This week on the podcast two very different kinds of social interactions.

First up, is it possible for a child to be too friendly or loving?

Jennifer Latson will be here to talk about her new book, The Boy Who Loved Too Much.

It's similar to Down syndrome in that the average IQ is about in the 50s, but there's a whole

spectrum of abilities and disabilities in William's syndrome.

What's so great about being awkward?

Daniel Maddicker will join us to discuss two new books on the upside of social discomfort.

If you're socially awkward, you also have a kind of obstacle to get over, which is your own

awkwardness. Alexander Alter will give us an update from the literary world.

Plus, we'll talk about what we and the wider world are reading.

This is Inside the New York Times Book Review. I'm Pamela Paul.

Jennifer Latson joins us now. Her new book, Her First Book, is called The Boy Who Loved Too Much,

a true story of pathological friendliness. Jennifer, thanks so much for being here.

Thanks for having me.

All right, so explain what William's syndrome is.

William's syndrome is sometimes called the opposite of autism, and people who have it tend to be

completely socially uninhibited and really driven to connect with other people.

So they're extremely outgoing, extremely friendly. They have these warm, engaging personalities,

and they can't really turn it off. So they kind of love everyone, trust everyone, and run

up to strangers and hug them.

Thus, The Boy Who Loved Too Much. Are there any physical aspects to this syndrome?

There's actually a lot to this syndrome, and I focused on the social aspect,

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