Is being book-smart underrated by society?

I hasten to add that I am not practically smart at all and there are many on EP much smarter than I. However, I do read and (no s**t Sherlock) I do have something of an interest in politics. Most people don't find these things that important though. Some give you respect for that but most people don't seem to value it at all.

I have managed to meet like minded people on here and I have friends in a London book club. Becoming a political activist IRL has also been good for me. Most of those who I meet though still see me as a boring geek. Living in a big city I can find people I have common ground with but getting on with 'average' people I sometimes find hard. At the work canteen I zone-out because I have zero interest in reality TV, celebrity gossip or office intrigue. I know I shouldn't care and I usually don't but sometimes it is annoying not to be respected for something that you think should be valued. Any thoughts?

novembermoon · 51-55

It is not an easy thing at all to be book-smart. Yes. It is being undervalued and more and more we see people who are promoted because they are more 'people-smart' or 'street-smart'. I get tired and out of place when people discuss nothing but the price of cars or how much insurance they buy. Worse are the talk about who and whose kids are having what parties and so on. Those kind of talk bore me to tears. I notice from young that I do not like discussing people or events, but the underlying motivations behind things that happen. And it is not frequent at all to find like-minded ones. When I find them, I don't let them go.