Approval Junkie

From comedian and journalist Faith Salie, of NPR's Wait WaitDon't Tell Me! and CBS News Sunday Morning, a collection of daring, funny essays chronicling the author's adventures during her lifelong quest for approval Faith Salie has done it all in the name of validation. Whether she's trying to impress her parents with a perfect GPA, undergoing an exorcismto save her toxic marriage, or baking a 3D excavator cake for her son's birthday, Salie is the ultimate approval seekeran ';approvaljunkie,' if you will. In this collection of daring, honest essays, Salie shares stories from her lifelong quest for gold stars, recounting her strategy for winning (very Southern) high school beauty pageant; her struggle to pick the perfect outfit to wear to her divorce; and her difficulty falling in love again, and then conceiving, in the years following her mother's death. With thoughtful irreverence, Salie reflects on why she tries so hard to please others, and herself, highlighting a phenomenon that many peopleespecially womenexperience at home and in the workplace. Equal parts laugh-out loud funny and poignant,Approval Junkieis one woman's journey to realizing that seeking approval from others is more than just getting them to like youit's challenging yourself to achieve, and survive, more than you ever thought you could.