Analysis Of Leonid Fridman's 'America Needs Its Nerds'

“Be nice to nerds. You may end up working for them. We all could.” - Charles J. Sykes. This quote relates to “ America Needs Its Nerds” by Leonid Fridman, by the way they both see how society doesn’t value its nerds. Fridman and Sykes both know nerds or intellectuals aren't valued as high as someone who is popular or an athlete. Fridman develops his argument by showing how society snubs nerds through childhood and as being an adult.
Fridman first evolves his argument by defining the word “nerd” and showing intellectuals are ashamed at a prestigious college. First Fridman uses the Webster’s New World Dictionary definition “ is a street performer who shocks the public by biting off heads of live chickens”(Fridman, lines 6-7). This quote states

how people using the word nerd really don't know the true meaning behind the word. Also it states if they do know the meaning that they don't respect them as a person. Next Fridman shows at Harvard a prestigious college intellectuals don't get their respect. “ Many students are ashamed to admit, even to their friends, how much they study. Although most students try to keep up their grades, there is a minority of undergraduates for whom pursuing knowledge is the top priority during their years at Harvard. Nerds are ostracized while athletes are idolized”(Fridman, lines 12-18). This quote shows how Fridman’s moving towards his argument that they aren't valued. The nerds or intellectuals even at Harvard are shun while the athletes are admired. At Harvard people should be more open and not as judgy. These intellectuals worked just as hard to get to where they are. As these quotes reveal Fridman is developing his argument stating how society ignores intellectuals through school and as an adult.
Fridman develops his argument through displaying how children are non-conformist. Fridman exhibits this by stating “ 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”(Fridman, lines 21-24). This quote reveals how intellectuals are becoming a stepchild to society. Children who are building their brain instead of ruining their bodies just to impress society, kids whose study instead of playing sports are being socially outcasted due to their caring of their future.Fridman is arguing that society is rejecting these so called nerds since they don't conform to society but do what makes them themselves. Fridman now is going into depth about how society is not wanting these scholars.
Fridman’s argument about how society rejects, declines and shuns these intellectuals is a sad truth. From this people's childhood through adulthood they are outcasted since they do what makes them a unique individual. Fridman states his arguments throughout his article and his feelings towards the topics. America does need its nerds to better our society mentally and to improve our schools.