Westport Together Hosts Parenting Discussion With Award-Winning Author

WESTPORT, CT — Award-winning author and journalist Melinda Wenner Moyer will discuss her new book, Hello, Cruel World! Science-based Strategies for Raising Terrific Kids in Terrifying Times, during a community event presented by Westport Together on Oct. 20.

The event, a Westport Youth Services initiative, will be held at 7 p.m. at the Westport Center for Senior Activities (21 Imperial Avenue).

Moyer's book provides parents and caregivers with research-backed strategies to raise resilient, compassionate, and thoughtful children in today’s complex world.

From the announcement:

Described by Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again, as “a much-needed manual for building character in kids,” Moyer’s work has earned praise for its evidence-based, practical advice for nurturing resilience, kindness, and critical thinking.

Elise Loehnen, New York Times bestselling author of On Our Best Behavior, calls the book “an essential guide… full of techniques to apply not only to our parenting, but to ourselves.”

Greater Good magazine adds, “I love her clear, nuanced, calming, and socially and politically aware advice.”

“Parenting is the foundation of healthy families and thriving communities,” said Westport Human Services Director Elaine Daignault. “In a world that often feels overwhelming, it’s vital that we come together as a community to support parents with tools, resources, and encouragement.”

Kevin Godburn, Program Director of Youth Services, who coordinated the event on behalf of Westport Together, emphasized the importance of investing in parents: “We know that kids do best when parents feel confident and supported. This program is about giving parents practical strategies and a sense of solidarity, so they don’t feel alone navigating the challenges of raising kids today.”

The event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged: https://bit.ly/2025conversationwestport

About Westport Together – www.westporttogether.org

Westport Together strengthens the health and well-being of youth and families through collaboration among community partners, schools, and civic organizations.

About Melinda Wenner Moyer:

Melinda Wenner Moyer is an award-winning journalist whose work explores the intersection of science and everyday life. She’s known for her deep dives into subjects that have both scientific and societal implications, addressing issues that are relevant to parents, families, and the general public. Her writing often challenges popular beliefs and provides readers with a clearer, more informed understanding of issues in child development, parenting, and the social sciences.

In addition to her science reporting, Moyer is known for her thoughtful, balanced approach to writing, carefully considering both the scientific evidence and the broader context in which it applies. Her work often includes a strong emphasis on critical thinking and the importance of understanding the nuances of scientific research.

Moyer is contributing editor at Scientific American magazine and a regular contributor — and former columnist — at The New York Times. Her first book, How To Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes, was published in July 2021 and won a gold medal in the 2022 Living Now Book Awards. Her second book, Hello Cruel World!: Science-Based Strategies for Raising Terrific Kids in Terrifying Times, was published on May 27, 2025. She was the featured author at The Child Mind Institute’s annual 2025 Spring Luncheon, following in the footsteps of recent guests Dr. Becky Kennedy and Emily Oster.

Melinda was the recipient of the 2022 Excellence in Science Journalism award from The Society for Personality and Social Psychology, the 2019 Bricker Award for Science Writing in Medicine, and her work was featured in the 2020 Best American Science and Nature Writing anthology. She was also awarded a 2018 Alicia Patterson Foundation fellowship. Moyer’s work has won first place prizes in the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism, the Folio Eddie Awards and the Annual Writing Awards of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. It has also been shortlisted for a James Beard Journalism Award, a National Academy of Sciences Communication Award and a National Magazine Award.

Melinda has been a faculty member in the Science, Health & Environmental Reporting program at NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute and The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.