BKMT READING GUIDES

The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth: Popularity, Quirk Theory, and Why Outsiders Thrive After High School
by Alexandra Robbins

Published: 2011-05-03
Hardcover : 448 pages
2 members reading this now
1 club reading this now
1 member has read this book
*Now 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 ...
No other editions available.
Add to Club Selections
Add to Possible Club Selections
Add to My Personal Queue
Jump to

Introduction

(*Now 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  • The Loner, who has withdrawn from classmates since they persuaded her to unwittingly join her own hate club;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 Review

No editorial review at this time.

Excerpt

No Excerpt Currently Available

Discussion Questions

No discussion questions at this time.

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

No notes at this time.

Book Club Recommendations

Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
There are no user reviews at this time.
Rate this book
MEMBER LOGIN
Remember me
BECOME A MEMBER it's free

Now serving over 80,000 book clubs & ready to welcome yours. Join us and get the Top Book Club Picks of 2022 (so far).

SEARCH OUR READING GUIDES Search
Search




FEATURED EVENTS
PAST AUTHOR CHATS
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Get free weekly updates on top club picks, book giveaways, author events and more
Please wait...