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.
"""How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi feels like the science book we never knew we wrote! It's fun, accessible, and packed full of the kinds of factoids and knowledge that we love to share on our own podcast. Message to all the schools everywhere - get this on your shelves immediately!"" -- Charles W. ""Chuck"" Bryant and Josh Clark, Stuff You Should Know podcast ""A sheer delight. Will I now have recurring nightmares of spiny maggots gently prying dead skin from my feet? Maybe. But my waking self now knows this is a GOOD thing. Bravo Avir and company! And bravo maggots!"" -- Jad Abumrad, Founder and Fromer Co-Host, NPR's RadioLab ""As I can testify from personal experience, Nerd Nite is one of the greatest achievements of the human species."" -- Michael Caruso, CEO and Publisher, The New Republic ""An enjoyable romp through the back alleys of scientific research, proving that knowledge and fun can easily go together."" -- Kirkus ""Delightful and eminently readable. This book about the Nerd Nite empire will be an excellent addition to science collections."" -- Library Journal (starred review) ""What a gift to have all of Nerd Nite's greatest hits collected in one place! How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi is the most fun I've had with a popular science book in a long time. There's a 100% chance that this book will blow your mind and make you laugh, but there's also the distinct possibility that you'll learn something life-changing -- or at least how to get rid of that hangover."" -- Erin Barker, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Story Collider ""The broad range of topics ensures most readers will find something of interest, and the brisk pace will keep them glued to their seats. Playful yet enlightening, this entertains."" -- Publisher's Weekly"