David Anderegg
Author of Nerds: Who They Are and Why We Need More of Them
About the Author
David Anderegg, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at Bennington College in Vermont, and has maintained a private practice of psychotherapy in Lenox, Massachusetts, for the past seventeen years. His op-eds have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The Miami Herald, and Newsday, and he has been show more quoted as an expert in his field in The New Yorker, USA Weekend, and The Wall Street Journal, among other publications. His blog "Young Americans" is featured regularly on psychologytoday.com. show less
Works by David Anderegg
Worried All the Time : Overparenting in an Age of Anxiety and How to Stop It (2003) 23 copies, 1 review
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1953
- Gender
- male
- Education
- University of Wisconsin (BA, History)
Tufts University (MA, Child Study)
Clark University (PhD, Clinical Psychology) - Occupations
- psychotherapist
professor - Organizations
- Bennington College
Berkshire Medical Center
American Psychological Association - Short biography
- [excerpted from author's website]
I went to college to be a professional musician, and now I am a professional psychologist but I still write and perform music all the time. I somehow manage to integrate my love of raunchy pop and sacred music; I have learned to live with the contradictions involved in embracing psychoanalytic psychology and Calvinist theology.
I currently maintain a private practice in adult and child psychotherapy in Lenox, MA, and teach psychology at Bennington College in Vermont. I have written two books about children in contemporary culture, and several short stories, a novel, numerous musical arrangements and a couple of operas. - Nationality
- USA
- Places of residence
- Massachusetts, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- Massachusetts, USA
Members
Reviews
Every now and then I like to read something about parenting. I like to hear about the current wisdom, get new ideas, and think about how and why I do things, so I can do them better. Let's face it, all of us that are parents want to do a good job. We want our children to grow up happy and healthy. We want them to be the best people they can be, the best version of themselves, grow into everything they can be. And we want to make sure that what we, as parents, do helps rather than hinders show more them on their paths. Sometimes we just want to not screw them up too much!
This book is about the fact that modern parents worry a whole lot more about their children, and their parenting, than previous generations ever did. We seem to feel overwhelmed by all the options, all the advice, and feel anxious as a result. The aim of this book is to help parents to understand where their worries come from, decide if they are rational or not, and stop worrying so much!
What I found most interesting about this book was its explanation of where a lot of our worries as parents come from. Often we project our own feelings onto our kids. If we feel stressed, rushed and overworked, we worry that our kids are overscheduled and don't have enough down time. Maybe it is really us that needs the down time! Also, often we remember our own feelings as a child, and act according to those feelings, rather than our children's. For instance, if we experienced a lot of loneliness as a child, we are anxious to make sure that our children have lots of friends and never feel lonely. If our children seem to be having difficulties with friendships, or seem to play alone a lot, we rush to assume that they are terribly unhappy (like we were), rather than find out what they really think or feel.
The other thing I found interesting, was the notion that as kids get older, they need a certain amount of "benign neglect". In other words, they don't need us to hover over their every move, thought and feeling. Being watched all the time will cause children to become very self-conscious, and very good at censoring themselves in front of their children. Also, children need to know that their parents have another hobby other than them!
Definitely an interesting read. show less
This book is about the fact that modern parents worry a whole lot more about their children, and their parenting, than previous generations ever did. We seem to feel overwhelmed by all the options, all the advice, and feel anxious as a result. The aim of this book is to help parents to understand where their worries come from, decide if they are rational or not, and stop worrying so much!
What I found most interesting about this book was its explanation of where a lot of our worries as parents come from. Often we project our own feelings onto our kids. If we feel stressed, rushed and overworked, we worry that our kids are overscheduled and don't have enough down time. Maybe it is really us that needs the down time! Also, often we remember our own feelings as a child, and act according to those feelings, rather than our children's. For instance, if we experienced a lot of loneliness as a child, we are anxious to make sure that our children have lots of friends and never feel lonely. If our children seem to be having difficulties with friendships, or seem to play alone a lot, we rush to assume that they are terribly unhappy (like we were), rather than find out what they really think or feel.
The other thing I found interesting, was the notion that as kids get older, they need a certain amount of "benign neglect". In other words, they don't need us to hover over their every move, thought and feeling. Being watched all the time will cause children to become very self-conscious, and very good at censoring themselves in front of their children. Also, children need to know that their parents have another hobby other than them!
Definitely an interesting read. show less
3.5 stars
This was written by a developmental psychologist, and the focus is on middle school kids. What is the definition of a nerd and why do kids fear being one so much?
I thought this was interesting, and also amusing in parts. I don't know that it will stay with me, though. But it was quick to read.
This was written by a developmental psychologist, and the focus is on middle school kids. What is the definition of a nerd and why do kids fear being one so much?
I thought this was interesting, and also amusing in parts. I don't know that it will stay with me, though. But it was quick to read.
Nerds: How Dorks, Dweebs, Techies, and Trekkies Can Save America and Why They Might Be Our Last Hope by David Anderegg
This was a good book about the social aspects and some sociological background of this group of people. The book wasn't quite what I expected.
Not a bad book. Not really scientific enough for my case. I would have liked more case studies and less philosophizing. But, very informative as a whole. I've learned that I have avoid the nerd stereotype with my self confidence (uncalled for?) and the easy with which I deflect criticism. Which I would agree was very handy in the vicious middle school years. My keen fashion sense also help (you can't call me a geek for that reference, since that means you know it too).
You May Also Like
Statistics
- Works
- 2
- Members
- 178
- Popularity
- #120,888
- Rating
- 3.3
- Reviews
- 7
- ISBNs
- 7