The geek is making a comeback, and in a big way. "What was once a derogatory term," writes Eric Smith, "has now been taken back by a community proud to wear the title." And not just one community: there are gaming geeks, Apple geeks, math geeks and many more. The Geek's Guide to Dating is aimed at them all, offering tips and advice for finding--and keeping--the perfect romantic companion.
Smith starts out by helping the reader--affectionately referred to as "Player One" throughout the book--identify his or her proper geek category before moving on to how to meet a potential partner online or IRL ("in real life"). Subsequent chapters address everything from asking her out to preparing for the date to maintaining a relationship beyond the first date; every section is peppered with cultural references that make Smith's advice accessible and enjoyable to read--a welcome break from the dry how-to guide style. These nods to Princess Peach, WoW guilds, Han Solo's clothes and Bender's relationship to the space ship in Futurama are wide-ranging enough to appeal to geeks of any variety.
The Geek's Guide to Dating skews toward straight males seeking female companions, but most of Smith's advice can be applied to any gender or sexuality--and Smith's clever inclusion of the best of geekdom is a delight to read from start to finish. --Kerry McHugh, blogger at Entomology of a Bookworm