Most people know a nerd when they see one but can't define just what a nerd is. "American Nerd: The Story of My People" gives us the history of the...
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Aug 05, 2008
Trin
rated it: 
This book should really be titled Male American Nerd. Female nerds (or geeks or dorks or what have you—but let’s stick with Nugent’s terminology) are glossed over when they’re mentioned at all. Aside from a little bit about Saturday Night Live’s Lisa Loopner and four paragraphs—count ’em, four!—about yaoi, nerdy women are only really referenced in the context of “there were a couple of women there, but it was mostly all men.” The far more present female figures are some of Nugent’s childhood fri
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Aug 25, 2008
Gus
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There's a paragraph or two that best summarizes the empathy Benjamin Nugent feels for his fellow nerdy brethren:
Jack Jenkins and Zack Malitz found in their debate community a way to rebel against what they considered an overly regimented high-school existence. Their nerdy activity was a way out of a cage of false certainties.
Then there are other nerds for whom order is not a cage but a bright, clean Radisson in the snake-infested wilderness that is their daily life. For t More...
Jack Jenkins and Zack Malitz found in their debate community a way to rebel against what they considered an overly regimented high-school existence. Their nerdy activity was a way out of a cage of false certainties.
Then there are other nerds for whom order is not a cage but a bright, clean Radisson in the snake-infested wilderness that is their daily life. For t More...
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May 16, 2008
Andy
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Saw it at the store and immediately knew I had to buy and read it - the topic has always fascinated me and seems an important one, and the tone - "pretty much serious, but" - seemed exactly right.
Nugent's natural mode is somewhere in between magazine color writing and sheer bloggy speculation, all of which I find entirely sympathetic, but it prevents him from really driving home any of his conclusions. He's generally content just to suggest connections and offer ideas that More...
Nugent's natural mode is somewhere in between magazine color writing and sheer bloggy speculation, all of which I find entirely sympathetic, but it prevents him from really driving home any of his conclusions. He's generally content just to suggest connections and offer ideas that More...
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Aug 19, 2008
Jamie
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In American Nerd: The Story of My People author Benjamin Nugent starts off with a great premise. He aims to trace the origin of the nerd stereotype, see how it developed, examine how it's depicted in popular culture, and see how it's entangled with our thinking about masculinity, technology, intelligence, and outsiders. It is a great premise, one in which I no doubt have somewhat of a vested interest. But unfortunately after some early successes Nugent seems to run out of material and just start
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Jul 12, 2008
Anna
rated it:
I really tried to love this book. The name was so clever, and the premise so intriguing, that I was so excited to jump right in. It took me more than a month, however, to get through it, and I still don't feel like the chapters were ever tied into a whole unifying thought. This will be labeled as one of those books that COULD'VE have been so good.
There were a few good points. Given my involvement in Cub Scouts right now, I enjoyed reading about how the Boy Scout program is focus More...
There were a few good points. Given my involvement in Cub Scouts right now, I enjoyed reading about how the Boy Scout program is focus More...
May 26, 2008
Beth
rated it: 
An enjoyable and insightful look at nerd culture. A lot of ideas get dropped before they're fully explored, though, and I wish it had been just a bit more scholarly and a bit less anecdotal. Reading this was sort of like reading a very long Slate article -- you feel like you're listening to a friend explore a topic and reach a pretty good but not entirely satisfying conclusion. You want to tell him, "Yeah, great job," at the end, anyway.
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Jan 19, 2009
James
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Oh, this is very good. He takes on the sociology of geekdom with a mixed biographical and academic take. He's extremely critical, and makes me want to argue back regularly, but the critique is not nasty, and is clearly made from a fairly respectful and sympathetic stance. Somehow he doesn't pull any punches -- hitting the relationship of geekdom to race, to gender, to hipsterism, to autism -- all the touchy ones. The structure is a little wack, but for the most part it's a loose set of academic
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Aug 21, 2008
Elizabeth
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I wish this book was around when I was in high school. I realize looking back that I shied away from fully embracing my nerdiness the way most of my friends did either because there was no other choice or it never even occurred to them to be otherwise. Sure I flaunted my individualism by quoting the likes of Emerson - "whoso would be a man (or woman in my case) must be a non-conformist" or "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds." I confess: I was a dilettante
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Jul 20, 2008
Jason
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Before I get into the review, I just want to acknowledge my own validation. This year, at SXSW, I asked at every session that talked about the web and site/software development from a non-white male perspective (so girls & games, black tech bloggers, etc.) this one question: Is not having group X participating in the creation of Y a problem?
Ron Eglash, an associate professer at RPI, tells Nugent:
"Voice Recognition software works better on men's voices because a b More...
Ron Eglash, an associate professer at RPI, tells Nugent:
"Voice Recognition software works better on men's voices because a b More...
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May 28, 2008
Eugene
rated it:
I found this book haphazardly, wandering through the aisles of Borders on one fine afternoon. Knowing full well that I needed a light read after finishing The Book Thief, I thought that American Nerd would fit the bill quite nicely. What I came to realize was that American Nerd was not the lighthearted book I thought it was, but instead a refreshing and quasi-academic approach to a lighthearted subject.
I could go on to describe the book further, but I'd rather list a few of my favori More...
I could go on to describe the book further, but I'd rather list a few of my favori More...
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Dec 24, 2008
Amanda
rated it:
For some reason, I thought his history of nerd-dom would be more tongue-in-cheek - facts mixed with humor. And while there are a few quips tossed in, this reads more like a master's thesis blended with random bits of reporting and personal essay. In short, it's a mess.
The historical investigation of the term 'nerd' and its meanings in the Part 1 is satisfying enough, and the interviews with television writers Ann Beatts (SNL, Square Pegs) and Paul Feig (Freaks and Geeks) fit in fine More...
The historical investigation of the term 'nerd' and its meanings in the Part 1 is satisfying enough, and the interviews with television writers Ann Beatts (SNL, Square Pegs) and Paul Feig (Freaks and Geeks) fit in fine More...
Dec 03, 2008
Jon
rated it:
I had been thinking about this book for a long time but going to New Jersey to visit my wife's family gave me the perfect opportunity-a cross country flight.
I liked the book for two reasons. The first being that it did a pretty good job of defining nerddom-and the origin of the word itself. I particularly liked how well he tied Weird Science and all of the social baggage in that movie to the original Frankenstien (Dr. that is).
The other aspect of the book I really liked was how wel More...
I liked the book for two reasons. The first being that it did a pretty good job of defining nerddom-and the origin of the word itself. I particularly liked how well he tied Weird Science and all of the social baggage in that movie to the original Frankenstien (Dr. that is).
The other aspect of the book I really liked was how wel More...
Dec 22, 2011
Jill
rated it:
Ha ha! Reading the reviews of a book about nerds is almost more fun than the book itself! I signed onto goodreads, thinking not to be over analytical in my review, since the book is not a full on sociological study nor a memior either. But of course, since a book on nerds mostly appeals to those of us who relate in some way (come on, booklovers who take reading seriously enough to post online reviews fall into the spectrum, if not as obviously as D&D players), well, the reviews are highly ana
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Nov 07, 2011
Todd
rated it:
The other day I was doing a presentation on NaNoWriMo and started talking about the nerd archetype. A very cute teenaged girl with short hair, glasses and a flannel shirt held up her arms and said, "Yes!" Being in the middle of this book at the time made me appreciate the moment more, and I should have recommended this book to her.
"American Nerd" wasn't bad, but I thought it could have used more depth. Nugent does a good job of surveying the history and facets of wh More...
"American Nerd" wasn't bad, but I thought it could have used more depth. Nugent does a good job of surveying the history and facets of wh More...
Aug 26, 2011
Delani
rated it:
American Nerd explores the whole phenomenon of The Nerd. The book, while sometimes funny, was often a dry read. Big surprise. In true nerdy fashion, he chronicles the history of the nerd stereotype – he of the high-water slacks, thick glasses, pocket protectors and obsessional attention to details. He even sends up the pop culture fad of “nerd hipsters” - those “too cool to care about fashion” young creatives who embrace the look and ethos of nerdiness.
This last part was scary to m More...
This last part was scary to m More...
Jul 08, 2011
Sed
rated it:
Although the title lies a bit, it is really a story about the author more than it is of all nerds (and thus so becomes sexist by default), it is still an interesting read up until the afterward. A one man attempt at redemption and self-understanding (as a means to quiet a self-loathing sense of shame and guilt), the reader is taken through a process in which the author first tries to describe the nerd and his plight followed by the author creating a memoir of his nerd days (which he both waxes n
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Jun 17, 2011
Peter
rated it:
A fascinating study of nerd/geek/dweeb as character and identity, bringing in issues of ethnicity, shifting views of labour, the mind/body split and social class.
My favorite bit is when he talks about ren faires/SCA events as nerd utopia: social rules are clearly stated, everybody knows who is in charge, there are opportunities for competition and teamwork, but also the space to go off and pursue your own bliss. Nugent compares this to the time he spent in a house run by a clique of h More...
My favorite bit is when he talks about ren faires/SCA events as nerd utopia: social rules are clearly stated, everybody knows who is in charge, there are opportunities for competition and teamwork, but also the space to go off and pursue your own bliss. Nugent compares this to the time he spent in a house run by a clique of h More...
May 19, 2010
Amy
rated it:
I had high hopes for this book and the beginning had some great lines, but it just didn't turn out that great. The middle section included lots of descriptions of groups that might be considered nerds, but he never seemed to make a point about them. Then the end just became mostly autobiographical. He definitely focused on the type of nerd that he claims to be/have been (involved in fantasy-type games) and did not discuss other types of nerds, most obviously left out (at least for me since I bel
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May 02, 2010
Parker
rated it:
I read this book for a class I took on the culture and politics of hackers. I remember hearing mixed reviews when it came out, so I was lukewarm on reading it. (I should say, first, I consider myself something of a nerd [although I'd say geek, he doesn't really address that dichotomy:] and I thought this would be funny on account of that, if not great.)
Anyway, I totally enjoyed this book. It's personal, emotional, sad in places, very funny, and surprisingly informative. Nugent is not More...
Anyway, I totally enjoyed this book. It's personal, emotional, sad in places, very funny, and surprisingly informative. Nugent is not More...
Nov 08, 2009
Matt
rated it:
Before I launch into a discussion of what a nerd is and where the idea of nerds comes from, I’d like to disclose that when I was eleven, I had a rich fantasy life in which I carried a glowing staff.
Thus opens Nugent’s American Nerd: The Story of My People.
Personally, I imagined I had the energy bow that Hank the Ranger ran around with in the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon. Nevertheless, I recognized the call of a similar soul and immediately put down my other reading to plow thro More...
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Feb 05, 2009
Many readersself-identified nerds or notwill find American Nerd a smart, entertaining cultural history-memoir. Peppered with examples from literature, television, academia, and pop culture, the book successfully portrays a subculture that has been ridiculed, scorned, and admired (think of the nerds emerging from Silicon Valley, for example). Critics agreed that Nugent's discussion of nerdiness and Asperger's hit the mark, though his analysis of "cool nerds" and of nerdiness and rac
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Jan 24, 2012
Mickey
rated it: 
American Nerd: The Story of My People could have been a light, frothy read that would poke fun at the stereotype and the people it related to and leave it at that.
This book gives its readers several dimensions to the story. You get the history of the nerd and the formation of the stereotype, which is sufficiently researched and convincingly written. (Although I wish he would've spent more time with the definition, which would be difficult to do definatively.) It then takes a look a More...
This book gives its readers several dimensions to the story. You get the history of the nerd and the formation of the stereotype, which is sufficiently researched and convincingly written. (Although I wish he would've spent more time with the definition, which would be difficult to do definatively.) It then takes a look a More...
Feb 25, 2010
Life-in-death
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jul 03, 2009
Brian
rated it:
This book had so much potential, particularly with its very original thesis. However, Nugent provides nothing more than a mishmash of unconnected stories about the stereotype of a nerd with mixes of his own boring autobiography. For those who were not born from the years 1970-1980, you will not pick up or care about the references to movies like Revenge of the Nerds (which he mentioned probably a dozen times in the first 100 pages), D&D and Atari 2600.
This book should have expanded o More...
This book should have expanded o More...
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Jul 23, 2010
This book is dreadful, and I did not finish it. Usually, I would not bother to write about it, but as all my relevant friends here are nerds, I feel I must warn you away.
Who is a nerd? Well, it's someone with a mechanistic, precise approach towards the world, who can't really feel emotions or connect with the social world around him - unless the author backs into a situation where nerds need to be something else, so they become that instead. What he really means, if you read enoug More...
Who is a nerd? Well, it's someone with a mechanistic, precise approach towards the world, who can't really feel emotions or connect with the social world around him - unless the author backs into a situation where nerds need to be something else, so they become that instead. What he really means, if you read enoug More...
Aug 27, 2011
Pete
rated it: 
It had a promising premise and a sort of endorsement by Chuck Klosterman ("...Benjamin Nugent is just weird enough to be absolutely right.") but it didn't really do much for me.
For one, I don't really care to speculate on the origin of the nerd. Who was the first nerd? I don't know, and neither does anybody else. Some caveman with poor vision and overzealous masturbatory habits who eventually found acceptance by creating the invention of the point, which his business partne More...
For one, I don't really care to speculate on the origin of the nerd. Who was the first nerd? I don't know, and neither does anybody else. Some caveman with poor vision and overzealous masturbatory habits who eventually found acceptance by creating the invention of the point, which his business partne More...
Apr 02, 2011
Tanabrus
rated it:
Una grossissima delusione.
Dalla descrizione che ne era stata data, pensavo di trovare magari accenni alla vita di icone come magari Jobs, Gates, Zuckenberg, Spielberg, Gygax… invece siamo di fronte a tutt altro.
Ci sono diverse reminiscenze personali di Nugent, che racconta di quanto fosse complessato e problematico da piccolo, di come tutto ciò fosse sfociato nel nerdismo, e di come poi avesse deciso invece di diventare cool e avesse mandato a quel paese gli amici nerd.
Ma More...
Dalla descrizione che ne era stata data, pensavo di trovare magari accenni alla vita di icone come magari Jobs, Gates, Zuckenberg, Spielberg, Gygax… invece siamo di fronte a tutt altro.
Ci sono diverse reminiscenze personali di Nugent, che racconta di quanto fosse complessato e problematico da piccolo, di come tutto ciò fosse sfociato nel nerdismo, e di come poi avesse deciso invece di diventare cool e avesse mandato a quel paese gli amici nerd.
Ma More...
Feb 26, 2010
Cynthia
rated it:
I thought I knew a lot of "nerds" but, according to the definitions of nerd as presented in this book, I guess I do not. There was a lot of focus on fantasy, science fiction and gaming lifestyles that just didn't grab my attention. As a result, I found myself skimming entire sections of the book. It wasn't all bad though. There were some interesting points such as the history of the term "nerd" and an interesting correlation between "nerds" and people with Aspergers
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Mar 02, 2009
Neil
rated it:
Most of the people I know who are nerdy embrace their way of life. This is the story of somebody who fought strongly against it, and on some level regrets it. If you know that going in and find the idea interesting, you might like this book more than I did.
When Nugent subtitles this "the story of my people," he's not kidding. It's mostly about the people he has encountered (including himself before high school) who are nerdy. I expected something more encompassing, and inst More...
When Nugent subtitles this "the story of my people," he's not kidding. It's mostly about the people he has encountered (including himself before high school) who are nerdy. I expected something more encompassing, and inst More...
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Nov 15, 2010
Phil
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This book starts off as a somewhat dry analysis of where both the concept and word 'nerd' came from, and what they mean in modern society. Then Nugent segues into an analysis of why nerds are nerds - the fact that nerdiness gives you a structure in an otherwise unstructured world. Of course there is some discussion of Asperger's syndrome and how that relates to the nerd world (obviously there's quite a bit of overlap).
The last few chapters, though, are where this book really comes in More...
The last few chapters, though, are where this book really comes in More...
