Add BookmarkNerds: Who They Are and Why We Need More of Them
A lively, thought-provoking book that zeros in on the timely issue of how anti-intellectualism is bad for our children and even worse for America.
Why are our children so terrified to be called "nerds"? And what is the cost of this rising tide of anti-intellectualism to both our children and our nation? In Nerds, family psychotherapist and psychology professor David Anderegg examines why science and engineering have become socially poisonous disciplines, why adults wink at the derision o... (show more)
A lively, thought-provoking book that zeros in on the timely issue of how anti-intellectualism is bad for our children and even worse for America.
Why are our children so terrified to be called "nerds"? And what is the cost of this rising tide of anti-intellectualism to both our children and our nation? In Nerds, family psychotherapist and psychology professor David Anderegg examines why science and engineering have become socially poisonous disciplines, why adults wink at the derision of "nerdy" kids, and what we can do to prepare our children to succeed in an increasingly high-tech world.
Nerds takes a measured look at how we think about and why we should rethink "nerds," examining such topics as: - our anxiety about intense interest in things mechanical or technological;
- the pathologizing of "nerdy" behavior with diagnoses such as Asperger syndrome;
- the cycle of anti-nerd prejudice that took place after the Columbine incident;
- why nerds are almost exclusively an American phenomenon;
- the archetypal struggles of nerds and jocks in American popular culture and history;
- the conformity of adolescents and why adolescent stereotypes linger into adulthood long after we should know better; and nerd cultural markers, particularly science fiction.
Using education research, psychological theory, and interviews with nerdy and non-nerdy kids alike, Anderegg argues that we stand in dire need of turning around the big dumb ship of American society to prepare rising generations to compete in the global marketplace. (show less)
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In this thought-provoking book Anderegg, a psychology professor and children therapist argued against what he believes is parents' tolerance to bullying of 'nerds'.
Framing the 'nerd vs jock' struggle as a unique American phenomenon, Anderegg attempts to establish the link between bullying nerdy kids in middle school to the falling number of American post-graduates in engineering and science.
While some of the events used to strengthen his argument seems 'forced-to-fit': was the Gore vs Bus... (show more)
In this thought-provoking book Anderegg, a psychology professor and children therapist argued against what he believes is parents' tolerance to bullying of 'nerds'.
Framing the 'nerd vs jock' struggle as a unique American phenomenon, Anderegg attempts to establish the link between bullying nerdy kids in middle school to the falling number of American post-graduates in engineering and science.
While some of the events used to strengthen his argument seems 'forced-to-fit': was the Gore vs Bush election really about nerd vs jock? surely there were other important factors like the success of rallying conservative base and not to forget favorable supreme court decision on recount; the most interesting part of this book is for parents of young kids, and future parents for that matter.
Important questions asked here include: "Is being precise a skill that a child is born with, or is it a skill that can be honed while acknowledging we can only do that if we can cultivate the kid's interest?", "Can bullying nerdy kids be justified by telling ourselves that those kids will turn out to be business leaders earning millions later on, or is there a risk that most kids will simply not pursue math/science for fearing becoming social outcasts?", and finally "As a nerdy parent, are you really helping your kid by being stubborn not to let him/her try to be more popular by arguing 'it's the inside that counts'?".
In the end, this is a very enjoyable book, one that I will use as a reference in the future for countless dinner conversations. Pick it up, and read it not as a textbook that has been widely argued; rather read it as a passionate plea from a knowledgeable children therapist. (show less)
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An amazing look at why kids shy away from math and science for fear of being labeled a "nerd." It details what the United States is missing out on by sticking labels onto children before they are even aware of their meaning.
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