An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff & Alex Tresniowski Summary
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?
About the author
Laura Schroff, *New York Times* bestselling co-author of *An Invisible Thread: The True Story of an 11-Year-Old Panhandler, a Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny*, is a former advertising executive with decades of experience at major media companies like Time Inc. and Condé Nast. Her memoir, blending themes of compassion, resilience, and serendipity, draws from her transformative friendship with Maurice, a homeless boy she met in 1980s New York, and her own upbringing marked by familial turbulence. Schroff’s work has been featured in *Good Housekeeping*, and she frequently discusses kindness and human connection on platforms like the *Frankie Boyer Lifestyle Show* and *Joy on Paper*. Alex Tresniowski, an acclaimed journalist and collaborator, co-wrote this inspirational non-fiction work alongside Schroff, bringing narrative depth from his background at *People* and as author of books like *The Vendetta*. Together, they expanded the story into a young readers’ edition, a Parents’ Choice Recommended Award winner. *An Invisible Thread* debuted as a *New York Times* bestseller and has inspired global audiences, with its young readers’ version adopted as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, reinforcing its enduring message of hope.
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"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."
12117"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."
12108"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
25417"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."
964.5K"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. 🙌"
20116"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."
37483"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."
12117"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."
12108"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
25417"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."
964.5K"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. 🙌"
20116"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."
37483"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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