The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth: Popularity, Quirk Theory, and Why Outsiders Thrive After High School [Hardcover]

Alexandra Robbins (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 3, 2011

Voted BEST NONFICTION BOOK OF 2011 at Goodreads. A New York Times bestseller.  In a smart, entertaining, reassuring book that reads like fiction, Alexandra Robbins manages to cross Gossip Girl with Freaks and Geeks and explain the fascinating psychology and science behind popularity and outcasthood. She reveals that the things that set students apart in high school are the things that help them stand out later in life. Robbins follows seven real people grappling with the uncertainties of high school social life, including:

• The Loner, who has withdrawn from classmates since they persuaded her to unwittingly join her own hate club;
• The Popular Bitch, a cheerleading captain both seduced by and trapped within her clique's perceived prestige;
• The Nerd, whose differences cause students to laugh at him and his mother to needle him for not being "normal";
• The New Girl, determined to stay positive as classmates harass her for her mannerisms and target her because of her race;
• The Gamer, an underachiever in danger of not graduating, despite his intellect and his yearning to connect with other students;
• The Weird Girl, who battles discrimination and gossipy politics in school but leads a joyous life outside of it;
• The Band Geek, who is alternately branded too serious and too emo, yet annually runs for class president.

In the middle of the year, Robbins surprises her subjects with a secret challenge--experiments that force them to change how classmates see them.
Robbins intertwines these narratives--often triumphant, occasionally heartbreaking, and always captivating--with essays exploring subjects like the secrets of popularity, being excluded doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you, why outsiders succeed, how schools make the social scene worse--and how to fix it.
The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth is not just essential reading for students, teachers, parents, and anyone who deals with teenagers, but for all of us, because at some point in our lives we've all been on the outside looking in.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Robbins follows her previous book, The Overachievers: The Secret Life of Driven Kids, with this insightful and timely look at the current state of America's teenage wasteland commonly known as "high school." Robbins follows the lives of seven students across the nation with very different and unique personalities—from "the gamer" and "the band geek" to "the popular bitch" and "the new girl"—as well as interviewing hundreds of other students, teachers, and counselors from a range of public, private, urban, rural, technical, college prep, and arts schools to prove what she calls her "Quirk Theory:" that "Many of the differences that cause a student to be excluded in school are the identical traits or real-world skills that others will value, love, respect, or find compelling about that person in adulthood and outside of the school setting." Robbins's keen eye shows us how the eternal adolescent struggle between individuality and inclusion lures many students—and teachers—into a mindless "groupthink" about what is conventionally popular and acceptable behavior. At the same time, she shows how the qualities that set her subjects apart from their classmates are the same qualities that make them stand out in positive ways. She ends with an effective list of tips for parents, teachers, students, and schools on how to support and encourage students who value "original thought and expression." (May)

Review

Insightful and timely...Robbins' keen eye shows...how the qualities that set her subjects apart [also] make them stand out in positive ways. She ends with an effective list of tips for parents, teachers, students, and schools. --Publishers Weekly

An excellent overview of the complex social environment of high school, told in an accessible and often humorous and touching manner...Very highly recommended. --Library Journal Starred Review

Offers real hope to adolescents... The author has a gift for writing fact like fiction...and the students and their stories are thoroughly engaging... These stories are not just entertaining but important.
--Kirkus Reviews

A fascinating read, and an important one for parents. I highly recommend this book.
--Petoskey New-Review

Required reading for anyone who has ever felt left out...or misunderstood. Schools everywhere would do well to incorporate it into their curriculum.. Robbins' ode to the cafeteria fringe will have you laughing, cheering, shocked.
--Chicago Sun-Times

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (May 3, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401302025
• ISBN-13: 978-1401302023
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 1.2 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,292 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

* Find me on Facebook for new character updates, contests to win free books, to give feedback, etc.* www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexandraRobbins. *You can also follow me on Twitter @AlexndraRobbins

I never know what to write for these things, so I'll just paste my publisher's bio: New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Robbins is the author of Goodreads' BEST NONFICTION BOOK OF 2011: "The Geeks Shall Inherit The Earth" - also a 2012 Books for a Better Life winner - and five other books.

The winner of the Heartsongs Award for contribution to the mental health of children and young adults, Robbins has written for several publications, including Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and Forbes, and regularly appears in the national media on shows such as "Oprah," "The Today Show," "60 Minutes," "The View," and "The Colbert Report." Robbins frequently lectures about her books and is touring in 2013. To view topics or book a lecture, please visit alexandrarobbins.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A "Must Read" for educators, parents and kids! May 5, 2011

By Muffy

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

"Let your Geek Flag" fly!!! I have thoroughly enjoyed this book - Alexandra Robbins does an amazing job (as usual)!

I am an educator of 26 years and a high school assistant principal. The information I have gotten from this book has certainly helped me to look at my student population in a totally, new light. Not only does Robbins examine the labels that students assign themselves and others and the harm it causes but "The Geeks" also looks at the way that the faculty that educates them treat students and each other. I had never thought of the way that faculty groups mirror the groups of students.

Also, it was an eye opener to think that the influence of the media has caused "mean girls" to be mean, as a way of protecting themselves. We often misunderstand and think that they mistreat other kids because they enjoy it. The fact is that many of these young ladies don't enjoy it at all but the influence of shows such as "Gossip Girl" and "90210," make it "cool" to be mistreat others. It is hard to believe that many students who are viewed as being a part of the "Popular Crowd" are truly miserable but lack the courage to leave for fear of rejection.

Thanks again to Alexandra Robbins for a fantastic read!!!

35 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Explains what many of us see in high school and why the "preps" are sometimes sitting by themselves at class reunions May 8, 2011

By S. Oliver

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I went to two high schools, each for two years. At both, I was not a complete outcast, but hung out by myself and did what I wanted rather than what the conformists were doing in order to make themselves look good. I would say I was mocked pretty heavily in junior high. I've thought it was interesting that at both high schools, kids who were the equivalent of today's "preps" really had not done as much with their lives as kids who stood out on the fringes. It was interesting to attend class reunions and see some of these populars sitting at the tables in their same groups, not knowing what to say to others who had been living interesting lives and had long forgotten how insignificant they felt in high school.

Raising two kids recently out of high school, it surprised me to see how many parents were involved with orchestrating their children's popularity - making sure they drove the right car, plastic surgery if necessary, buying alcohol and holding parties at their houses. I knew it would be painful for my kids, but I am glad they both chose the paths they did - to be true to themselves.

I especially liked the character of the Loner but also Blue. To do as well as he has without parental support, sometimes no support at all, reminds me of a gay friend of mine who grew up in a turbulent household, no support, but always marched to his own drumbeat, and is now the CEO of a major company.

This book validates many things we've observed but didn't know why they were occurring.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Embrace your geekiness! May 10, 2011

By Stephanie A. Merlin

Format:Hardcover

I can confidently say, with this new book and the others I have read (The Overachievers & Pledged), Alexandra Robbins is one of the first people I know who has poignantly identified and openly discussed struggles in teens and young adults lives. I grew up in a very competitive area academically and socially. I was insecure loner who desperately tried to fit in, but always came up short. I can completely relate to the stories of the teens in this book. Their backgrounds and experiences all have things I'm sure everyone can identify with. Alexandra also does an excellent job of supplementing these stories with psychological and sociological data and experiments. This is an excellent read, and one that I found therapeutic. As an young adult and college student, I definitely have noticed that the quirks and oddities I used to be ashamed of, are things that I'm appreciated for now, and that I fully embrace as an adult. It is these experiences and books like "The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth" that further inspire me to become a high school teacher, and make a difference in teens lives.