Free Response to Literature Essay
In the passage entitled “America Needs Its Nerds”, written by Leonid Fridman in 1990,
Fridman emphasizes the importance of what are known as “nerds” and “geeks” in our society.
He argues that instead of encouraging “social skills and physical prowess” in modern day
society, we should focus on “academic achievement and intellectual ability”. Through the use of
hypothetical thinking, rhetorical strategies, and an aggressive tone, Fridman demonstrates just
how critical these so-called “nerds” are to our culture.
Fridman cites Webster’s New World Dictionary once, mentions Harvard University, and
all other statements are hypothetical and meant to be interpreted as fact. For instance, take the
sentence that follows: “Children who prefer to read books rather than play football, prefer to
build model airplanes rather than get wasted at parties with their classmates, become social
outcasts.” There is no citation of studies on the ratio of school kids who would rather absorb
themselves in literature to kids who absorb their body weight in alcohol. There is no proof that
each and every one of these children become “social outcasts”, or at least its not mentioned
here. Fridman employs more absolutes when talking of social norms in other countries. “There
are few countries in the world where anti-intellectualism runs as high in popular culture as it
does in the U.S.” The reader does not know whether Fridman has been to other countries, the
reader does not have any statistical data to go off of. The reader is meant to take the author's
word for it, and in what little context there is, that is asking a lot from a reader.
Rhetorical strategies are the bread and butter of a writer wishing to establish an
argument, and Fridman wastes no time in laying it on thick. The hyperbole is one of the culprits.
“Nerds and geeks must stop being ashamed of who they are.” The implication is that nerds and
geeks are this oppressed faction of society, an upset group of people embarrassed of
themselves. Perhaps there are nerds and geeks who are at home with who they are, but that
isn’t mentioned by the author. Its the supposed unanimous struggle that is emphasized, not the
statistics of the real world. The piece ends with a couple rhetorical questions. “How can a
country where typical parents are ashamed of their daughter studying mathematics instead of
dancing, or of their son reading Weber while his friends play baseball, be expected to compete
in the technology race with Japan or remain a leading political and cultural force in Europe?”
Fridman is worried about the future, which is fair. He asks how long America can remain a
powerful country when the emphasis is on being able to socialize and how to throw a ball
instead of doing well in school and possessing intellectual ability. These are powerful questions
that leave the reader pondering, thus rendering the piece effective.
The reader knows Fridmans thoughts on the matter right off the bat, and that's thanks to
tone. He establishes his point in the very first sentence, and his feelings on the matter. “There is
something very wrong with the system of values in a society that has only derogatory terms like
nerd and geek for the intellectually curious and academically serious.” His feelings about the
issue are especially lucid when he ends a paragraph, states “Enough is enough,” and starts a
new paragraph. The reader can also assume that he has connections to the piece, when he
uses specific examples such as “son reading Weber while his friends play baseball”. One would
hope the author had some experience in this area, and that would definitely explain his strong
feelings.
Fridmans piece brings to light an argument that has been around for lifetimes. By
keeping things in the hypothetical, relying heavily on rhetorical strategies, and lathering on the
combative tone, the author manages to paint a picture of exactly what is on his mind.