Just a Geek
{{short description|Book by Wil Wheaton}}{{Infobox book
| author = Wil Wheaton
| isbn = 059600768X
| pub_date = 2004
| genre = Memoir
}}
{{italic title}}
Just A Geek ({{ISBN|059600768X}}) is a 2004 book of memoirs written by actor and author Wil Wheaton. Wheaton released a revised follow-up, Still Just a Geek, in 2022.{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Linsey |title=Wil Wheaton revisits, revises memoir 'Still Just a Geek' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/video/wil-wheaton-revisits-revises-memoir-geek-84252212 |access-date=19 April 2023 |agency=ABC News |date=22 April 2022}}
Background
Many of the stories in Just a Geek originated from his blog, also called "Just a Geek," which had run for several years at the time.{{cite news |last1=Avvaru |first1=Shashank |title=Still Just A Geek Review: Wil Wheaton Reflects On His Life And Career In Captivating New Memoir |url=https://treknews.net/2022/04/20/review-wil-wheaton-still-just-a-geek-book/ |access-date=19 April 2023 |agency=Trek News |date=20 April 2022}} In the book, he talks about life before and after his defining role as Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation, including stories about clashes with executives and a disagreement with Jimmy Kimmel over a co-hosting job he didn't receive.{{cite news |last1=Bonin |first1=Liane |title=THE ALTERNATIVES; 'Trek' wasn't his final frontier; Actor turned writer Wil Wheaton draws new fans in cyberspace. |agency=Los Angeles Times |date=6 January 2005}} Other stories discuss his reaction to the September 11 attacks, his relationship with his wife and stepchildren, and his experience learning HTML, web design, and Linux.{{cite news |title=O'REILLY & ASSOCIATES: The search for life, love, and fulfillment beyond the Star Trek Enterprise; O'Reilly releases Wil Wheaton's "Just a Geek" |agency=M2 Presswire |date=9 July 2004}}
In 2012, the book was included as part of the first Humble Bundle collection of ebooks, curated by Cory Doctorow.{{cite news |last1=Reid |first1=Calvin |title=Humble Bundle Looks to Add E-books |agency=Publishers Weekly |date=3 March 2014}}
In 2022's Still Just a Geek, Wheaton annotates the original text with commentary related to his gaining further context, growing as an individual, and how he views the process of writing the book and his life experiences in retrospect.{{Cite book |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/wil-wheaton/still-just-a-geek/ |title=STILL JUST A GEEK {{!}} Kirkus Reviews |language=en}}
Critical reception
Just a Geek was praised by the science fiction/fantasy trade publication Chronicle for its "amused but not bitter" anecdotes.{{cite news |last1=D'Ammassa |first1=Don |title=Just a Geek |agency=Chronicle |date=October 2004}} The Oregonian called it "unflinchingly honest."{{cite news |last1=Cain |first1=Chelsea |title=Life in the Shadow of Wesley Crusher |agency=The Oregonian |date=16 December 2004}} Entertainment Weekly, however panned the book in a brief blurb titled "Whiner of the Week."{{cite news |title=Wil Wheaton is the Whiner of the Week |url=https://ew.com/article/2004/09/17/wil-wheaton-whiner-week/ |access-date=19 April 2023 |agency=Entertainment Weekly |date=17 September 2004}} The updated follow-up published in 2022 was called "alternately rueful and funny" by Kirkus Reviews. Publishers Weekly gave it a more negative review, calling it "repetitious" and "joyless".{{Cite web |date=n.d. |title=Still Just a Geek: An Annotated Memoir by Wil Wheaton |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780063080478 |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=www.publishersweekly.com}}
References
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External links
- [https://wilwheaton.net/ Wil Wheaton's blog]
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Category:2004 non-fiction books
Category:Show business memoirs
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