An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff & Alex Tresniowski Summary
Overview of An Invisible Thread
When a Wall Street executive meets an 11-year-old panhandler, destiny unfolds. This New York Times bestseller sparked a kindness movement, with Catherine Ryan Hyde calling it "capable of restoring our faith in each other." Can one lunch change two lives forever?
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Key takeaways
When a Simple "Hello" Changes Everything
That Monday in Manhattan started like any other. Laura Schroff, an advertising executive at USA Today, was rushing through the city streets when she heard a small voice asking for spare change. Like most New Yorkers, she kept walking-until something made her stop and turn around. There stood Maurice, an 11-year-old boy with untied shoelaces and hopeful eyes. Instead of giving him money, Laura offered him lunch at McDonald's. That simple meal became the first of hundreds of Monday meetings that would transform both their lives forever. What makes us turn around when we've already walked away? What invisible force connects two people from entirely different worlds? Maurice lived in the notorious welfare hotels of New York City, surrounded by drug addiction, violence, and neglect. Laura enjoyed a successful career, a comfortable apartment, and all the privileges of upper-middle-class life. Yet in that McDonald's, as Maurice devoured his Big Mac and fries, the first threads of an extraordinary connection began to form-one that would prove stronger than the vast social divide between them.
Two Worlds, One City Block Apart
The Comfort of Consistency
Expanding Horizons Beyond Concrete Jungles
When Hearts Open, Lives Transform
Through Life's Darkest Storms
The Legacy of One Turned Head
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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