Prinstein (psychology & director of clinical psychology, Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) aims to understand popularity; to reconsider our society's obsession with status; and to show how our desire for social approval can influence our choices. Many of us seem to never escape our high school perception of ourselves as popular or unpopular. To understand why, the author goes back to our prehistoric ancestors. He examines how the ventral striatum in our brains begins to change during puberty and is activated by social rewards stimulated by the neurochemicals oxytocin and dopamine. Prinstein's research reveals two different types of popularity: status and likability. Likeable people actually are better at their jobs, happier, and more fulfilled; however, the modern world tends to focus on status, as shown by the emphasis on how many "likes" you can get on Facebook. Prinstein concludes by talking about the role of parents in trying to help their children become popular. As does Martin E.P. Seligman in Authentic Happiness, the author differentiates between what we think will make us happy and what actually does. VERDICT This highly readable study, which successfully blends science and anecdotes, is strongly recommended for public libraries.-Elizabeth Safford, Boxford Town Lib., MA © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.