Vocabulary words taken from “The Social Animal” by David Brooks

• Idiosyncrasy – a structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual or a group. A psychological or temperamental peculiarity.
• Pleistocene - of, belonging to, or designating the geologic time, rock series, and sedimentary deposits of the earlier of the two epochs of the Quaternary Period, characterized by the alternate appearance and recession of northern glaciations and the appearance of the progenitors of human beings.
• Traipse – to walk or tramp about
• Rapt - Deeply engrossed or absorbed. 
• Ensconced - To settle securely or snugly; to cover or shelter
• Suffused - To overspread with or as with a liquid, color etc.
• Pantomime - The art or technique of conveying emotions, actions, feelings etc. by gestures without speech; action without words as a means of expression
• Paracosm - a detailed imaginary world involving humans and/or animals, or perhaps, even fantasy or alien creatures. Often having its own geography, history, and language, it is an experience that is developed during childhood and continues over a long period: months or even years.
• Arduous - demanding great effort or labor; difficult
• Incontrovertible - impossible to dispute; unquestionable
• Overwrought - excessively nervous or excited; agitated
• Enamored - inspired with love; captivated
• Kvell - to be extraordinarily proud
• Dilettante - a dabbler in an art or field of knowledge. A lover of fine arts; a connoisseur
• Impasse - a road or passage having no exit. A situation that is so difficult no progress can be made
• Cadence - balanced, rhythmic flow
• Deleterious - having a harmful effect; injurious
• Jeremiad - a literary work or speech expressing a bitter lament or a righteous prophecy of doom
• Diction - choice and use of words in speech or writing