American nerd : the story of my people / Benjamin Nugent.

Pt. 1. A history of the nerd. What is a nerd
The mark of greatness
Newt envy, and were there nerds in the 19th century?
The case against scientists in towers
The rise of phys ed
Dawn of the fan
Sherry Turkle, T. S. Eliot, and the split between feeling and thinking
The word "nerd" and the birth and growth of the guy in high pants and glasses
Effeminate Jewish grinds, cyborg Asians
Pt. 2. Among the nerds. Zack and Jack and high-school debate
Case study: Darren from the ghetto of Amherst
The cool nerd: superficial reflections on the hipster
Nerd love
The autism spectrum
Pure pwnage
The graying of the old-school nerd
Coronation, or, Why group nerd events are necessary
Why do people like Dungeons & Dragons and fake swords?
Case study: Kenneth the Demonslayer
My credentials.