Women Don't Ask is a fascinating new book by economist Linda Babcock and writer (and Somerville resident) Sara Laschever, on women's lack of negotiating skills. It's packed with irritating statistics, such as the fact that women (who still earn only 73% of what their male peers earn) who don't negotiate their starting salary (as most women don't) can wind up losing $500,000 over their career as a result. They explore the cultural reasons for this gender-based timidity also, with lots of anecdotal evidence -- one consultant notes, "Nice girls don't talk about money. Only prostitutes ask for money." I am intrigued by all this, and lucky for me there is a reading at McIntyre & Moore Books in Davis Square later this month! Who's with me?