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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
Who'd be sixteen again? Not I, certainly! Reading this brought many painful memories of life as a teenager - and even though this book is specifically about American high schools, I think the lessons apply pretty much across the board.
In this book Robbins looks at the way teenagers label both others and themselves, the way they create cliques, 'in'-crowds and on the flip side, outcasts, unpopular kids, geeks. She argues that the teenage years are those when an individual's creativity and imagination is at their height, when kids are struggling to define themselves and their place in the world, and this is also the age when the desire to be 'in', to be part of a group, to conform, to belong is also at its heights. Some kids conform, and others don't.
Robbins' argument is that the kids that don't conform in high school, the kids with some kind of definable 'quirk' that sets them apart from their peers, are usually the kids who are more likely to succeed after high school, because those 'quirks', whilst not valued in high school, are precisely the qualities that will help them succeed as adults, that will make them stand out from the crowd.
One of the most interesting things for me about this book was the view on the educators, the teachers and school administrators, and how they can fall prey to the same kind of cliquish behaviour and stereotypic labelling - how the popular kids get away with more, how the geeky students are mocked, how higher esteem is placed on athletic success than academic, how so many schools seem to view equality with homogeneity.
My heart broke for some of the kids in this book, and others made me want to stand up and cheer. To have the self-possession and confidence to be yourself, regardless of what others think, at such a young age...Robbins is right, those are the stars of the future. I'll take the outcasts anyday too.
In this book Robbins looks at the way teenagers label both others and themselves, the way they create cliques, 'in'-crowds and on the flip side, outcasts, unpopular kids, geeks. She argues that the teenage years are those when an individual's creativity and imagination is at their height, when kids are struggling to define themselves and their place in the world, and this is also the age when the desire to be 'in', to be part of a group, to conform, to belong is also at its heights. Some kids conform, and others don't.
Robbins' argument is that the kids that don't conform in high school, the kids with some kind of definable 'quirk' that sets them apart from their peers, are usually the kids who are more likely to succeed after high school, because those 'quirks', whilst not valued in high school, are precisely the qualities that will help them succeed as adults, that will make them stand out from the crowd.
One of the most interesting things for me about this book was the view on the educators, the teachers and school administrators, and how they can fall prey to the same kind of cliquish behaviour and stereotypic labelling - how the popular kids get away with more, how the geeky students are mocked, how higher esteem is placed on athletic success than academic, how so many schools seem to view equality with homogeneity.
My heart broke for some of the kids in this book, and others made me want to stand up and cheer. To have the self-possession and confidence to be yourself, regardless of what others think, at such a young age...Robbins is right, those are the stars of the future. I'll take the outcasts anyday too.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
45 reviews
33 of 35 people found the following review helpful
A "Must Read" for educators, parents and kids!
5 May 2011
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!!!
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!!!
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Embrace your geekiness!
11 May 2011
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.
33 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Explains what many of us see in high school and why the "preps" are sometimes sitting by themselves at class reunions
9 May 2011
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.
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.
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