Coming this summer from Penguin/Berkley
ABOUT THE BOOK
Today's "culture of cool" has changed the way kids grow up. Rather than enjoying innocent childhoods while developing strong, authentic characters, today's kids can become cynical—even jaded—as they absorb the dangerous messages and harmful influences of a dominant popular culture that encourages materialism, high-risk behaviors, and a state of pseudo-adulthood. Author and mother of four Marybeth Hicks suggests an alternative to the culture of cool: bringing up geeks. In this groundbreaking book, she redefines geeks as Genuine, Enthusiastic, Empowered Kids and inspires parents to free themselves and their kids from cultural conditioning while instilling in their children truly important values. (Berkley Books 2008, a division of Penguin Group USA, ISBN: 9780425221563)
PRAISE FOR BRINGING UP GEEKS
"Marybeth Hicks reminds us that it is more important to be our children's parents than it is to be their friends. Her book is a go-to guide when it’s time to set limits on how much and what our children are exposed to in this world of celebrity, mass media and affluence."
Chris Hansen, "Dateline NBC" Correspondent
Author, To Catch a Predator: Protecting your kids
from online enemies already in your home
“Every so often a book comes along that I tell my friends they absolutely must read… Read this book, declare your status as a geek supporter or geek parent, and create a better life for your family… This is the time for us to take back our children’s childhoods, and in doing so to claim our role as strong, protective parents.”
Dr. Kimberly M. Thompson
Associate Professor and Director of the Kids Risk Project
Harvard School of Public Health
“Today’s popular culture is robbing from an entire generation of children their most treasured possession – the sweet innocence of youth. Bringing up Geeks is a breath of fresh air, and we owe Marybeth Hicks a debt of gratitude. It’s required reading for any parent struggling to raise a child in a society that’s lost its moral compass.”
L. Brent Bozell, President, Media Research Center
and founder of the Parents Television Council
"In an era when children are being systematically robbed of their childhood, Marybeth Hicks offers sound advice on how to let kids be kids and still grow up to be fulfilled, responsible, well-rounded adults. Bringing Up Geeks makes more sense than anything I’ve ever read on the subject of raising children."
Pat Sajak, Father, husband and host of “Wheel of Fortune”
“In an age when parents seem frightfully concerned their children might not be popular enough, Marybeth Hicks points out both the joys and the ultimate benefits of being uncool. A wonderful parenting guide.”
W. Bruce Cameron, Nationally syndicated columnist
Author, 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter
and 8 Simple Rules for Marrying My Daughter
"Marybeth Hicks writes with a keen eye and a mother's loving heart in this hilarious guide to raising a child you can actually take out in public without cringing. Brava to Marybeth and her original and comedic voice."
Adriana Trigiani, New York Times Best-selling author
"Bringing up Geeks is the most reassuring and valuable thing I have read concerning my most important job...being a parent. I want to raise my kids to embrace the right values, and not to simply seek out the ‘cool’ route. I want them to have the confidence and conviction to follow their hearts and recognize what is truly important to them. Bringing up Geeks brings real clarity to a complicated process."
Jay Bilas, Husband, father, lawyer and ESPN basketball analyst
"Every parent in America should own and read this book... it brilliantly helps with raising a child in our culture today. That's the most important and difficult job there is -- and this book is simply an enormous help. It could have just been titled "The Parent's Handbook'. Do yourself and your kids a big favor: get this book and use it! You'll be thanking the author for many years to come."
Eric Metaxas, VeggieTales writer and author
Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery
and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (but were afraid to ask).
"Marybeth Hicks has provided readers of The Washington Times with years of parenting wisdom and her new book Bringing Up Geeks promises to add to that extraordinary body of sage advice for every family seeking to engage the hearts, souls and minds of their children in the midst of the current culture wars."
John Solomon, Editor in Chief, The Washington Times
"Hooray for Marybeth Hicks! In her funny, original and engaging new book, she shows us everything good about parenting against the culture. Far from being a nerd, this mom inspires us to raise GEEK kids by helping us see how they will be so much more cool than their peers when it comes to finding real joy, in today's world -- and tomorrow's."
Betsy Hart, Syndicated Columnist
Author, It Takes a Parent: How the Culture of Pushover
Parenting is Hurting Our Kids -- And What to do About It
“Right on to raising happy, independent GEEKS! Rules and limits don’t stultify children any more than strict iambic pentameter stultified Shakespeare. Marybeth Hicks encourages parents to stick to their guns and buck the sexy/cynical/smart alec kiddie culture that most parents actually hate, but feel powerless to fight. I just hope it’s not too late for me and my own kids!”
Lenore Skenazy, Columnist, New York Sun
“Marybeth Hicks has raised the bar for families. Bringing Up Geeks boldly challenges adults to act like their children’s parents instead of their buddies. Geeks are the new cool.”
Lori Borgman, Columnist, Indianapolis Star
Author, I Was a Better Mother Before I Had Kids
“Bringing Up Geeks puts a positive spin on being a geek. Hicks offers insightful rationale for raising brainy, sheltered, and principled children, along with an arsenal of helpful anecdotes and sound advice. It’s cool to be uncool, and incorporating this paradigm shift will allow kids to enjoy the innocence of their childhoods, rather than be swept into our highly sexualized mainstream culture.
Rebecca Hagelin, Vice President
The Heritage Foundation
Author, Home Invasion: Protecting Your Family
in a Culture That’s Gone Stark Raving Mad
"Marybeth Hicks offers marvelous advice about how to protect and preserve the innocence of childhood in today’s fast-paced, high-pressure world."
Bobbi Conner
Host of NPR's "The Parent’s Journal" and author of Unplugged Play