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

By Lisa Fary

After finishing my Masters degree in education, I thought about going back for a doctorate, but decided against it, with one small caveat: I would only consider it if I had an idea for a doctoral thesis. This kept me from adding to my student loans for almost three years, the longest I’ve ever gone without being enrolled at some university.

Then came Dr. David Anderegg and this book.

In Nerds: Who They Are and Why We Need More of Them, family psychotherapist Dr. Anderegg points out that there is virtually no research about how the nerd stereotype effects young learning. Most of the case studies in his book were with boys, which got me wondering not only about the nerd stereotype in relation to learning, but also how, specifically, if effected girl nerds.

God dammit. And I was just starting to pay the principle on my current loan.

Nerds: Who They Are and Why We Need More of Them is a fascinating sociological study of nerds in American history and literature, nerds in our schools, and nerds who may be in your very home. For those of you who, like myself, survived being the school’s biggest nerd, you’ll see your own experience in a new light and, possibly, understand why your school tormentors were such douchebags.

Those of us who have lived it are very familiar with the elements of the stereotype, but Anderegg takes Nerds beyond that. He explores the roots of the stereotype (George Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and a speech by Ralph Waldo Emerson) and traces how those roots grew into the anti-intellectualism that plagues the United States. Anderegg also looks at how the nerd stereotype has negatively impacted the United States in some surprising ways – he postulates that our steadily declining math and science performance has less to do with the quality of the education and more to do with kids’ desperate attempts to avoid being labelled a nerd.

Sounds simplistic, but I’ve seen that in action.

Don’t be scared off by my characterization of “sociological study”. I know that typically doesn’t translate to “page turner”, but Nerds is an amazingly good non-fiction read. Anderegg approaches the topic with a humor that does not denigrate the topic or make him come off as a nerd trying to get in with the cool kids. Take for instance, some of his chapter titles:

• A Field Guide to Nerds (Or, Why Nerds Are So Gay)
• Math Scores and Economic Ills (Or, Why You Have to Go to India to Find an Engineer)
• I’m Not Boring You, Am I? (Or, What is This Thing Called The Silmarillion?)
• Welcome to My Persecution (Or, Why The George Bush-Al Gore Contest was A Jungian’s Dream)

Anderegg’s style is conversational and often turns to anecdotal evidence from his many therapy sessions with kids who are experiencing the nerd stereotype from either end.

Nerds: Who They Are and Why We Need More of Them is a brilliant look at a prejudice that many American parents not only consider socially acceptable, but encourage. If you were a nerd or are raising a nerd, you should read this book – it could change your kid’s life.

Never miss an update. Subscribe to Pink Raygun by Email or subscribe via RSS

Lisa Fary’s early exposure to classic Battlestar Galactica in 1979 is largely responsible for her lifelong interest in science fiction and her childhood ambition of being an intergalactic space cowgirl. She thinks diagramming sentences is a fun alternative to Sudoku.

Related Stuff: