"Strangers Drowning" delves into the lives of individuals who have made extraordinary ethical commitments. Larissa MacFarquhar provides a window into the lives of extreme altruists, their relentless drive to help others, and the moral complexities that arise from such dedication. It's a journey through personal narratives of adopting numerous children, founding a leprosy colony with inherent risks to one's family, and living with the least to give away the most. MacFarquhar intertwines these stories with cultural insights into literature, philosophy, and social science that critique and question the nature of goodwill. The book invites readers to confront the uneasy balance between helping strangers and caring for one's own, and throws light on the deep-seated discomfort many feel towards radical morality.