[Joe]

I didn't grasp the scope of the popularity until I started talking to my son about it. From what I gather from talking to him, the books emphasize using your time wisely and the importance of being in physical shape.
It's a good counter to the passive vicarious nature of the gaming culture. The designation of a person as a "gamer" has become a derogatory term among teens.
It's nice to see that books still hold the power to influence young people. It would appear the death of young-adult literature has been greatly exaggerated.