Until recently, many people thought being nerdy was a bad thing. In popular culture, "nerds" are often seen as having bad social skills, obnoxious intelligence, obsessive behaviors, and overall bad looks.

A lot of people find nerdy things (like Star Wars and Lord of the Rings) fun and interesting. That's changed the meaning of "nerdy." What was once a small thing has become a big thing. Nerds are now the most important people in a lot of businesses, like movies, TV, board games, and books.

Books for Nerds

In the end, it's time for you to finally embrace your inner nerdiness. There's a little nerd in everyone. These 20 books will make you think about life, the universe, and other things.

I, Robot by Isaac Asimov

Asimov was one of the Big Three science fiction writers of his time, along with Arthur C. Clarke and Robert A. Heinlein. So it's safe to say that he's a well-respected math geek. He's a member of Mensa, an expert in biochemistry, and the author of a whole science-fiction series about math.

I, Robot is a collection of short stories that follow a robopsychologist named Susan Calvin as she tries to figure out why robots act the way they do and how to fix them with "robopsychology." It talks about the moral issues that arise when humans and robots interact as robots become more and more human-like. This is the book that came up with the Three Laws of Robotics, a set of imaginary rules that changed how robots were portrayed in different media.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

In the beginning, the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was a radio show. It quickly became a kind of bible for the nerd community. This book takes a look at science with a unique, mad scientist-like sense of humor. It's a fun trip around the universe in search of the answer to life, the universe, and everything. 42.

When the Vogons, a species of aliens, destroy Earth to make way for an intergalactic bypass, Arthur Dent finds himself homeless and without a home. What comes next is a fun-filled trip through different alien cultures, different characters (who, let's be honest, seem to be crazy at all times), and, of course, lunch at The Restaurant at the End of the Universe.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

In Ready Player One, which came out a few years ago, everything can happen in the OASIS, a huge virtual world where everyone can be anyone. With places where magic and robots and dragons can be found, the setting alone is a nerd's dream come true for them.

Wade Watts is just like any other teenage boy. An uncle takes him to live with him and go to school at the OASIS. He spends most of his time looking up pop culture from the 1980s and the 1990s in the hope that he can find clues to the Egg Hunt, which was left by his uncle when the man who created the OASIS passed away. Things start to change when he finds the first clue and starts to become famous in the OASIS all over.

Snow Crash by Neal Thompson

As one of the best English-language novels written since 1923, Snow Crash stands out. It talks about history, linguistics, computer science, politics, and philosophy. It's a little hard to read at first, but it's very interesting. You may have heard that it helped make "avatar" popular, and it's said to have been the source of the idea for Google Earth.

Hiro Protagonist is a hacker and a pizza delivery man for the mafia, no less. He works for them. When a computer virus that seems to be able to affect the real world and make people do what it wants comes out, Hiro takes it upon himself to find out what it is and get rid of it.

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson

It's the first book in the Malazan series, an epic dark fantasy with military overtones. The gardens of the moon is the first book in the series. Despite being dark and harsh, the world of Malazan doesn't get too grim or nihilistic. Even though it's hard to read because of the many in-the-moment setting scenes and complicated world-building, the payoff is huge when everything starts to make sense as you read.

It's about the Malazan Empire's takeover of the Free Cities of Pale and Darujhistan, and how the Bridgeburners, a legendary infantry unit, did it. Some people, some gods, and a lot of backstabbing and backroom plotting are involved in major subplots that run in parallel with the main storyline, making it hard to put down.

The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett

Discworld's first book, The Color of Magic, is a long-time favorite of geeks. Fantasy cliches and subgenres are often made fun of in this book. It also talks about real-world issues like racial prejudice and politics.

Rincewind is a cynical wizard who has no skills and no desire to be a hero. When he meets Twoflower, a young insurance clerk from a powerful empire, things go awry and he is forced to be with her. Because they didn't know that their adventures were a game played by the gods of the Disworld, they went on a trip.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

During Jules Verne's time, he came up with a terrifying submarine called the Nautilus that could be compared to the ones we have today. There were a lot of new things that didn't exist back then, like Captain Nemo's diving gear, electricity, or the submarine in this story. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea could be seen as the first work of science fiction.

Professor Pierre Aronnax and his friends are stuck on the Nautilus, a vessel that was built and steered by Captain Nemo, who is on a self-imposed exile from Earth's society. The book is about their adventures, mishaps, and eventual escape and return to society.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

George Orwell's 1984 has been likened to Brave New World, which is about a society where reproduction and social class are made on an assembly line. From birth, some people are taught that their class is better than other classes, while other classes do important jobs and drugs are used to keep people from feeling bad.

The book is about people who come from very different backgrounds trying to deal with a life that was forced on them. Bernard is a psychologist and part of the Alpha class, but he has a low self-esteem because he is shorter than most alphas, which makes him feel bad. There are 30 percent of women who are not sterile. Lenina is a promiscuous and beautiful "fetus technician," and she's part of that group of women. John is thought of as a savage because he grew up in a "Savage Reservation" that is very similar to modern native American culture.

Dune by Frank Herbert

If you want to learn more about science fiction, read Dune. It is one of the books that people think of as a "gateway." Future: It takes place in a feudal interstellar society where nobles own whole planets as a part of their fiefs.

It's up to Paul Atreides and his family to run Arrakis. Arrakis is dangerous and unfriendly, but it is the only place to get a drug that can extend life, improve mental abilities, and help with space navigation. Stewardship of Arrakis, then, is a dangerous job that many people want. The book talks about the political, religious, technological, and ecological battles that happen when different groups try to get hold of Arrakis and the drug.

Neuromancer by William Gibson

Neuromancer is one of the earliest and most important works in the cyberpunk genre, and it often shows how technology and the human body work together. When it came out, the book had never won any of these awards before.

Henry Dorsett Case used to be a very good hacker, but he was caught stealing from his employer, which caused his central nervous system to be damaged and made him unable to access the "matrix," a virtual reality data space that was meant to punish him for his crime. A chance to fix his central nervous system makes him accept a job that sends him into a world of murder and intrigue.

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

The Final Empire is the first book in the Mistborn series. It introduces the idea of magic that is based on solid scientific knowledge, and it often refers to scientific rules when talking about magic (albeit in a more fantasy-esque description). Magic in the world of Scadrial is shown as abilities that are linked to different metals. For example, brass is used to keep emotions calm, while Zinc is used to make them angry. Steel and Iron are used to push and pull metal, and so on.

The book is about Kelsier, the "Survivor of Hathsin," and his group of "allomancers," people who get powers from eating metal. They are trying to kill the Lord Ruler, who is both oppressive and almost mythical, in order to free the world from his rule.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Ender's Game is a military science fiction book set in a distant future where humans and an insect-like alien race called Formics are always at odds. A third invasion is being planned. Children are conscripted and trained to become commanders who can win against the "buggers."

Ender Wiggins is one of these kids, and he quickly shows that he is very good at tactical warfare. The book shows how he grows up as a child and as a soldier, focusing on how his trainers manipulate and isolate him in their belief that they can make him a person who can end the war.

1984 by George Orwell

If Brave New World is all about having fun, 1984 is all about pain and brute force being used to control people. It shows a society where the "Party" hides the truth and people who don't follow the rules are brutally punished in the name of everyone's "well-being."

This is the story of Winston Smith, a low-ranking employee at the Ministry of Truth. He rewrites historical records to make them more in line with the state. He secretly hates the Party's rule and often dreams of revolting, even going so far as to look for people who are willing to overthrow the state and start a new government.

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings has made fantasy and science fiction what they are today because of how it has changed them. If you want to learn about all things geeky, this book is your best bet! Though it was written in 1954, it's still a must-read and a standard for the genre.

The book follows the journey of the Fellowship as they try to destroy the One Ring and stop the Dark Lord Sauron from becoming even more powerful and bringing darkness to Middle-earth. In particular, it shows Frodo, a normal Hobbit who is suddenly thrust into a fight that would be better suited for kings, wizards, and other powerful people.

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Anyone who hasn't heard of Harry Potter should know him. You can think of it as the book series that started a modern fantasy renaissance. It has turned into a billion-dollar business with movies, plays, and other things. It also caused a whole generation of kids to grow up and want to be wizards.

He grows up and becomes more mature as he learns more about the wizarding world. He also fights against Voldemort with Voldemort and the Dark Arts in this book.

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