07 Nov 2011 09:32:10
The stand-up comedian, TV host and brains behind the mega-popular Nerdist podcast, Twitter feed and blog provides a road map to self-actualization for the pocket protector set in "The Nerdist Way: How to Reach the Next Level (In Real Life)."
"If you are a part of (the) now-glamorous Nerd Herd subculture but still feel like you're waiting to claim your gold cup at the top of the social food chain, then I am here to help you," Hardwick writes. "I shall attempt, through the primitive form of communication known as 'writing,' to help you milk your Nerdy attributes into a delicious and useful pulp."
Let's start with a few definitions.
According to Hardwick, a nerd is "someone who homes in on a topic to an almost quantum detail, much of the time at the expense of healthy social interaction."
A Nerdist, on the other hand, Hardwick writes, is "an artful Nerd," someone who "doesn't just consume," but "creates and innovates."
In "The Nerdist Way," the "Web Soup" host, relying on techniques that have worked in his life, encourages readers to leverage their nerd-tastic attributes into getting the most out of their lives.
Yes, the book is written by a nerd for nerds, but really, all of the self-improvement methods Hardwick suggests would work for almost anybody looking to manage anxiety, get healthier and more physically fit, or advance his or her time management skills.
And it's funny. Hilarious, really.
Nearly every serious point is followed by either a clever pop culture reference or one of Hardwick's trademark self-deprecating cracks.
"Every year on my birthday I start a new playlist titled after my current age so I can keep track of my favorite songs of the year as a sort of musical diary because I am a teenage girl," he writes in a section about maintaining a positive outlook and structure in one's life.
A self-help book has never been so funny.
