This headline in the NY Times Modern Love column received 8 million hits on the author’s blog. The article describes 36 questions to ask a stranger. Each question gets more and more personal. Mandy Len Catron, who wrote the article had tried these questions with a man she hardly knew. The questions were devised by Dr. Arthur Aron and the reason it worked was the questions were straight forward and did not sound like a gimmick.

The first question is: 1. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?

2. The second question is: Would you like to be famous? In what way?

You can find all 36 questions on the NY Times website, updated February 13, 2015. Search for “No. 37: Big Wedding or Small”

We invite your comments to our own questions:

1. Do you believe it is possible to fall in love in this way?

2. Are you willing to try this in a safe place with someone you have just met?

3. What questions do you ask when you first meet someone?