A couple of years ago I was skimming through the podcast options in the iTunes store and came upon one aptly entitled 'Nerdist'. I thought 'Hey, I'm totally a nerd. I should probably check this out. Low and behold, the host was none other than Chris Hardwick; former host of MTV's ridiculously douchey dating show Singled Out.
Just look at him with his little 'hair drapes'.
Anyway, I had no idea the guy was such a nerd. He related stories of chess club tournaments, had an affection for tech talk, and was completely obsessed with Dr. Who. I found myself drawn to his excitement and overall positive attitude toward things. He wasn't just using the microphone as a vehicle for one huge bitch session. He was actually doing something he loved and, with the help of buddies Matt Myra and Jonah Ray, making it extremely accessible and entertaining.The podcast is still going strong years later and has spawned an entire Nerdist empire.
So, when Hardwick started talking about this nerd-centric self-help book he was working on, I knew I probably should put it on my list of stuff to read.
Hardwick writes with the same enthusiasm, humor and insight that shines through so well in his podcast. And his in depth knowledge of the Nerd psychosis is so extensive I daresay he could teach an entire college course on the subject.
This guy gets us. Probably because he's one of us. And he comes from a place of intelligent humility that makes each sentence pregnant with a keen sense of comfort that Nerds certainly need.
The book is broken up into three sections: Mind, Body and Time.
The Mind portion focuses on how to best get control over all idiosyncrasies and doubts by building yourself up into the 'character' you wish to be. There is step-by-step direction on how to build a Dungeons and Dragons style character tome that helps you establish and lay out your goals. This physical representation is a great and exciting tool for anyone who needs that extra, visual push.
The Body section is aided by the efforts of Hardwick's own personal trainer and is packed with excellent advice on how to get that dorky frame of yours into shape. A great deal of focus is placed on consistency and gradual, incremental progress. There are also plenty of cute teddy bears exhibiting just how to do each exercise suggested within.
The Time entry is all about productivity and efficiency. Nerds can just as easily get bogged down and distracted with everyday life as the rest of the world and Hardwick has found some excellent cheat codes that serve to circumvent all of the roadblocks you may find in your way.
All of this is delivered with snark, geek references, encouragement and understanding.
I know the term 'self-help' can bring up a little bit of bile in the back of the throat due to the massive amounts of sentimental crap that stock today's shelves, but The Nerdist Way veers as far away from from that high and mighty bullshit as is possible.
If you are looking to make real, exciting fulfilling changes in your life, picking up/downloading a copy of this book is a fantastic step in that direction.
I'd say it should be essential reading for all of us Nerds.
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