Book Review: Nerds

One of the recent pinnacle texts exploring the anti-geek bias, Nerds: How Dorks, Dweebs, Techies, and Trekkies Can Save America, And Why They Might Be Our Last Hope (originally released in 2007 with a 2011 reprint) is written by David Anderegg, Ph.D who comes from a child therapy background and takes the focus of his book to what he knows best; childhood.

Much of our perceptions of the world, good or bad, are formed when we are children. If we are praised or bullied about certain things, especially in a recognizable pattern over time, we're going to develop an understanding of how the world works from these experiences. An unfortunately common occurrence in schools is kids being bullied for being "nerdy". This could take shape in any number of ways, and Anderegg goes in depth to explore where this comes from in a historical context as well as a cultural one for America specifically. It is a fascinating topic to explore, especially due to the fact that America is rather unique in its bias towards geeks and nerds or a certain anti-intellectualism, as it is formally referred to in the book.

A strong point that Anderegg makes is how dangerous this bias towards geeks and nerds is for our country in terms of our collective psyche as well as our economy if we create a culture where being interested in math, science, and/or technology is constantly discouraged by bullying in our schools and negative images in our media. While strides have been made in recent years, we still have a lot of work to do to break down these stereotypes and take back the mantle of geek pride.

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the topic of geek culture. I read it on the recommendation of a mentor of mine in this space and was glad I took some time for it. It definitely adds some scholarly credibility to any discussion you have on the topic.

Movie Review Monday: Bully

Hello out there! Here's another recommendation that is available on Netflix. I watched this a little while ago but definitely feel as though it deserves all the attention it can get. So this movie is a special one for me; a heartfelt documentary that had me hooked into the future of these kids featured in the film, especially young Alex from Iowa. He has an Autism-Spectrum Disorder (the exact diagnosis escaping me) and is ridiculed daily at school and on the bus, but makes excuses for his tormentors. In Alex and many of the other children showcased in the film, I saw a bit of myself. They were teased simply for being a little different, a little eccentric, and of course a tad nerdy. It's the classic jocks versus nerds tropes we should be beyond by now but the residue is still there in our schools. If you're different than the majority, you're weird and ostracized. Simple as that.

I encourage everyone to seek this film out. It gets you connected to the heart of the issue, the impact on the victims of bullying, and why it still persists. Most importantly though, it makes you want to work to create safe, inclusive communities where the people who resort to bullying, who may have their own issues, get the help they need as well as those who are affected by bullying. It's heart wrenching, gripping, depressing, inspiring, and relevant, all mixed up in a blender.

Support this movie by checking it out and spreading the word. Thank you!

Dr. NerdLove - "Leveling Up: Giving Up Control"

"Accept rejection. Learn from it whenever you can. But don’t waste time trying to avoid it."

This recent article from the fantastic site, Doctor NerdLove, goes into a topic that can resonate for a lot of people for different reasons. Learning to let go can be one of the most challenging tasks, no matter what it is you're holding on to. With this struggle however, comes great rewards. The feeling of freedom from negative thoughts, suffering, and generally unnecessary brain baggage can allow for success in all parts of your life. Accepting challenge as an opportunity, rejection as a teachable moment, and focusing on what you can control (yourself) rather than holding on to everything else outside hoping it will change will make you into a more confident, productive, and happy person. I guarantee it!

Check out Dr. Nerdlove on social media and at his site for plenty more romantic resources. 

Take care!

Great Higher Ed. & Nerd Literature!

So, I don't read often, but when I do, I tend to try to find light, relevant, and engaging books to breeze through quickly and get something out of them. All of these books fit that mold and I have read them within the past few years as I formed the desire to make this blog. Hopefully you enjoy them as much as I did and let me know in the comments if you have any other recommendations!

1. The Introverted Leader by Dr. Jennifer Kahnweiler

This book was given to me by a past supervisor who helped me start to realize my potential despite my introvertedness, which I had originally saw as a setback. It's a fun read that has a a lot of useful activities in it. It's also a useful book for anyone who works with introverts, which is everyone! Check it out!

2. The Nerdist Way by Chris Hardwick

My love for Chris Hardwick has been noted here previously for his great YouTube channel of the same Nerdist namesake. I met him recently and had him sign a copy of this great self-help book that is full of his signature comedy. This book also has some great practical tips and tricks as well as geeky activities to maintain your interest like making your own D&D "character sheet" for yourself. It will change your life is you ever felt less than for being a nerd!

3. My Freshman Year by Rebekah Nathan

I read this book a short while back for a class I was taking called "American College Student" and this anthropological look inside the world of current undergraduate life is a fun read from an outsider's perspective. The premise is an anthropology professor (Nathan) at a public research university goes undercover as a first-year student and chronicles her journey through a semester living in a residence hall and taking classes. It's an affirming detail of many of the aspects of modern collegiate affairs so for anyone looking to get an inside look, give this book a read! It's a quick read too and can also be just appreciated by anyone who loves the world of college.

Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope

Good day to you!

In honor of the upcoming convention, I just watched the great Morgan Spurlock documentary on San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC), Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope, and I must say, it was a delight! It totally encapsulates the power an accepting community can have and had some nice stories of the nerds who attend for all different reasons, be it love or ambition or anything in between.

Check it out, true believers!

The Universality of Geekdom: Connecting on How We All 'Geek Out'

I've been away for some time lately (busy with work) but I wanted to come back with something that is near and dear to my heart. I've found a new way to connect with people that has been a major asset to this typically socially intimidated introvert. It is the revelation and acceptance that everyone geeks out about something and that people appreciate talking about their passions.

*The above graphic from Geeks are Sexy shows a classic struggle between "geeks" and "nerds". I think it speaks nicely to the debate but this post will hope to rise above this squabble and I will use the word "geek" from here out as both a noun and a verb as seems common nowadays.

I've tried asking a lot of different people lately "What do you geek out about?" and have gotten a wide array of fascinating responses. Some people have a typical response like a musician or a particular movie or television show while other interesting answers were painting lawn gnomes or great characters in stories of any kind. These random assortment of insights into people's passions created great conversations with people about stuff they are into and I was curious to unravel since it was a new world for me to explore. I think the interest I conveyed was refreshing and the conversation was more engaging for both of us since it wasn't your typical small talk.

The concept that envelops this experience is how we are all into something that we love so much we can't help but peak our head up when we overhear it being talked about nearby. I hope to tap into this positive energy in conversation but I think for Student Affairs, there is great potential in programmatic initiatives that speak to the commonality of geekdom for everyone. It may seem counterintuitive to unite everyone under a banner that essentially says we are all different but I think as young people are finding themselves, they need to know they are unique and appreciated for that difference as well as fostering passions rather than squashing them.

Definitely check out Geeks Are Sexy, their site is chockfull of awesomely geeky things and they push a lot of great content daily.

Go forth and do great things, everyone!