Forever Nerdy: Living My Dorky Dreams and Staying Metal

by Brian Posehn

The first memoir by beloved comedian, actor, and writer Brian Posehn, hilariously detailing what it's like to grow up as and remain a nerd, with a foreword by Patton Oswalt

Brian Posehn is a successful and instantly recognizable comedian, actor, and writer. He also happens to be a giant nerd. That's partly because he's been obsessed with such things as Dungeons & Dragons, comic books, and heavy metal since he was a child; the other part is because he fills out every bit of his 6'7'' frame. Brian's always felt awkward and like a perpetual outsider, but he found his way through the difficulties of growing up by escaping into the worlds of Star Wars , D&D, and comics, and by rocking his face off. He was a nerd long before it was cool (and that didn't help his situation much), but his passions proved time and again to be the safe haven he needed to persevere and thrive in a world in which he was far from comfortable.

Brian, now balls deep in middle age with a wife, child, and thriving career, still feels like an outsider and is as big a nerd as ever. But that's okay, because in his five decades of nerdom he's discovered that the key to happiness is not growing up. You can be a nerd forever and find success that way. because somehow along the way the nerds won.

Forever Nerdy is a celebration of growing up nerdy and different. This isn't Brian's life story, just some bizarre and hilarious stories from his life, along with a captivating look back at nearly fifty years of nerd culture. Being a nerd hasn't always been easy, but somehow this self-hating nerd who suffered from depression was able to land his dream job, get the girl, and learn to fit in. Kind of. See how he did it while managing to remain forever nerdy.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Memoir, Comedy, Biography, Audiobook, Autobiography

304 pages, Hardcover

Published October 23, 2018

About the author

Brian Edmund Posehn[1] (born July 6, 1966) is an American actor, voice actor, musician, writer, and comedian, known for his roles as Jim Kuback on The WB's Mission Hill and Brian Spukowski on Comedy Central's The Sarah Silverman Program.

(source: wikipedia)

Reviews

[Georgette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun, quick read from comedian, writer, nerd at large, and heavy metal fan Brian Posehn. I wish he had dived a little more in depth in his Hollyweird adventures, but if he did that, the book would not remain true to its title. This book remains true to the title. Posehn brings us his childhood as an outcast nerdboy before it was cool to be one, his love and discovery of reading, horror movies, and yes, heavy metal. We get a glimpse into his life these days, including his own happy family. That's always nice in this day and age. A very enjoyable and funny book.

[Ira Rat · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my favorite comedians... some great stories, but it just lacked the distinct tone of his stand-up. Still highly recommended.

[David Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this book I found really interesting. At other times, it felt like Posehn was just listing things he likes. It definitely felt like a good, honest attempt at an autobiography, and most readers should appreciate that.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was unequivocally enjoyable. It's definitely technically flawed, but you instantly start to read everything in Posehn's voice in your mind and that's completely forgotten, and in the end that is the biggest sign of a successful memoir you know wasn't ghost-written for a quick buck.

It may not have been the best choice to read each night before sleep. I had a similarly trying childhood, albeit with less death, and this triggered intense flashbacks. Cue every meme about trying to fall asleep, but your brain goes, "Hey, remember every embarrassing thing you ever did as a kid? Enjoy." It makes me wonder if there's some catharsis in getting these stories down on paper like this.

This perfectly captures what it was to be a nerd in the 90s (and 80s and 70s, but since I was either too young to remember or not alive for those, respectively, I can only extrapolate). He very succinctly defines a nerd, as opposed to today's rise of "nerd culture" where watered down versions of the things we were so passionate about are in the mainstream.

Don't get me wrong, this is fantastic, everyone should get to enjoy Iron Man, and it often segues into "well what else is out there in Marvel-land" and BAM, you're reading comics. But look at what happened to Star Trek, and you can see how these properties get...massaged for mainstream audiences, compared to the originals that the nerds worshiped. I'm just saying there's a difference between being an actual nerd and "omg I'm such a nerd I saw the new Avengers movie opening night".

Anyway, this is all to say that this is one of the main reasons he is one of my favorite comedians. Maybe it's a shared traumatic experience that bonds at a distance. Maybe it's just that true fans cling to each other like wreckage in a storm. (note: To be clear, I mean this not in a gatekeeping sort of way, but you know how true nerds instantly get lost in a shared world and you can go as deep as you want in discussing it together, but you know if you did those sorts of things with a more casual fan their eyes would instantly glaze over and they'd seriously question their decision to know you.......this isn't about only true fans are allowed to like this thing, and more "you can identify the truly nerdy kindred spirits that you can safely nerd out with sans judgment")

If you were one of us in middle and high school, read this. If you were one of the ones making our lives hell, also read this to see what the other side was like. Just everyone should read this, it's quick and entertaining.

[Michael Duane Robbins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This man cries out for an editor. His book reads like a stand-up routine, all over the place. Maybe this is what a conversation with Brian Posehn would be like--hard to follow with lots of profanity. I wanted to enjoy this more because yeah, I am a nerd too, but somehow it seemed harder to read than it should have. Sometimes there's TMI; I don't need to know every single frikkin' TV show he watched as a child; I don't need to be walked through all every act of sex with his former girlfriends. BUUUT, he owns his mistakes and regrets while he details the road to total nerdity, and comedy.

P.S. I am totally with him on the Star Wars chapter. Skip to page 84-85; he describes exactly how all us Star Wars fans felt about the prequels. I can't repeat it, you have just got to read it for yourself. He does get to his comic career just in time for him to break his back. I am with him entirely on his Nerd Rant on page 249. He's right, all you white male nerds need to calm down, take some Prozac. Women and Diversity is part of this world, boys, including the comic book and gaming ones. OK, I'll recommend it, but it's gonna be work for ya.

[Scotty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright, so this is the best book I've read in a while. And no, not just because I'm partial to nerd and fart humor. The story Brian tells in this book about his life, his obsessions, and his coping mechanisms is possibly the most relatable story I've read. I laughed, I maybe not so much cried, but I definitely felt some bittersweet nostalgia. His childhood, while vastly different from my own, held so many of the things that mine did. It's hard to explain, but this book kind of illustrates the commonality of the human experience. Also, it has fart and wiener jokes.

I made sure to read this before I went to see Brian Posehn's live show; I wanted to have a more unbiased review. As I finished the book about three hours before doors, I thought the paragraph above. Now, after having seen his performance, meeting him, talking with him, my opinions are reinforced. Read the book. Go see him live. Talk to him. He's an awesome dude with some killer jokes and stories.

[Michael Loring · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of comedian/actor Brian Posehn for many years. I watched the Sarah Silverman Program and he was one of my favorite people on there. Not even gonna mention the voice work he did on shows I loved as well (Mission Hill gets a special shoutout because I loved that show) or even his run in the Deadpool comics. When I discovered he had a book, I knew I had to read it, and when I saw that he narrated it I doubly knew I had to listen to it. This book made me laugh, more than I think any autobiography has ever done. I shouldn't have expected any less from such a talented comedian. Brian Posehn is a King of nerds, both in the traditional sense and the hardcore metal sense. He's one of my idols, the kind of man I want to grow up to be like. Listening to this, getting this insight into his life and what helped him become this awesome person, was a treat. I'll definitely be there if he ever writes another book, especially if he narrates it! Five out of Five Stars!

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, because I don't live under a rock, I've seen Posehn on tv and in movies multiple times. I didn't actually know his name, but always thought he was funny. When I saw the title of this, I was pretty sure I was gonna love it. Posehn's dry, dark humor is hilarious, but really it would seem like unless you were a guy between the ages of 40-55, who was into geeky stuff and rock music, you might not find it all that entertaining.

I'm 49, played D&D since I was 8, and been in rock bands for at least half of my life. I'm the "ideal reader" for this. Then you add in slamming Trump at the end and now I'm a fan forever. I loved the stories about meeting his heroes, his rants against whiny gamers, and was touched by his love for his grandparents (seeing as I lived with my "Nana" until I was about 5).

Highly recommended for geeky, middle-aged, rockers.

[Mark Tullius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I'm not a big fan of nonfiction, and especially autobiographies, I really enjoyed this one. Like a lot of other reviewers mentioned, there were chapters I wasn't that into (Rush) but that shouldn't have any bearing on the star rating. I could hear Brian's voice as I read it and it felt as if he was talking to the reader and I admire Brian's honesty in dealing with painful memories. As he's only a few years older than me, it also took me back to that time period, reminding me of the music and events that had a big impact on me.
If I was just basing the review off of the writing I would probably have given it a 3 or a 4 but I'm giving it a 5 because of the messages the book's left with me. One is the ability to not only overcome obstacles, but to thrive and create with his heroes. The other is his openness to share political views that probably cost him some fans. Well done.

[Trevor Seigler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brian Posehn is someone whose work I've enjoyed for a long time, he's one of the best character actors in the business and a veteran of great programs like "Mr. Show." His memoir, "Forever Nerdy," is mostly focused on his childhood and teenage years as an outsider who loved heavy metal, horror films, and comedy, and it's pretty good when going into detail on his strange, surreal early life. This takes up most of the book, and everything post-teenage years gets a bit rushed in the last hundred pages or so, but on the whole this is an enjoyable read about a guy who never really "fit in" until the worldwide explosion in nerd culture elevated him in status (and he has some choice words for "Gamergate" assholes that I think should carry a lot of weight, considering his bonafides in the nerd community). Posehn is a funny, engaging storyteller, and his book works most of the time.

[Rob Usdin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this book. Brian reads it well, since it’s his own autobiography. I enjoyed the stuff about his childhood, and the later parts of the book about his career and famous friends. Would have liked to hear more about his stories from being friends with Patton Oswalt, Sarah Silverman, Blaine Capatch and others. The middle of the book with his experiences later in high school to early career didn’t interest me as much. I was surprised to learn about his drug use and stuff, which I didn’t expect as I thought he was more nerdy and straight-laced than that. Not that it’s bad, it’s just not as much what I wanted to hear about. Perhaps a second book where he regales us with nerdy stories about himself with his nerdy friends would be cool. Still, the book was a great listen.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a few pre-reqs to have before going into this book: 1) you have to have watched or known about Brian Posehn. 2) You have to be an absolute mega nerd. 3) You have to be a metalhead or at least listen to metal pretty frequently. I am all 3, so I was really into this listen. I think it was a solid memoir about Posehn's life with the dark aspects and how he got into comedy and how he became the super nerd he is today. Sometimes it felt like it was just listening things that he likes, but you'd be on board if you also like those things, see: Star Wars (he talks about it for at least 50 minutes). I like Posehn, so I was on board with this, but I can see how many people walking in really not knowing about how much of a nerd this dude really is. Overall, an easy, quick listen!

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't think I'd enjoy this because I'm not into some of Posehn's main interests like heavy metal music. But I am a huge fan of his comedy and am about the same age, so really loved hearing his stories of growing up and getting to show off some of his heroes who he ended up befriending as an adult--felt like justice for a tough childhood. Audio book is read by him, which I recommend for a fun read. And if you like this, look up one of the most hilarious comedy sketches of all times starring Posehn: "Two Princes."

[Wekoslav Stefanovski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Told in a disjointed and very recognizable voice, this is a love letter to all the things that Posehn loves - Science Fiction, Horror, Metal and Comedy.

Since I love those same things, this book took me on lots of tangents about my life as well - and I definitively envy his position in show business, as that enabled him to meet most of his idols :)

Anyway, as seen by the evidence (both in his and my case), it's possible to be a total geek, and have a life full of unironically geeking out, enjoying every minute of that, and still be counted as success by the straights :D

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Posehn today is a well known comedian who has appeared in many TV shows and movies. You can’t mistake his tall gawky frame, large glasses and goofy grin. His “autobiography’ here is really more a collection of tales and loves and hates from his childhood before fame. Brian was like me, a geek and a nerd. He was picked on, and he wasn’t particularly good with the ladies. However his passions kept him going, his love of heavy metal, Star Wars and other sci fi. I actually listened to this as an audio book narrated by Posehn himself which made it that much the better. His self depreciating humor had be both laughing and crying as he related his childhood. I would love to have him write and narrate a sequel, he was inspirational and showed that even us nerds have a chance to find true happiness in life.

[Robert Sweatman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really made think and feel for Brian. His child and early adolescents was harsh. His love for his family, animals, metal and people who share his interests he seems have love and respect but none for those who don't. Sad.

[Kacper · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was on a cruise and found this book. Basically it's a recap of all the books, movies, and music this author likes. It's not really that engaging. I wanted to know more how he became famous and how he broke into TV.

[Andy Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brian’s book is a pretty good read if you’re a nerd. I’m a nerd. Brian’s book is a really good read if you’re a super nerd. Whichever category you fall into, I believe you’ll enjoy Brian’s maiden voyage into the literary realm.

[Andrew Wodzianski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Posehn is a bit full of himself, yeah? The memoir is occasionally funny, and it's interesting to learn why another fan of some pop culture tid-bit enjoys it. But it's also clever by half. I'm left with a mixture of disbelief and awe that such mediocrity could become so successful.

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brian is a great supporting character that always makes me laugh. He definitely has the textbook nerd life story. There were several funny parts in the book. I did not enjoy the afterward.

[Troy Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read about Brian’s life and what he’s gone through. I can appreciate the nerd don that has become his life

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was great insight to Brian and his nerdyness and comedy mind. A great read!

[Rob Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book has its fun moments, but it felt dictated rather than thoughtfully written. I could see this being a great audio book though.

[pianogal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a fellow nerd, I enjoyed this one a lot. The only reason it wasn't 5 stars is because it got a little more into his love for movies and metal specifically. But it was still a good read.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Posehn makes me laugh. I think it's because he talks the way I think. If you enjoy his stand-up, you'll love this book!

[Lamadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brian Posehn is as funny on paper as on TV. This was a fantastically funny read.

[Andrew Skalicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brian Posehn reading this very personal and funny life story made this the best audiobook I have ever heard, and me a lifelong fan of him.

[Brandon Walz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good (and sad) stories by a very funny person. Not all the chapters are interesting, but overall a fun and easy read. I think the audiobook would enhance the experience.

[Jeff Ferry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posehn gives a quick walkthrough of how he grew up and became a nerd and metal head. Even as a casual fan it was a good quick read.

[Robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rough language