Nerds: Who They Are and Why We Need More of Them

By Calvin J Roetzel and Cameron Evan Ferguson

"Anderegg's clear-eyed look at a damaging cultural truism does nerds and jocks-all Americans, really-a service." (The Washington Post). Thick glasses, socially awkward, a math whiz with a pocket protector- everyone knows what a nerd is. But where did this stereotype come from? Children aren't born knowing what a "nerd" or "geek" is, so why do they know by the age of five or six that they don't want to be one? In this revised and updated paperback edition of his thought-provoking book, family psychotherapist and psychology professor David Anderegg reveals how the systematic disparagement of "nerds" in our culture is bad for our children and even worse for America. In Nerds, Anderegg examines why science and engineering have become socially poisonous disciplines, why adults wink at the derision of "nerdy" kids, and what the cost of this rising tide of anti- intellectualism is to both our children and our nation. Drawing upon education research, psychological theory, and his own interviews with nerdy and non-nerdy kids alike, Anderegg argues that in order to prepare rising generations to compete in the global marketplace, we need to revisit how we think about "nerds." This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1585425907
• ISBN13: 9781585425907
• Release Date: December 2007
• Publisher: Tarcher
• Length: 274 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

A funny and witty commentary on modern day america

David Anderegg has written a wonderful commentary on modern day America and the pitfalls of stereotyping. Mainly based around the word "nerd", he explores every aspect of the word, from it's etymology through it's psychological perks. I can't imagine a more enjoyable study on the developemental psychological look at nerds.

Fresh, Compassionate, and Illuminating

Scientific writing, when done well, is a creative art as well as a compilation of meticulous research. Here, Dr Anderegg does well to put forth 'The World of The Outcast' for the society which created it. Modern day America classifies, insults, and even neglects the people unlucky enough to earn the title 'nerd', and with a beautiful mix of child psychology and adult sociology, Anderegg keeps the reader engaged. This is science,...

This is not Revenge of the Nerds.

Nerds is a thoughtful and insightful look into the reasons for an accepted discrimination present in American society. It approaches its topic with humor and an expert's eye. Any parent or teacher (I have taught sophomores for 14 years now) should definitely read this book. I found it enlightening and revealing. You will never look at Ichabod Crane the same again... Highly recommended.

Worth the time to read

The book offers a thorough look at a curiously ignored problem: why the nerd stereotype persists, and the damage it is causing. The author does a good job exploring such topics as what defines a nerd (though his parsing of differences between nerd and geek is a bit tedious and superfluous), how this label originated, how it impacts us as a society, and what to do about it. He does try to utilize what little research evidence...

The uniquely American prejudice

Prejudice is a nasty word - no educated person would tolerate bias based on race, religion, sexual orientation, or dozens of other individual differentiations. It's still OK to make fun of nerds, though. (Q: Do you know how to tell when a nerd likes you? A: He looks at your feet when he talks to you.) Anderegg digs into that prejudice with this book. He finds that its roots run surprisingly deep in American culture, and that...