dlberglund's review against another edition
4.0
A manifesto about the nerd/geek stereotype and, ultimately, why it is so harmful to our kids (and our society as a whole). Slightly disturbing.
rkendylb's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this book up for a dollar and wasn't really sure I would like it, but it was amazing! I loved the insight and research that was put into this. Not only is it really interesting, it reads like any other good book. It also made me question my beliefs, but I liked that and I learned a lot.
meredithmc's review against another edition
3.0
i expected a lot more from this book for some reason. the subtitle is "who they are and why we need more of them" but i felt there was a lack of reason why we need more nerds. it was also drier than i expected. an interesting read but not one i'd recommend to everyone.
crabbygirl's review against another edition
4.0
[guessing at the star rating / mining my old FB notes now that they are almost impossible to find]
I found a lot to like in this easy to read book.
In contrast to The Authenticity Hoax, the author has a premise and continually references it as he builds his evidence. his tone becomes a little too casual/hip towards the end (sort of emulating his disliked 'man of conversation') but i learned alot from this psychologist:
* the nerd/geek stereotype is a luxury that is related to how long a culture has been literate
* in 2004, the US graduated more sport-exercise majors than electrical engineers
* a study asked kids what superpowers they'd like and categories appeared: aggressive kids wanting to blow things up, socially isolated (read nerdy) kids wanted to be invisible or fly, and popular kids wanted powers that were more like adolescent projections of themselves: to be the best at cheerleading, to have the power of the coolest car.
* popular kids always have nicknames and it's a quick way to put someone else at ease. in fact this is how george bush got the press on side, he gave them all nicknames and made them feel a part of his inner circle
* with the trend of older boys and men participating in beauty culture (the yoke of women for ages) the same sexism toward smart is NOT sexy is now reaching the males of society
* America was founded on the premise of the rejection of Europe (seen as a 'man of thinking') for the new frontier and the 'man of action'. lately you could say America now values the 'man of conversation' because social skills seem to play such a dominant role in business, politics, entertainment
* every decade has it's mental illness du jour and aspergers seems to be this one's. but the label is applied widely and falsely when someone doesn't meet arbitrary social requirements. look at bill gates who's been labelled aspergy: married with children, wide circle of friends, hugely successful, but unable to look into someone's eyes for long enough... that alone gives him the aspergy label
* until 1973 homosexuality was seen as a mental illness for goodness sake. the decision of what is a disorder and what is normal changes as time goes on. labelling what threatens you as a mental illness is a passive aggressive act
* more than ever, we are a visual society. most college students will identify Freud as an old man with a cigar (because that is the photo in the book) and (get this!) will discount his theories based on his decrepit age. meanwhile, Freud was a young man when he was most productive
and now the main thrust of the book: children.
children are being exposed to this word 'nerd' and nerd bashing and it's happening earlier and earlier every year. it will have consequences
* children do see things are either/or, black or white. this is because categorical distinctions must be simple before they can more to the more complex. so the term nerd must be assigned a position - and it is a negative one
* children give value to everything: think of how a child has positive or negative feelings about each number. very little is considered neutral. the term 'nerd' cannot live in a gray area. and once a child decides being a nerd is bad, they will avoid all nerd-stereotyped behaviors
* children first perceive the 'nerd' insult as akin to being a baby - the biggest insult to budding autonomy. this is why being close to, or listening to your parents (and by extension - your teachers) is nerdy: a baby requires help and guidance from adults
* as the superman/clark kent comics will attest, glasses are nerdy. and those glasses are such a strong indicator, they alone keep his secret identity intact
* the deepest nerd anxiety occurs between the ages of 11 to 14
* middle school kids label math and science as nerdy subjects and let them slide only to discover that doors they closed in middle school stay closed once they hit high school and university. maturity allows older teens to accept people different from themselves, but by then it is too late to catch up on math skills
* nerds are simply less self conscious as individuals
* what about the anger? even adults participate in nerd-bashing (sometimes to make their own children feel better through comparison, sometimes to portray themselves as young and hip). where does this rage come from? the author proposed a brilliant theory: the self aware child/teen is forced to conform and then notices that guy didn't conform and gets to keep wearing track pants / playing with dolls / etc and it drives them batty. they lash out in frustration
I found a lot to like in this easy to read book.
In contrast to The Authenticity Hoax, the author has a premise and continually references it as he builds his evidence. his tone becomes a little too casual/hip towards the end (sort of emulating his disliked 'man of conversation') but i learned alot from this psychologist:
* the nerd/geek stereotype is a luxury that is related to how long a culture has been literate
* in 2004, the US graduated more sport-exercise majors than electrical engineers
* a study asked kids what superpowers they'd like and categories appeared: aggressive kids wanting to blow things up, socially isolated (read nerdy) kids wanted to be invisible or fly, and popular kids wanted powers that were more like adolescent projections of themselves: to be the best at cheerleading, to have the power of the coolest car.
* popular kids always have nicknames and it's a quick way to put someone else at ease. in fact this is how george bush got the press on side, he gave them all nicknames and made them feel a part of his inner circle
* with the trend of older boys and men participating in beauty culture (the yoke of women for ages) the same sexism toward smart is NOT sexy is now reaching the males of society
* America was founded on the premise of the rejection of Europe (seen as a 'man of thinking') for the new frontier and the 'man of action'. lately you could say America now values the 'man of conversation' because social skills seem to play such a dominant role in business, politics, entertainment
* every decade has it's mental illness du jour and aspergers seems to be this one's. but the label is applied widely and falsely when someone doesn't meet arbitrary social requirements. look at bill gates who's been labelled aspergy: married with children, wide circle of friends, hugely successful, but unable to look into someone's eyes for long enough... that alone gives him the aspergy label
* until 1973 homosexuality was seen as a mental illness for goodness sake. the decision of what is a disorder and what is normal changes as time goes on. labelling what threatens you as a mental illness is a passive aggressive act
* more than ever, we are a visual society. most college students will identify Freud as an old man with a cigar (because that is the photo in the book) and (get this!) will discount his theories based on his decrepit age. meanwhile, Freud was a young man when he was most productive
and now the main thrust of the book: children.
children are being exposed to this word 'nerd' and nerd bashing and it's happening earlier and earlier every year. it will have consequences
* children do see things are either/or, black or white. this is because categorical distinctions must be simple before they can more to the more complex. so the term nerd must be assigned a position - and it is a negative one
* children give value to everything: think of how a child has positive or negative feelings about each number. very little is considered neutral. the term 'nerd' cannot live in a gray area. and once a child decides being a nerd is bad, they will avoid all nerd-stereotyped behaviors
* children first perceive the 'nerd' insult as akin to being a baby - the biggest insult to budding autonomy. this is why being close to, or listening to your parents (and by extension - your teachers) is nerdy: a baby requires help and guidance from adults
* as the superman/clark kent comics will attest, glasses are nerdy. and those glasses are such a strong indicator, they alone keep his secret identity intact
* the deepest nerd anxiety occurs between the ages of 11 to 14
* middle school kids label math and science as nerdy subjects and let them slide only to discover that doors they closed in middle school stay closed once they hit high school and university. maturity allows older teens to accept people different from themselves, but by then it is too late to catch up on math skills
* nerds are simply less self conscious as individuals
* what about the anger? even adults participate in nerd-bashing (sometimes to make their own children feel better through comparison, sometimes to portray themselves as young and hip). where does this rage come from? the author proposed a brilliant theory: the self aware child/teen is forced to conform and then notices that guy didn't conform and gets to keep wearing track pants / playing with dolls / etc and it drives them batty. they lash out in frustration
meyersbs's review against another edition
5.0
If you're a psychologist or want to study psychology, you must absolutely read this book.
If you're a human being, you must absolutely read this book.
If you're a human being, you must absolutely read this book.
thewondering1's review against another edition
2.0
Was excited to read this but somehow it just let me down. There were some good paragraphs here and there but overall I just felt like the author didn't get it or was getting something wrong.
On another note if you're looking to read this or pick it up because you're a parent the conclusion chapter is all you really need to read.
On another note if you're looking to read this or pick it up because you're a parent the conclusion chapter is all you really need to read.
nutfreenerd's review
5.0
This was an awesome book!!! If more people read this book, the world would be a better place.
aprileclecticbookworm's review
3.0
A quick nonfiction look at the nerd/geek stereotype in today’s culture and how more than the worry of individuals being bullied it adversely affects our future due to fewer kids getting interested in science and technology. The book started engaging enough and funny but did hit a lull in the middle when like everything else it boiled down to sex and the author did get hung up a little with it and there were too many pop culture references to not feel dated very soon.
ktlove's review
4.0
Bought this at AAAS on a whim (curse the Penguin table and their discounted prices!) Although it had more child psychology /parenting tips than I actually need, it did offer some interesting insights into the anti-intellectualism trend throughout American culture and politics. Would love to know what this guy thinks of Sarah Palin's rising star...