Author Description

Review Complete with exercises, quizzes, sound advice, and a practical yet supportive tone, Tashiro offers the closest thing to a roadmap for 'happily-ever-after.'-- "Publishers Weekly (starred review)"George Newbern's low-key narration is a big part of the audiobook's engaging appeal. His vocal humility and conversational phrasing create a comfortable space for learning, especially for people with shame or doubts about their social effectiveness...The author's friendly writing and the inviting narration will encourage them to adjust their skills to achieve more poise and confidence.-- "AudioFile"Professor and relationship expert Tashiro draws on decades of research into human intelligence, neuroscience, personality, and sociology to offer not so much self-help as insight into how gawky awkwardness can be turned to advantage.-- "Library Journal"Tashiro has become an evangelist for his kind...positing that there's an upside to all this nerding out...In many ways Awkward is a memoir...packed with vignettes from the author's childhood, even as it loops in scientific studies and Darwinian theory.-- "Washington Post" Product Description In the vein of Quiet and The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth comes this illuminating look at what it means to be awkward--and how the same traits that make us socially anxious and cause embarrassing faux pas also provide the seeds for extraordinary success.As humans, we all need to belong. While modern social life can make even the best of us feel gawky, for roughly one in five of us, navigating its challenges is consistently overwhelming--an ongoing maze without an exit. Often unable to grasp social cues or master the skills and grace necessary for smooth interaction, we feel out of sync with those around us. Though individuals may recognize their awkward disposition, they rarely understand why they are like this--which makes it hard for them to know how to adjust their behavior.Psychologist and interpersonal relationship ex