HumansHumans
Score Modern
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
Educated: A MemoirGood to know
It's a book to dip into rather than read straight through. The print edition shows the photographs best.
By the numbers
- 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.
Where it ranks
- #104 of the 198 history books we rank
- #323 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #645 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
More by Brandon Stanton
If you like this, read next
The Book Thief
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
Hidden Figures
In the Time of the Butterflies
Dominicana
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American WestExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Humans worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It ranks #645 of the 2,816 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.