The Nerdist Way

How to Reach the Next Level (In Real Life)

By: Chris Hardwick

Narrated by: Chris Hardwick

Length: 6 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Nerds: Once a tormented subrace of humans... Now captains of industry! You don’t have to be a stereotypical geekwad to appreciate the tenets of Nerdism and to make your innate talents for overanalysis and hyper-self-awareness work for you instead of against you. Join Nerd superstar Chris Hardwick as he offers his fellow “creative-obsessives” the crucial information needed to come out on top in the current Nerd uprising.

Nerds subsist on the minutiae of their chosen passions. As a lifelong member of “The Nerd Herd,” as he calls it, Chris Hardwick has learned all there is to know about Nerds. He’s studied them, lived with them, and has endeavored to milk their knowledge nectar and isolate its curative powers for what ails you. Thus, he has founded a philosophical system (and blog) called The Nerdist, and here he shares his hard-earned wisdom about turning seeming weaknesses into world-dominating strengths. From keeping your heart rate below hummingbird levels to managing the avalanche of sadness that is your inbox, from ignoring your brain to attracting wealth by turning down work, Hardwick reveals the secrets that can help you accomplish what you want by tapping into your true nerdtastic self. The Nerdist Way shows how to focus your mind, body, and time into an unstoppable laser of goodness. Don’t wait for another social tragedy. Don’t resort to cheap “mass murder” tactics to exact your revenge on society. Success is the most satisfying - and legal - form of vengeance there is. And you can achieve it when you follow the Nerdist Way.

©2011 Chris Hardwick (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

A Level 2 Review

What did you love best about The Nerdist Way?

That as I was waiting for my hard copy to arrive I was still able to start

What did you like best about this story?

How comprehensive the book was. Was not expecting it to turn into a workbook.

What about Chris Hardwick’s performance did you like?

That it was the same as his podcast presence. Loud, nerdy, and very parenthetical (which is not a bad thing).

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Ding. Allons-y.

Any additional comments?

I finished the books *weeks* ago, just now getting around to writing a review. And part of my Character Tome is putting myself out there through blogs, reviews, etc and with completing this I just reached Level 2. I have recommended this book to several of my nerd friends and would like to thank Chris Hardwick again for this extraordinary experience.

I Enjoyed My Burrito!

Would you listen to The Nerdist Way again? Why?

I will be listening again. Since this was in audio book format, there was a little lost. I intend to listen again and take more notes. I've already begun my path to change several different things. This will make a great reference.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Nerdist Way?

I loved the part wher Gandalf fought the Balrog! Wait. That was a different book. Can I really chose a part of this that was memorable? I think the point of this book is for all of it to be memorable. Many parts will stay with me.

Which scene was your favorite?

Shouldn't some of these questions be tailored differently to fit all genres? Or maybe they could just have a different set of questions for different genres. There were no real scenes. I enjoyed the sidebars.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A Film That Should Not Be a Film! You Will Wish You Read The Book!

Any additional comments?

Very helpful. Incorporating this into my life has already begun to help.

Fun book!

With Chris Hardwick narrating it was like you were in his head. It's a fun was of looking at getting things done and will definitely give it a shot. Some of the nerdist links in the book are no longer active. Fyi.

Best Audible performance of all time!

An honest and yet hysterical look into the life and times of Chris Hardwick and an excellent self improvement guide for geeks throughout the realm.

Very inspirational

Very practical advice on many topics that silk help you manage your time and projects. Plus, he's very funny and likeable.

Pithy advice for the geek who wants it all.

What made the experience of listening to The Nerdist Way the most enjoyable?

Christ Hardwick doesn't just deliver one liners, he's lived a successful life and almost threw it away, only to realize how to keep it and remake himself.

What did you like best about this story?

There is good advice on gamifying your life so you can get the things done you've always wanted to. It's not a replacement for hard work, but it helps to put the work into perspective.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

How to reach the next level in real life.

A Great Commedian, Mediocere Teacher

Chris Hardwick is an amazing comedian and awesome speaker, all throughout the book he keeps a "hey buddy" relationship with the reader and this is probably the only reason I finished the book. However I found the content of the book to be very lacking. The book is divided into three sections, each representing an aspect of life that you must perfect to achieve happiness. The only section of this book that was even worth listening to was the first. He lays out a very good, creative, and fun model to help you better yourself, the character tomb, however never really comes back to it. Where as the majority of the first section talks about things to add to this tomb, exercises, and makes it sound like this is going to be your clean cut method for improving yourself, the later sections barely even mention it.

Although there are a few good nuggets in here they are buried under loads of advice we have already heard time and time again, usually I can deal with this as the best advice is advice all self help guru's give, however unlike other gurus he didn't elaborate, or even put his own spin on most of them. I would advise those of you looking for good self help books to pick up How To Live In 24 Hours, or any of Carnagie's work, also The Secret and The Road to Babylon. All of these books take specific ideas Chris mentioned, and really put them into the spotlight allowing you to get the full use.

Much more than meets the eye with this one!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Nerdist Way to be better than the print version?

I purchased both the book, and the audio (I was told it was better as an audiobook). After going through, I do highly recommend the audiobook. Chris Hardwick's humor can be picked up through text, but not at the same level as through audio.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Nerdist Way?

For me, it was an assignment to think of some things you fear and to shed light on some problems in your life that are holding you back in life. Once those fears/problem in thinking are broken down and examined, they become powerless.

What does Chris Hardwick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Hardwick's humor cannot be delivered as strongly through text. It's about delivery, and as a comic, he knows how to do it well!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

One of the assignments was to write down something you're afraid of. I drew out a scenario of a worst-case scenario (which included negative self talk by myself, and what I thought others would say if I was teaching a group exercise class)

I then drew a better image, where the self talk was positive, and all the comments from the participants were positive. After looking at it, the second image looked more realistic, and helped me to realize how I need to change my thinking in more areas of my life.

Any additional comments?

If you read this, go download it! It's filled with great exercises, and delivered in a way that won't put you to sleep like some of the other self help books out there!

I am a Nerd at heart

I was concerned about this book because my husband read it first. My husband was wanting more comedy and not a self-help book. So, I had that in the back of my mind when I started to read this book. I actually really enjoyed the book. I could relate to it in more ways than I expected. There are lots of ways that I will apply this book to my everyday life.

Chris Hardwick narrated this book. I can't imagine anyone else doing it justice. However, at times he talks very fast and I am afraid of missing something. On the flip side, his comedy comes through and makes the audible version better than what I think the print version would be.

Hardwick should narrate every audiobook

What made the experience of listening to The Nerdist Way the most enjoyable?

Hardwick's narrating & hilarious material

What other book might you compare The Nerdist Way to and why?

I can't compare it to any other I've read.

Have you listened to any of Chris Hardwick’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Just his podcast.
Equally hilarious and informative.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no, but I haven't listened to any audiobooks in one sitting.