New Article: Q&A with Max Gross, "From Schlub to Stud: How to Embrace Your Inner Mensch and Conquer the Big City"

For Metromix.com.

Here's a tease:

Max Gross' new book, From Schlub to Stud: How to Embrace Your Inner Mensch and Conquer the Big City, is a geek-genre memoir, the tale a New York City kid growing up heavy-set, Dartmouth-educated and klutzy, who then enters the real world only to find not all of those traits set him up for lifelong success. While his bushy Jewfro may be out of Gross' control (his mother begs him to use more product), this is the story of someone learning that schlubbiness is something to be celebrated, that geeks can—and do—get the girl. Inspired by America's most famous schlub (Seth Rogen), Gross' riotous recollection covers horrible breakups, bedbugs, a hellacious IRS audit, fearsome poker playing, a pair of nagging but loving parents, and how even a slob, over time, can transform himself into a total stud.

On the cover there's a very pretty blonde with her arms around you. Is that your girlfriend?
Actually, she's the granddaughter of a friend of my dad's. It was very funny because I was dating somebody when I was writing the book, and up until a month or two ago, who was very upset with the idea that she wasn't appearing on the cover with me. She isn't blonde, though, and we really wanted a girl who was blonde, who sort of looks shiksa. Whereas the girl I dated, while a genuine shiksa, doesn't look like one.

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