This past summer I decided to give Wil Wheaton’s book Just a Geek a try after my friend Jeff went on a tear, ripping through it and raving about it the entire time. I borrowed it with the idea that I would slowly work my way through it and then quickly followed suit. I finished it off in no time at all and in turn raved about it to one of our mutual friends who then took the loaner and tore through it himself. Gotta love it when books catch fire within your circle of friends.
Just a Geek was a shoe in on my favorites list for the year and remains one of the most inspiring books I’ve read when it comes to thinking about the way that I want to write on this site. In my review I stated: “…the plain truth is that this book is really for any kind of nerd or geek out there and as such is one I can recommend without reservation. It is a quick, entertaining and satisfying read that has me looking to track down the rest of Wil Wheaton’s books…this was a real treat.”
And indeed it was. I made good on my promise, buying a copy of his essay collection, Dancing Barefoot, as a Christmas gift for Jeff. I thought it was the least I could do by way of thanks for introducing me to Just a Geek in the first place. The bonus of that kind of giving is that as soon as Jeff finished it he offered to loan it to me.
Pretty slick move, wasn’t it? Heh, the gift that keeps on giving. 🙂
It is my great pleasure to announce that this, my first completed book of 2012, was every bit as entertaining as Just a Geek. I only had one minor complaint…
The book is too short!
To be fair the reason Dancing Barefoot came into being according to Wheaton’s opening note is that he intended to put these essays into Just a Geek but they didn’t fit. Despite its slight 110 pages I can forgive him. This book was a treat as well.
Dancing Barefoot contains “five short but true stories about life in the so-called space age” and the content of these stories span 30 years of Wheaton’s life. Four of the five stories are indeed short, with a longer one at the end that focuses on how Wheaton came to terms with Star Trek. Oddly enough I was familiar with this final story, “The Saga of Spongebob Vegaspants”. Either some version of the events in this story were in Just a Geek or I read it on his website, where all these stories originally appeared in some form or other. To his credit, even though I recalled major events in the story I was still sucked right in and was appropriately choked up in the end. I truly am such a geek, and a sentimental one at that.
Wheaton writes with the candor of a true fanboy, never shying away from the fact that he is not just some actor who was in a popular science fiction television show a couple of decades back but that he is truly a bona fide geek. It is his willingness to openly embrace his passions coupled with his honest desire to be a great husband and father that makes his essays resonate with me. Wheaton shares wonderful memories of his own childhood, memories that fuel his drive to be a good dad to his stepsons. And while it could be argued that someone with Wheaton’s resume coupled with his geek cred would make it easy for him to be “the cool dad”, he is also candid about the struggles of balancing family time with work pursuits. While I cannot relate to the ups and downs associated with celebrity, when I read about Wheaton’s desire to do work that means something and of the love he has for his family I feel like I am looking into a mirror.
I recognize that guy. And I cannot help but cheer him on.
Dancing Barefoot will make you smile, will make you laugh, and may even make you shed a tear or two. I suspect it will also inspire you to write from your heart, to not shy away from using your writing to shine a light into the areas of your life that you want to do better at, and to be the very best you that you can be.
And if you just so happen to be a fan of Star Trek, it comes with the added bonus of a nice trip down memory lane.
Live long and prosper, Mr. Wheaton. And don’t stop writing.
Well, I better order this one right away!
Or you could send Jeff a sweet, begging email and ask to be included in the party again this time.
Dude! You don’t need to do that. Carl please pass it on to James the next you see him. By the way James it’s been too long since I’ve seen YOU. We all need to get together to go see Underworld later this month.
I wanted you to wait and have him send you the “sweet, begging” email. Darn you and your generosity!
And yes, we desperately need a guy’s night out and Underworld is just the ticket.
Ah, crap. I meant to buy Wil Wheaton’s book with my Christmas gift cards and I forgot. 🙁 I tried to get my library to buy it, but no luck…
Darn the poor memory! Yes, you must read Wil Wheaton. Resistance is futile! Stop me from making cliched Star Trek references, please oh please, stop me…
Thanks again for this Christmas gift. Now I need to find another Wheaton book for us to read. 🙂
I’m tempted to read his overview of the first half of the first season of TNG, but if I did so I’d want to watch each episode in conjuction with the reading. I think it would be more fun that way.
It’s for sale on Lulu for $ 20 bucks and I’m so buying some time in the next few months when I can afford it.
I’m holding out to re-watch Next Gen until the remastered HD versions start rolling out late in 2012 or 2013. They are remastering all of the seasons of Next Gen like they did with the original series. Yeah Hoo!!!
Hadn’t heard that, what a great idea. Maybe I’ll wait then too. It would actually be my first time watching Season One as I’ve only seen a handful of those episodes. Didn’t really start watching the show with any regularity until the 5th or 6th season.
I didn’t realise that Wil Wheton had written a book or two. I need to get on that pretty soon; the man is a champion of geekery. Thanks for the review!
You are most welcome. He truly is and both of these companion volumes are very good books, regardless of whether a person is a fan of Wheaton or not.
I used to follow Wheaton’s blog, not sure why I stopped. I must investigate again cause he used to write some pretty interesting things there too.
I always think I’m going to be better about following the blogs of some of the authors I enjoy but it is hard to keep up, especially just keeping up with the blogs of good bloggy friends.
What a very ….thoughtful, (nudges Carl with elbow and winks ;)…gift Carl…lol It really does sound delightful. His writings have such a wonderful flow, and comedic quality to them, yet the underlying reality is always present. I soooo enjoy seeing Wheatons reoccurring cameos on The Big Bang Theory…he’s a hoot!
Look at that! I harass you on Twitter and you come for a visit. I should have been bugging you earlier, ha!
I did think that was a pretty smooth gift on my part. Shrewd even. 🙂
Wheaton has been great on The Guild as well. If you haven’t seen those seasons, you need to check out the show.
Good to see you Kelly!
Good to hear that the second book didn’t let you down. I hope for your sake that he continues to write books.
Me too, although I can get my fix reading his blog. He actually does have another book in this vein out there but it is rare and uber expensive. I’d love it if he could somehow get a publisher to re-release it in a new and more affordable version.
Ugh…this book and the other by Wheaton would have made a few good gifts. Now to figure a way to gift them still. Their birthdays are just too far away.
I do enjoy a gift that keeps on giving…I do this with my daughters. They are on to it though.
The excellent thing for Wheaton’s books is that they can be this type of gift. Bonus for me. 🙂
Definitely! Keep them on your radar for the next round of gift giving.
And it sounds like you are a shrewd parent. Well done!
Now I want to get my hands on both Wheaton books! 🙂
They are so good Trisha, I hope you can track them down soon.