We Are the Nerds Book Summary

In 'We Are the Nerds,' Christine Lagorio-Chafkin explores the vibrant world of tech entrepreneurs and the culture that fuels Silicon Valley. Through compelling narratives, she introduces us to the pioneers who transformed their passions into revolutionary ideas, from coding in their bedrooms to building billion-dollar companies. The book not only showcases their triumphs but also reveals the trials, tribulations, and the often misunderstood essence of being a 'nerd.' As a celebration of innovation and the unconventional, it poses thought-provoking questions about the future of technology and its impact on humanity. Will these visionaries lead us towards a utopia or dystopia? Discover the stories behind the icons changing the world!

By Christine Lagorio-Chafkin

Published: 2019

"In a world that often undervalues curiosity and creativity, we are the nerds — the dreamers and doers who dare to envision a future that reflects our passions."

Book Review of We Are the Nerds

Named a Best Book of 2018 by Fast Company, this is a "sharply written and brilliantly reported" (Shelf Awareness) look inside Reddit, the wildly popular, often misunderstood website that has changed the culture of the Internet. Reddit hails itself as "the front page of the Internet." It's the third most-visited website in the United States--and yet, millions of Americans have no idea what it is. We Are the Nerds is an engrossing look deep inside this captivating, maddening enterprise, whose army of obsessed users have been credited with everything from solving cold case crimes and spurring tens of millions of dollars in charitable donations to seeding alt-right fury and landing Donald Trump in the White House. We Are the Nerds is a gripping start-up narrative: the story of how Reddit's founders, Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian, rose up from their suburban childhoods to become millionaires and create an icon of the digital age--before seeing the site engulfed in controversies and nearly losing control of it for good. Based on Christine Lagorio-Chafkin's exclusive access to founders Ohanian and Huffman, We Are the Nerds is also a compelling exploration of the way we all communicate today--and how we got here. Reddit and its users have become a mirror of the Internet: it has dingy corners, shiny memes, malicious trolls, and a sometimes heart-melting ability to connect people across cultures, oceans, and ideological divides.

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In a world that often undervalues curiosity and creativity, we are the nerds — the dreamers and doers who dare to envision a future that reflects our passions.

We Are the Nerds

By Christine Lagorio-Chafkin