NEW! Socially Curious and Curiously Social: A Social Thinking Guidebook for Teens & Young Adults with Asperger’s, ADHD, PDD-NOS, NVLD, or other Murky Undiagnosed Social Learning Issues

This anime-illustrated guidebook is for teens and young adults to read themselves to learn how the social mind is expected to work for us to effectively relate to others at school, at work, in the community and even at home. Since there is relatively little information on how to talk about social information, this book redefines what it means to “be social” and it is likely not what you were thinking!

The book is written in the language of teens as a “get real” discussion about what really goes on inside the minds of people as we share space together. There are many practical strategies to help the reader figure out what impression they are making on others, how this affects their own emotions and what they could work on to make living in the increasingly complex social world more personally rewarding. Who doesn’t think they could improve in these skills?

From discussing the “ins and outs” of what it means to be a “Social Thinker” and use related social skills, to figuring out texting, dating, the many different levels of friendship and the many and varied emotions we experience as we relate to others, the authors describe the real world of being with other people. This includes knowing how to sometimes just "fake it” better! The authors are not trying to get every reader to find a group to hang out with; instead, they are providing information to help each person find his or her place and be appreciated by others at whatever level he or she feels comfortable with.

Parents, teachers, counselors, other caregivers and even siblings may also find this book compelling, as it provides some “ah ha” moments that encourage a deeper discussion with these older kids about the social world. While we all work on improving our communication skills, few of us know how to talk about the social mind and how to cope in our very social world of the classroom, hanging out, holding a job, chatting on the Internet, texting and whatever the future holds.

Page count: 195
Publisher: Think Social Publishing, Inc., San Jose, CA,
ISBN:  978-0-9792922-8-6
LOC: 2009927416
Copyright 2009

“BEWARE! Michelle Garcia Winner and Pamela Crooke have assembled a detailed guidebook to help teens and young adults with social thinking as they sail the stormy seas of dating, texting, lies, and everyday relationships. Parents, educators and therapists will benefit by this guidebook as well and consider it a valuable resource to help young adults navigate social interactions.”
– Glenn Saltz, MD
Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist

“Add another great teaching tool to the `Social Thinking’ collection!!.... This book can serve as our scope and sequence for our high school class. Michelle and Pam’s new book, Socially Curious and Curiously Social, can seriously function as our class text. This is an easy, humorous, positive, teenager friendly, and a promising read for our socially challenged students, their parents and educators… Loved the terms: social algebra, uncomfortable or weird thoughts, social curiosity, flirting, maturity, group dynamics, superficial social test, singular imagination and avoid the blurt….Once again, the examples and stories are genuine, offer the WHY, WHAT and HOW of `Social Thinking’ and help us all learn a little bit more about the world of `being social.’”
– Jan Petru, Speech-Language Pathologist
– Vanessa Granato-Wagner, Speech-Language Pathologist
– David Myford, Social Worker for SWCCCASE
Southwest Cook County Cooperative Association for Special Education

“I believe this book will be a valuable resource for high functioning young people on the spectrum or with Asperger's Syndrome.  It is packed with practical strategies that are presented in a style that is easy to understand for our students and young adults who think in a concrete way.”
– Shellie Bader, Coordinator
Speech and Language Program
Los Angeles Unified School District

Other Books for Teens and Young Adults to Consider:

Social Boundaries: Straight Up! An honest guide for teens and young adults by Kari Dunn Buron

Sequences: 6 & 8-Step for Adults

The Social Success Workbook for Teens

Peek Inside the Book!

Click the image below to enlarge.