Wil Wheaton has never been one to take the conventional path to success. Despite early stardom through his childhood role in the motion picture "Stand By Me", and growing up on television as Wesley Crusher on "Star Trek: The Next Generation", Wil left Hollywood in pursuit of happiness, purpose, and a viable means of paying the bills. In the oddest of places, Topeka, Kansas, Wil discovered that despite his claims to fame, he was at heart Just a Geek. In this, his newest book, Wil shares his deeply personal and difficult journey to find himself. You'll understand the rigors, and joys, of Wil's rediscovering of himself, as he comes to terms with what it means to be famous, or, ironically, famous for once having been famous. Writing with honesty and disarming humanity, Wil touches on the frustrations associated with his acting career, his inability to distance himself from Ensign Crusher in the public's eyes, the launch of his incredibly successful web site, wilwheaton.net, and the joy he's found in writing. Through all of this, Wil shares the ups and downs he encountered along the journey, along with the support and love he discovered from his friends and family. The stories in Just a Geek include: - Wil's plunge from teen star to struggling actor - Discovering the joys of HTML, blogging, Linux, and web design - The struggle between Wesley Crusher, Starfleet ensign, and Wil Wheaton, author and blogger - Gut-wrenching reactions to the 9-11 disaster - Moving tales of Wil's relationships with his wife, step-children, and extended family - The transition from a B-list actor to an A-list author Wil Wheaton--celebrity, blogger, and geek--writes for the geek in all of us. Engaging, witty, and pleasantly self-deprecating, Just a Geek will surprise you and make you laugh.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 71 Ratings

As smart and funny as you'd hope - 2009-04-24
Reviewer Rating:
I have read Wil's blog and listened to him play D&D, but I haven't been able to find one of his books locally. I asked it to be made available on the Kindle, and lo, it has come to pass.

I was impressed with Wil's honesty and openness in his writing, and in his early chapters the insecurity that he felt after leaving TNG is well expressed. One thing that I see in his writing that I'm really pleased with is how he respects his past and can see how it influences him, and he also looks ahead and shows hope in the influences he can give his stepchildren.

I don't want to use the words "reinvented" or "matured" to describe what happens in this book as much as "evolution." Wil 'the actor' becomes Wil 'the writer', and I think we are richer for it.

Review of Just a Geek - 2009-09-20
Reviewer Rating:
I grew up watching Star Trek: The Next Generation. Some of my best memories of my childhood included huddling with my sisters on the floor of my folks bedroom, our tiny 13" TV on the floor and Mom and Dad behind us in their chairs waiting for the show to start. We always had fresh, homemade cinnamon rolls, warmed up with butter melted on the top and homemade icing, big glasses of milk and our pj's on. It was marvelous. And, being a pre-teen, I harbored a massive crush on Wesley Crusher ...more I grew up watching Star Trek: The Next Generation. Some of my best memories of my childhood included huddling with my sisters on the floor of my folks bedroom, our tiny 13" TV on the floor and Mom and Dad behind us in their chairs waiting for the show to start. We always had fresh, homemade cinnamon rolls, warmed up with butter melted on the top and homemade icing, big glasses of milk and our pj's on. It was marvelous. And, being a pre-teen, I harbored a massive crush on Wesley Crusher for a very long time.

As an adult, I've followed Wil Wheaton's blog for a few years now. I enjoy watching his tweets on twitter, enjoy reading his posts (even the political ones I do not agree with). And I very much enjoyed this book. I did not read his blog from the beginning so there were many things I missed. I enjoyed his stories about the set and cast of Star Trek TNG. I sympathized with his struggles and felt joy when he succeeded. It's a heart-warming, no-nonsense book and I highly recommend it to anyone, trekkie or no

Get to Know the Real Wil Wheaton - 2009-08-06
Reviewer Rating:
A few years ago, I stumbled upon Wil Wheaton's blog, commonly abbreviated as WWdN, by accident, and boy am I glad that I did. Being a huge fan of Star Trek:TNG, years after Wil's departure and the show's ultimate end run after seven seasons, I had completely lost track of his career. He sort of became an afterthought in my subconscious mind, and I'm sure that I'm not the only person who had just assumed that he was probably strung out on drugs like so many child actors had become before him. What a pleasant surprise it was to find out that not only had Wil become a fantastic author, he had also become a husband, father and an all around well-adjusted, down-to-earth guy in general. He isn't one to flaunt his celebrity status and remains a genuinely humble guy to this very day.

After reading Wil's blog and Just a Geek, I really got the impression that I had gotten to know Wil Wheaton on a personal level. His writing style invites his readers into the most intimate details of his daily life and his relationships with his wife, Anne, and their children, Ryan and Nolan.

His narrative style of writing makes his readers feel as if they are a part of his world. After reading this book, I not only came away with the impression that I had gotten to know Wil Wheaton, more importantly, I truly like the person that he's become. His quick wit and honesty in his writing style really paints a picture of an average guy who just happens to be a celebrity. I highly recommend this book. Get to know the real Wil Wheaton. You'll find that not only is he a really nice guy, he's also someone that you can relate to.

Recommended only for hardcore Trek fans - 2009-06-21
Reviewer Rating:
OK, Wil is not "just a geek" he is that dude from Stand By Me and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Unfortunately, Wil quit Trek and was essentially blackballed by the producers and he struggled to get acting work after that for a number of years. This book is about him realizing that he should "write." Recommended only for hardcore Trek fans (like me!).

It is sota of a collection of short true stories - 2009-01-11
Reviewer Rating:
I thought this was well written. It is basically a collection of short true stories about Wil Wheaton and written by Wil Wheaton. Some stories have to do with Star Trek and Star Trek conventions but a lot of them don't. He just basically talks about different times in his life. For an example one 4th of July it was his turn to light up the fireworks and instead he light up all of them at once. Another time he met this really beautiful girl and she gave him her number. He kept it as a sourvine for many years but never called her. Why? Because he is a whimp when it comes to girls. Things like that. IT is very entertaining.
If you like Wil Wheaton and authors who tell it like it is than you would like this. It sorta reminds me of Catcher of the Rye type of writing except with a lot less cussing and he isn't as negative as the author of Cathcer of the Rye is.

Kristy Star Sisk

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