“Geek Dad’s Guide To Weekend Fun” (GTWF) is the second book from Ken Denmead who is of Wired’s Geek Dad fame. GTWF shares a ton of fun, geeky, and educational activities parents can do with their kids. As with the first book, “Geek Dad’s Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for [...]]]> From M. Banks, aka @geekcowboy:

“Geek Dad’s Guide To Weekend Fun” (GTWF) is the second book from Ken Denmead who is of Wired’s Geek Dad fame. GTWF shares a ton of fun, geeky, and educational activities parents can do with their kids. As with the first book, “Geek Dad’s Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for Dads and Kids to Share”, the new book keeps the same spirit of offering activities that vary in both complexity and cost, that help kids get hands-on learning experiences. What I most enjoy about the GTWF format is that it gives you enough of the project details that you can get it to work but still is open enough that you and your kids are free to use your imagination to customize each project to satisfy your own particular geek tastes. The new book, in my opinion, has definitely upped the geek factor without sacrificing simplicity and clarity. My personal favorite in this new book layouts the framework for a high tech scavenger hunt that involves installing Apache servers, mobile computers like an iPad or iPod Touch, and HTML/Javascript! Now that is some good geeky fun! I will highlight this particular project because it reinforced for me the importance of projects like the Geek Dad books offer up. Though I did a lot of the legwork to get the initial Apache server up and running and the initial HTML, my daughter took over and customized the plain vanilla scavenger hunt to one that focused on her current fascination with My Little Pony. The learning experience was masked just enough to make it fun; so that learning a few basics of HTML and Javascript was not a burden but rather a chance to express her creativity. When learning is fun and accessible it’s never a chore, and the “Geek Dad’s Guide To Weekend Fun” definitely gives us geek parents enough great ideas to ensure learning is a great experience for both child and parent alike.”

Awesome, man, thanks!

American Booksellers Association #31 in Paperback Nonfiction (unchanged from the prior week)

And special thanks to Daniel, reviewer #2, and a buddy from high school whom I don’t get to hang out with nearly enough these days. See you at Maker Faire, I hope!

Most Helpful Customer [...]]]> Just want to share the first two Amazon customer reviews, both wonderful. I’m really grateful, folks! Please keep ‘em coming!

And special thanks to Daniel, reviewer #2, and a buddy from high school whom I don’t get to hang out with nearly enough these days. See you at Maker Faire, I hope!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Must have for any Geek Dad!, May 5, 2010
By Emerson Falcon – See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
This review is from: Geek Dad: Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for Dads and Kids to Share (Paperback)
Received the book yesterday and after the first read the book is great. There are great projects that I will be doing with my son as he grows up. What else is there to say? I highly recommend this book to any parent who enjoys geeky hobbies, and wants to share them with their geeklet.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun & Creative Projects, May 6, 2010
By Daniel Lipkin (Foster City, CA United States) – See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
This review is from: Geek Dad: Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for Dads and Kids to Share (Paperback)
Great ideas for ways to spend quality, geeky time with your kids, packaged up in a entertaining read. The projects will get the kids to tinker right along with you, and maybe even learn something while they’re having fun!

I definitely think the Wired write-up is having an effect!

Okay, maybe it’s kind of an obscure chart, but still!

Some really big posts on GeekDad today are pulling in the pre-orders something fierce!