Includes index.

Part 1 A history of the nerd -- What is a nerd? 5 -- Mark of greatness 13 -- Newt envy, and were there nerds in the nineteenth century? 17 -- Case against scientists in towers 23 -- Rise of phys ed 29 -- Dawn of the fan 39 -- Sherry turkle, t. s. eliot, and the split between feeling and thinking 49 -- Word nerd and the birth and growth of the guy in high pants and glasses 55 -- Effeminate jewish grinds, cyborg asians 73 -- Part 2 Among the nerds -- Zack and jack and high-school debate 99 -- Case study: darren from the ghetto of amherst 111 -- Cool nerd: superficial reflections on the hipster 119 -- Nerd love 131 -- Autism spectrum 141 -- Pure pwnage 153 -- Graying of the old-school nerd 163 -- Coronation, or why group nerd events are necessary 171 -- Why do people like dungeons & dragons and fake swords? 183 -- Case study: kenneth the demonslayer 195 -- My credentials 211.