Alpha Nurd

The word nerd first appeared in the 1950s, when Dr. Seuss used it for an invented zoo creature rather than a person. Steve Rampton's Alpha Nurd turns to the human side of that story, tracing how the word, spelled here as nurd, came to describe people in the 1960s.

The book gathers examples of nurds from ancient times to the present day, including people the author has met in person. Among them are Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, and Alan B. Shepard, the first American in space.

The book is written for young and old readers alike, with the message that every life matters and that pursuing one's goals and dreams can make a difference. It argues that nurds are far more important to the world than many people realize, and it invites readers to see whether the nurd is in them too.