Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World

by Olga Khazan

Overview

Learn why the concept of "weird" is being reclaimed and turned into a badge of honor, used to show how being different—culturally, socially, physically, or mentally—can be a person's greatest strength.

Most of us have at some point in our lives felt like an outsider, sometimes considering ourselves "too weird" to fit in. Growing up as a Russian immigrant in West Texas, Olga Khazan always felt there was something different about her. This feeling has permeated her life, and as she embarked on a science writing career, she realized there were psychological connections between this feeling of being an outsider and both her struggles and successes later in life. She decided to reach out to other people who were unique in their environments to see if they had experienced similar feelings of alienation, and if so, to learn how they overcame them. Weird is based on in-person interviews with many of these individuals, such as a woman who is professionally surrounded by men, a liberal in a conservative area, and a Muslim in a predominantly Christian town. In addition, it provides actionable insights based on interviews with dozens of experts and a review of hundreds of scientific studies.

Weird explores why it is that we crave conformity, how that affects people who are different, and what they can do about it. First, the book dives into the history of social norms and why some people hew to them more strictly than others. Next, Khazan explores the causes behind-and the consequences of-social rejection. She then reveals the hidden upsides to being "weird," as well as the strategies that people who are different might use in order to achieve success in a society that values normalcy. Finally, the book follows the trajectories of unique individuals who either decided to be among others just like them; to stay weird; or to dwell somewhere in between.

Combining Khazan's own story with those of others and with fascinating takeaways from cutting-edge psychology research, Weird reveals how successful individuals learned to embrace their weirdness, using it to their advantage.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316418485
Publisher:	Hachette Books
Publication date:	04/07/2020
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 2.20(d)

About the Author

Olga Khazan is an award-winning writer for the Atlantic, covering health, gender, and science. Prior to that, she was the Atlantic'sGlobal Editor. She has also written for the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Forbes, and other publications. She is a two-time recipient of the International Reporting Project's Journalism Fellowship, winner of the 2017 National Headliner Awards for Magazine Online Writing, and host of the Atlantic's online video series, You Are Here: The Incredible Science Behind Everyday Life.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Being Weird

Chapter 1 Weird 3

Chapter 2 The Realization 23

Chapter 3 The Exclusion 68

Chapter 4 The Sting 101

Part 2 The Weird Advantage

Chapter 5 Creativity 127

Chapter 6 Truth 143

Part 3 How to be Different

Chapter 7 Getting Support 167

Chapter 8 Comfort with Discomfort 176

Chapter 9 Better Than the Rest 185

Chapter 10 The Big Picture 191

Chapter 11 Change Yourself 216

Part 4 To Stay Different, or to Find Your Own Kind?

Chapter 12 Staying 233

Chapter 13 Leaving 242

Chapter 14 In Between 250

Acknowledgments 263

Notes 265

Index 293

Editorial Reviews

03/16/2020

Journalist Khazan debuts with a series of sharp, empathetic portraits of individuals who identify as weird and who faced obstacles yet found success. Khazan casts a wide net on who is considered weird, including those who go against expectations, those who are transgender or live outside of gender norms, and those with physical differences not considered “normal,” such as dwarfism. Khazan taps into weirdness through stories of her upbringing as a Russian-Jewish immigrant in Bible Belt Texas and via interviews with people who are comfortable being different from their peers, writing with an eye toward sharing what her subjects can teach others, namely: “Being different from other people around you confers hidden advantages that can help you in life and work”—such as providing novel perspectives and allowing outside-the-box innovation. She profiles race car driver Julia Landauer (whose outsider status as a woman proves both a hindrance and help) over the course of a season , sociology professor Beverly Stiles (“the liberal one” at a conservative university), and formerly Amish Emma Gingerich to exhibit how being an outsider can contribute to success. In a particularly memorable case, Khazan profiles Michele Roberts, a black woman who, in law school, was motivated by the prejudice of her professors to study harder than her peers to become a top litigator. These stories of people who revel in their weirdness provide a winning demonstration of the value of difference. Agent: Howard Yoon, The Ross Yoon Agency. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"Olga Khazan takes any topic she writes about and infuses it with so much humor and personality that you immediately want to read about it. With Weird, she weaves together fascinating profiles and research with her own experience to reveal the secret strength of being different."—Susan Cain, author of Quiet

"An insightful ode to oddballs... [Olga Khazan's is] a voice unlike any I can remember encountering on the page. By turns insouciantly candid, calmly authoritative, and poignantly insightful, Khazan's persona has a startling freshness."—The Washington Post

"[A]nimating, specific, rich, and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny.... For readers who love a well written, thoroughly researched social science book, Weird hits the spot. And for those who grew up like Khazan or see themselves in her story, it may be a balm for the soul."—Washington City Paper

"In this insightful and entertaining book, Olga Khazan masterfully illuminates how being different from the crowd is a strength. Through real-life stories and cutting-edge research, this book will help you thrive because of whatever it is that makes you weird."—Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better

"Weird will make anyone who feels like a fish out of water in their typical environment feel a little less anxious about the world around them."—Bustle

"Hilarious."
—Molly Ball, New York Times bestselling author of Pelosi

"Almost everyone who walks into my therapy office thinks they're somehow different-or, yes, weird. But in her funny, personal, and always surprising book, Olga Khazan turns that feeling into a hidden strength. Chock full of fascinating research and real-life stories, Weird is both comforting and addicting, and a celebration of the power of our own uniqueness."—Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

"If you've ever felt like an outsider or an oddball, Olga Khazan has some good news for you. The very factors that prevent you from fitting in can eventually help you stand out. She's one of my favorite writers on the mysteries of human psychology, and her book gives an enthralling voice-and some enlightening science-to the universal experience of being a little unusual."—Adam Grant, author of Originals and Give and Take, and host of the TED podcast WorkLife

"I feel seen. And I'm confident I'm not the only one who will recognize myself in these pages. Olga Khazan is a witty, engaging writer, and Weird is a compelling journey into the world of 'different' — and a field guide to weaponizing your inner weirdo for the good."—Maria Konnikova, author of Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes and The Confidence Game

"Inspiring...In engaging and fast-paced prose, Khazan seamlessly interweaves stories of her own upbringing with interviews of a cast of quirky, colorful and inspiring 'outsiders.' Weird is blunt, both intentionally and unintentionally funny and alternately heartbreaking and uplifting."
—Jewish Insider

"This book isn't just a lighthearted, anecdotal tale of how it's OK to be an outsider. Instead, Khazan outlines the fascinating, often heartbreaking reality of how difficult it can be for people who don't fit in...she celebrates these benefits without glazing over the hardships of being an outsider....The people Khazan interviews are fascinating, and she does a magnificent job of bringing their stories to light with both gentleness and honesty while reminding the reader that no one is ever alone in feeling weird."—Bookpage (starred review)

"A series of sharp, empathetic portraits....A winning demonstration of the value of difference."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

Could being different from everyone else in a community make one’s life more fulfilling? Renata Friedman brings a bright, steady voice to her narration of a new audiobook on weirdness, the effects of social rejection, the importance of differences, and advice on how to thrive when one is blessed with being weird. Friedman delivers the author’s tongue-in-cheek descriptions of growing up an off-kilter Russian-Jewish immigrant in Midland, Texas. In telling the stories of others, Friedman affects a respectful and interested tone. The topic of this audiobook is well worth a listen, and Friedman’s delivery makes it even better. V.B. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

SEPTEMBER 2020 - AudioFile

Could being different from everyone else in a community make one’s life more fulfilling? Renata Friedman brings a bright, steady voice to her narration of a new audiobook on weirdness, the effects of social rejection, the importance of differences, and advice on how to thrive when one is blessed with being weird. Friedman delivers the author’s tongue-in-cheek descriptions of growing up an off-kilter Russian-Jewish immigrant in Midland, Texas. In telling the stories of others, Friedman affects a respectful and interested tone. The topic of this audiobook is well worth a listen, and Friedman’s delivery makes it even better. V.B. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

SEPTEMBER 2020 - AudioFile