Humans have been greeting each other for thousands of years, but this seemingly simple act is fraught with awkward misunderstandings, intercultural fumblings, and social gaffes that can potentially fracture relationships forever. Why is that? Here Andy Scott takes a closer look at what greetings are all about, uncovering a diverse world of etiquette and body language shaped by evolution, neuroscience, and history. With the help of experts ranging from primatologist Jane Goodall to sociologist Erving Goffman, Scott takes a captivating journey through what it means to be human in the modern, cross-cultural age.

"Andy Scott has written an utterly charming and fascinating book. I will never be able to look at a handshake or a hug the same way again."—Joshua Foer