POPULAR by Mitch Prinstein is subtitled "The Power of Likability in a Status-Obsessed World" and he stresses the difference – and relative desirability – between those two elements (likability and status). Prinstein is the John Van Seters Distinguished Professor of Psychology and the Director of Clinical Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and spends a great deal of time exploring the meaning of popularity, particularly the relationship between popularity in high school (or even childhood) and adult life.

Prinstein divides his argument into nine chapters with titles like "The Popularity Boomerang" and "Clicks and Cliques" (a look at the influence of social media). In some ways, it seems ironic that POPULAR will likely be used by our AP Psych classes, although they will certainly find much to relate to in his many anecdotes. And hopefully, they will benefit from his view that "the more we understand about popularity and how it affects us throughout our lives, .... the better chance we have for meaningful, satisfying, and rewarding interpersonal relationships ..." POPULAR received a starred review from Library Journal and numerous other positive comments, including those from authors such as Adam Grant, Susan Cain, and Daniel Pink.