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Why Gen X Nerds Quietly Won the Culture War
12/05/2025
Why Gen X Nerds Quietly Won the Culture War
Author Max Brooks grew up surrounded by Hollywood royalty, but he never felt like he fit the part. Before World War Z and before he advised the U.S. military on disaster planning, he was the child of Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft, who obsessed over niche interests and tried to survive school one awkward lunch at a time. In this episode, Max explains why being an outsider became his greatest advantage, how Gen X turned nerd culture into a superpower, and what happens when you finally stop pretending to be someone else. We talk zombies, obsessive research, and the strange freedom that comes from not caring whether anyone thinks you’re cool. Max shares the long road from dismissed ideas to global influence. If you’ve ever felt different, this conversation hits home. Watch the entire interview @ jonsmalltalk.substack.com More on
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