How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi: Collected Quirks of Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math from Nerd Nite

In the vein of popular-science bestsellers such as Atlas Obscura and What If?, the co-founders of the global science organization Nerd Nite bring readers a collection of fascinating STEM topics.

For 20 years, Nerd Nite has delivered to live audiences the most interesting, fun, and informative presentations about science, history, the arts, pop culture, you name it. There hasn’t been a rabbit hole that their army of presenters hasn’t been afraid to explore. Finally, after countless requests to bring Nerd Nite to more fans across the globe, co-founders and college pals Matt Wasowski and Chris Balakrishnan are bringing readers the quirky and accessible science content that they crave in bookform, focused on STEM and paired with detailed illustrations that make the content pop. The resulting range of topics is quirky and vast, from kinky, spring-loaded spiders to the Webb telescope’s influence on movie special effects.

Hilariously named after Dale Carnegie’s iconic book, How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi features narratives, bursts, and infographics on all things STEM from scientists around the world. Chapters are sure to make you laugh-out-loud, with titles such as “The Importance of Talking Sh*t: How Microbes From Your Poop Can Save Lives” and “Be Annoying When it's GOOD to be irritating!”.

With fascinating details, facts, and illustrations, combined with Chris and Matt’s incredible connections to organizations such as the Discovery Network, How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi is sure to reach joyful STEM enthusiasts of all ages around the world.

About the Author

CHRIS BALAKRISHNAN founded Nerd Nite when he was a graduate student in at Boston University. Chris now works as a Program Director at the National Science Foundation, a professor at East Carolina University, and a research associate at the National Museum of Natural History.

MATT WASOWSKI has been the head of Nerd Nite since 2006 and organizes conferences for SAE International. He holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and an MFA in Non-Fiction Creative Writing from The New School.