humorous (e.g., the one about the pet zebra ? I think, or the one with a drawing of a person with breadstick arms), but many of them seemed like a common story people tell (about struggles with disease/death, love, and relationships) - and of course that will happen because it's life, but I would have liked to read more about untold stories - stories you don't usually hear but that are happening, all the time, inside.

[Melissa Helton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cool project. The stories are sad and happy and wonderful and awful. They demonstrate how particular our lives are, and how universal... like Frank Warren's "Postsecret" project. As a teacher, i could read all the horrible penmanship, but other's might struggle.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting premise - strangers anonymously write something about themselves
Interesting format - book is printed with the handwritten pages (some are beautiful, while others are hard to read; I really loved those that included artwork)
Interesting ideas - so many about relationships and defining events
Problem - some seem truly genuine, but others seem flat or false (like one person who talked about loving to lie and their ability to deceive others - which seemed authentic - but then went on to say that they were going to stop lying that instant - which seemed flippant and impossible)
I would have liked a greater variety of authentic experiences, though the ones presented were very life-affirming.

[Agata · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find he "What's your story?" project very moving and deep. This book made me laugh, made me cry, made me realise how precious life is. Every story is different and unique. On the piece of paper some of random participants shared warm greetings and love for life. Others told anonymously what scarred them for life, what are they afraid of, how much pain they are dealing with or how they've found hope in the most hopeless of situations. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to look at life from a very different perspective - perspective of someone who lives next to you and you never really think what they're going through.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a lovely idea for a book. The author collects peoples stories - he sets up a spot and asks the question, "What's your story?" and lets people hand-write their story. Everyone has a story. Their stories are included here in their own handwriting. Stories of loss, love, disease, suicide. Stories from everyday life, stories that seemed insugnifigant but have had life-altering effects. This book was fascinating - it reminds me of another book i read about people's secrets. It makes one think - what is MY story?

[Andrea Bugg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this a very difficult reading in kindle form.It did not transfer over well at all.Most pages had to be enlarged due to the type and some of the handwriting was not easy to make out .The book in itself was simply average.I have read similar books to this topic and they had more stories not just several people trying to give philosophical life advice.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good coffee table book. Because it’s a coffee table book it took me 2+ years to read ha.

The importance of shared connections between storyteller and reader.

4 stars only because I wish it had been organized a little more clearly, plus some of the handwriting I just can’t read...

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very deep, personal and raw. The courage it takes to put things are sad and happy in a book that will come to public viewing is beyond brave in my eyes.

[Alyssa M · Rating 5 out of 5]

In every story, you rediscover a piece of yourself: whether it be an insecurity you try to ignore, a memory you cherish, or a reminder of an old friend.

An amazing collection.

[Emily Flood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book of people's stories, thoughts and ideas about life. This was a great idea for a book that was very well presented to the public.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really neat book. It is a wonderful way to know that you are not alone with your problems. There are other people who feel the same way you do.

[Lenore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compiled by Doman who was involved in producing the PostSecret books. Interesting concept but not particularly interesting stories.