The Nerdist Way by Chris Hardwick is a fun, solid, self-help tome for those creative-obsessive types looking to make some positive changes in their lives.
So, what exactly is a Nerdist? As Hardwick tells it, there are nerds, and then there are Nerdists. A Nerdist, more specifically, is an artful nerd. He or she doesn’t just consume, they create. Freelancers, game designers, graphic designers, DMs (Dungeon Masters), musicians, artists, crafties, and writers are all examples of Nerdists.
The notion is that by harnessing and refocusing attention that you dedicate to your obsessions, you can finally get out of your own way and be a more productive individual.
The book is broken into three parts: Mind (dealing with self image, anxiety, and addiction), Body (getting fit and staying that way), and Time (work, finances, and personal ambitions). Each section is further divided into chapters with clever titles like “RPG Your Life”, “Doctor Xaviering Your Mind”, or “Workouts”.
I’m always skeptical of anything that tries to market itself to the nerd demographic, as quite often it ends up being a shallow cash-in on the buzzword. To my delight, this book actually channels the meta of nerd culture extremely well. It also offers an excellent level of abstraction for anyone trying to step outside of themselves and improve.
The Nerdist Way is as funny as it is encouraging, and most importantly, it feels very honest. So, if you unironically enjoy references to Star Trek, liberal use of inappropriate capitalization, casual swearing, #HashtaggingOutsideOfTwitter, or burritos, then this book is definitely worth your attention.
We love helping people find books, movies, and more.
Tell us about your preferences, and our librarians will create a list of titles selected specifically for you.
