"When I finally gave up any hope of doing anything representative of the American family, I actually seemed to have tapped into other people's weirdness in that way"

This quote by Jonathan Franzen talks to the idea of giving up on attempting to fit into a particular mold or expectation. He recommends that when he stopped trying to be representative of the American household, he had the ability to take advantage of the weirdness of other people. This could be translated as a metaphor for being real to oneself and welcoming one's own special qualities. Franzen is suggesting that when we stop attempting to suit a particular box, we can be more open up to the weirdness of others and our own. This might be viewed as a call to be more accepting of ourselves and others, and to welcome the differences that make us unique. By doing so, we can develop a more varied and accepting society.