Yet, in spite of the huge need for teens to be popular and fit in, there is no book specifically devoted to teen popularity. We decided to do the research and create the tips to fill that need.
Jonathan and David Bennett – 23 March 2014
The Back Flap
Any teen can become popular! When you’re popular, life is exciting. Popular people are surrounded by close friends, fans, and secret admirers. They have the skills to form meaningful romantic relationships and rarely get bullied, because they have the confidence to stand up for themselves and others. Wouldn’t it feel great to give a class presentation without anxiety? To have the confidence and right words to ask that special someone to the dance? Or to be able to read your crush’s body language to know what he or she really thinks about you? How would your life change if you replaced your feelings of loneliness, awkwardness, and frustration with happiness and self-confidence?
But…Can you be popular? Yes! Popular teens think and act in ways that make them loved and admired. This book reveals these scientifically-backed “popularity secrets” and makes learning and applying them in your life fun and easy. Don’t worry, The Teen Popularity Handbook isn’t going to turn you into a bully or “mean girl,” but a confident, fun, and well-liked teen everyone wants to get to know. Also, since studies show that popular high-schoolers earn more money later in life than unpopular teens, the benefits of being popular never end. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to start your exciting transformation into a popular teen right now!
About the book
What is the book about?
The Teen Popularity Handbook is a guide for teens to achieve what many of them so desperately want: popularity. We give scientifically backed advice (from psychology, brain science, etc.) on how to be more attractive socially. This includes making friends, winning fans, and dating. Anti-bullying is another theme that runs throughout the entire book.
When did you start writing the book?
We started writing it in late 2011. However, it was sidetracked at times due to other projects.
How long did it take you to write it?
The initial draft took about three months and then we spent a couple of years updating and tweaking it until we had the time to give it the release it deserved.
Where did you get the idea from?
We both have extensive teaching experience and observed the social dynamics among teens. Plus, having been teens ourselves, we lived that social dynamic. Yet, in spite of the huge need for teens to be popular and fit in, there is no book specifically devoted to teen popularity. We decided to do the research and create the tips to fill that need.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Being 30-somethings, the biggest struggle is connecting to the modern teen experience. Our teaching experience helped a lot in this regard. It allowed us to both understand the interests and perspectives of today’s teens.
What came easily?
The research side was probably the easiest. We looked at areas such as psychology, neuroscience, and biology for basic attraction principles. We also examined successful people. Those two sources formed the basis for the book.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
It’s non-fiction, but we do tell a lot of stories. Most of them are from our real experiences or people we’ve met with names and details changed. We tell a lot of stories to help illustrate our principles.
Do you have a target reader for this book?
Teens who want to be popular are the primary target. But, our book is also a resource for parents who have bullied or socially awkward kids.
How was writing this book different from what you’d experienced writing previous books?
Writing for teens is definitely a different process than writing for an adult audience. In many regards, it’s far tougher. It’s important to avoid trying too hard to be cool or the opposite extreme, being condescending and inaccessible. I think our experience with teens has helped us achieve the necessary balance.
What new things did you learn about writing, publishing, and/or yourself while writing and preparing this book for publication?
We’ve learned to let go and not try to do everything ourselves. It’s worth it to let the talented people around us do their job. For example, we’ve come to trust fully in our graphic designer and other helpers. We learned to step back and not do it all ourselves.
End of Interview:
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Get your copy of The Teen Popularity Handbook from Amazon US (paper or ebook) or Amazon UK (paper or ebook).
