Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet out of Idaho

By Jon Katz

“A story of triumph, friendship, love, and above all, about being human and reaching for dreams in a hard-wired world.”—Seattle Times
 
“Too often, writing about the online world lacks emotional punch, but Katz’s obvious love for his ‘lost boys’ gives his narrative a rich taste.”—The New York Times Book Review

Jesse and Eric were geeks: suspicious of authority figures, proud of their status as outsiders, fervent in their belief in the positive power of technology. High school had been an unbearable experience and their small-town Idaho families had been torn apart by hard times. On the fringe of society, they had almost no social lives and little to look forward to. They spent every spare cent on their computers and every spare moment online. Nobody ever spoke of them, much less for them.

But then they met Jon Katz, a roving journalist who suggested that, in the age of geek impresario Bill Gates, Jesse and Eric had marketable skills that could get them out of Idaho and pave the way to a better life. So they bravely set out to conquer Chicago—geek style. Told with Katz’s trademark charm and sparkle, Geeks is a humorous, moving tale of triumph over adversity and self-acceptance that delivers two irresistible heroes for the digital age and reveals the very human face of technology.
 
Praise for Geeks

“Ultimately, Geeks is not a story about the Internet or computers or techies. It is a story about personal bonds, optimism, access to opportunity, and the courage to dream.”—Salon

“An uplifting and hugely compassionate book.”—Philadelphia Inquirer
 
“A story of friendship, optimism, social despair, and an updated version of that American icon, the tinkerer.”—USA Today
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Apr 18, 2000
• ISBN: 9780375505188

Jon Katz

Jon Katz has written over twenty books, including Talking to Animals, Soul of a Dog, Izzy & Lenore, Dog Days, A Good Dog, and The Dogs of Bedlam Farm. He has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Slate, Rolling Stone, Wired, and the AKC Gazette. He has worked for CBS News, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Katz is also a photographer and the author of a children’s book, Meet the Dogs of Bedlam Farm. He lives on Bedlam Farm in upstate New York with the artist Maria Heinrich; his dogs Izzy, Lenore, and Frieda; and his barn cats, Mother and Minnie.

Reviews for Geeks

[chsbellboy_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

While Jon Katz himself is not a geek, he accurately portrays the story of two geeks that use their knowledge of computing to move out of their hometown and advance their lives significantly. While the two geeks that Katz describes are a bit more reclusive than some, the principles he discusses hold true for many members of the geek community.

[djupstrom · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A cool story of some...well let's face it...geeks that turned their passions into careers. It is about friendship in the face of oblivion. A great human drama for the 21st century.

[eenerd · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This amazing little book propels you along the journey of two Gen Xers from Idaho who realize that they can pretty much do whatever the hell they want to with their lives...then go for it! You share their struggles and triumphs, and everything in between. Really incredible because it's true. Somewhat dated (hey, it's a tech book!) but great nonetheless - a sequel would be absolutely amazing.

[nevusmom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good book. Reminded of some kids I know.

[heidilove_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Katz came to fame on his 'observations' of geeks, and even spent some time at slashdot doing a series on the hellmouth, his (stolen) term for how badly geeks are treated in high school. read this if you're interested. it's pretty good.