Rating: 
Summary: Self-promotion, and missing the point
Review: Mr. Katz thinks he knows all about geeks, and wants to put them under glass and show them to everybody like circus animals in this book, but misses the point entirely. Like his previous books, his writing style is convoluted and unnecessarily pedantic, and will only contribute to giving unnecessary negative attention to geeky people. Like his upcoming book "voices from the hellmouth" where mr. Katz republished many excerpts from slashdot without their author's consent or prior announcement, this book only serves his self-promotion.
Rating: 
Summary: Geeksploitation
Review: Here is Katz back from his forum on Slashdot doing a bit of his own 'profiling'. He creates an interesting double standard. While attempting to defend a subculture of which he has no clue with his narrow vision, he in turn turns that group away from him. In this rag Katz documents the success of CmdrTaco and Hemos as they rise from CIS major geekdom to IPO bandits. It was Katz that brought some sort of notability to the site, as he had a lengthy resume of media experience. He proved to be a fish out of water in that forum as his usefulness soon faded. Yet he hung on like a drowning rat. Slashdot readers cannot stand his offtopic and lengthy counter-culture geek profiling diatribe as a rule, yet he is the bard of their fairytale. Katz belongs at People magazine, not a technology forum.
Rating: 
Summary: The Talent For Technology
Review: This is a heartfelt story and the movie is coming soon. The Geek Ascendant is James Dean in the Computer Lab. Worth reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Required reading
Review: I've taken if upon myself to become a one-woman task force in an effort to encourage educators, parents and kids to read this book. It addresses the lost members of our youth, those labeled geek, freak, outcast, weirdo and oddball; the kids who most need someone to reach out and assure them that high school is but one, small segment of their entire lives,and if there seems no place for them there, a place most definitely exists in the world. In fact, it is their time. In the wake of Columbine we must acknowledge that our kids are in need -- of our support, reassurance, nurturing. These quiet, oddball kids are usually the brightest, most creative, intense, thoughtful people, and rather than allow that unique voice to be squelched, we must encourage them to grow and be strong in their individuality. GEEKS will help parents and educators to understand, and will show kids that there is a world out there waiting to embrace them with open arms. At this time in the world, this book should be required reading. Anyone who truly cares about the well being and future of our youth cannot afford NOT to read it.
Rating:
Summary: At Last...
Review: ...the truth rather than media sensation about geeks. Were I rich, I'd put this book free into the hands of every geek kid in America to remind them they're all right, it's our culture that's wrong. Who really needs to read Jon Katz's book, however, are parents and teachers. Perhaps they'd learn how caring and compassion and love are what prevent Littletons, not stupid prohibitions or expulsions or censorship. Katz has done a wonderful service with his book. It's warm, uplifting and most of all, honest. Now if people would only pay attention.
Rating:
Summary: a wonderful teacher's aid
Review: i heard jon katz on npr and was intrigued to read the book. the book was not as deep or weighty as i had hoped, but it does serve an important desire in my life as an elementary school teacher...the desire to communciate with both geeks and jocks about their "culture of cruelty" (thanks for this phrase to eli newberger.) i see geeks day in and day out who are so encouraged that this book has been written and that their teacher has read it and understands them a little better. using this book as a vehicle for discussion with younger kids is invaluable, which more than makes up for any disappointment in the breezy, selfcongratulatory tone of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Placed with Ashes and Zen
Review: In my forty plus years since attending high school in Montana I have read a lot of books and this one has found a place in my permanent collection, right along side Angela's Ashes and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Although the latter has more in common with respect to the impact of technology upon society there are many similarities between this book and the former as well. If you are interested in rising from the depth of poverty Angela's Ashes is a good source. If you are interested in rising from the depths of rejection Geeks is your answer. All three narratives are written in the first person and unselfishly offer personal experience to describe compelling depth into the human condition. Although Jon Katz primarily describes the experiences of two young upstarts in the Internet revolution, one brief passage reads like the confessions of St. Austin. I have used this comparison as a means of expressing my view that this book will stand as a catalist for future generations to reflect upon the latest paradigm shift in communication. It is a must read for anyone even vaguely interested in where the technology is taking us.
Rating:
Summary: Major weapon in the Culture Wars
Review: The Global Effort to Eradicate Know-nothings is activating its Irregulars to engage in an important grassroots campaign in the ongoing Culture Wars. Each of you is to buy a copy of Jon Katz's new book, GEEKS: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho. Read it. And then make everyone you know (non-negotiable: EVERYONE) buy it and read it for themselves. Do not loan out your copies. Make them purchase their own (the existence of the sales is important). This is the book. Katz has always been the Voice between geek culture and the outside world, but most people don't want to read pontifications. This is a story, a true one, of two kids (mainly one, Jesse) who, as the title says, rode the Internet out of Idaho. It's the weapon we haven't had in the ongoing Culture Wars for too long. And you will for the rest of your life remember having gotten to be part of Jesse's life through this book. This is not a request. This is an order from GEEK Force HQ.
Rating:
Summary: A compelling and compassionate look at Geekdom
Review: Mr. Katz is a generation removed from most of contemporary Geekdom, but his perspicacious comments and critical observations on our society show that his distance only makes his view clearer. I would count him as one of the best commentators of our time on pop culture. This book is supposedly about two young men from Idaho who, by their intelligence and pluck, as well as their Geekhood, make their way out of a bad situation to one where a good future is possible. It is about them, and their story is important. It is also about Geekdom in general and our society's reaction to it. It is about being an outcast in a world with some stupid values. It is about the power of ideas. It is about the importance of individuality. It is about the positive and negative sides of such intelligence. Many of us had read Katz's articles on Slashdot, particularly those concerning the aftermath of the Columbine shootings. Months later, those articles are still important, and the snippets of them contained in this book are entirely relevant to the story of Jesse and Eric. They are concurrent phenomena, and the book is stronger for including them. I would highly recommend this book if you are interested in Geekdom, pop culture, outcasts in high school, and understanding 20-somethings (and teenagers) in general. Katz is a solid, compelling writer, and this book is fantastic. And I'm not even a Geek!
Rating:
Summary: New American Heros
Review: Okay, this is a completely biased review, because Jon's a friend of mine, but that's not going to stop me from pointing out what a powerful book this is. On the surface, it's a simple story about two geeks named Jesse and Eric who escape from Nowheresville, Idaho, and, thanks to their computer skills and their friendship with Jon, begin a new life in Chicago. But the story is deeper, wierder, more interesting than that - it's really about escape and self-invention. It's the stuff Bob Dylan would have written about, if he were twenty years younger and had any interest in geeks. Jesse and Eric's story may never be set to music, but it's gonna make a great movie (rights have already been acquired by New Line).
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