“An unusually engaging book on the forces that fuel originality across fields.” –Adam GrantLooking at the 14 key traits of genius, from curiosity to creative maladjustment to obsession, Professor Craig Wright, creator of Yale University’s popular “Genius Course,” explores what we can learn from brilliant minds that have changed the world. Einstein. Beethoven. Picasso. Jobs. The word genius … world.
Einstein. Beethoven. Picasso. Jobs. The word genius evokes these iconic figures, whose cultural contributions have irreversibly shaped society.
Yet Beethoven could not multiply. Picasso couldn’t pass a 4th grade math test. And Jobs left high school with a 2.65 GPA. What does this say about our metrics for measuring success and achievement today? Why do we teach children to behave and play by the rules, when the transformative geniuses of Western culture have done just the opposite? And what is genius, really?
Professor Craig Wright, creator of Yale University’s popular “Genius Course,” has devoted more than two decades to exploring these questions and probing the nature of this term, which is deeply embedded in our culture. In The Hidden Habits of Genius, he reveals what we can learn from the lives of those we have dubbed “geniuses,” past and present.
Examining the lives of transformative individuals ranging from Charles Darwin and Marie Curie to Leonardo Da Vinci and Andy Warhol to Toni Morrison and Elon Musk, Wright identifies more than a dozen drivers of genius—characteristics and patterns of behavior common to great minds throughout history. He argues that genius is about more than intellect and work ethic—it is far more complex—and that the famed “eureka” moment is a Hollywood fiction. Brilliant insights that change the world are never sudden, but rather, they are the result of unique modes of thinking and lengthy gestation. Most importantly, the habits of mind that produce great thinking and discovery can be actively learned and cultivated, and Wright shows us how.
This book won’t make you a genius. But embracing the hidden habits of these transformative individuals will make you more strategic, creative, and successful, and, ultimately, happier.
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Genius is a skill, which means that genius is a choice. Craig Wright offers us a fine way to understand what’s at stake.
Professor Craig Wright who teaches a course on genius at Yale provides us with some fascinating information . Picasso couldn’t pass a forth grade math test ,Beethoven couldn’t multiply ,Steve Jobs left school with a 2.65 GPA and Steven Hawking learned to read at 8 . The writer tells us transformative genius in Western Culture tends not to play by the rules .Brilliant insight are the result of unique modes of thought and lengthy gestation.The habits of mind that produce great thinking can be cultivated Jeff Bezo shares his creative ideas come from wondering .The writer finds sufficient sleep even daytime naps,dreaming with a pad and paper by our bed and one also after relaxing showers as well exercise,and repetitive activities can lead to the formation of some of our best ideas .Einstein left us with some of the best advice The per suit of truth and beauty is to remain childlike .What advice could be better !
As a musicologist, Craig Wright has a keen grasp of what it takes to produce a work of genius. He’s written an unusually engaging book on the forces that fuel originality across fields.
Which would you rather be: Effective or genius? Most of us would prefer to be the latter, but believe it is not achievable and settle for the former. But that’s the wrong way of thinking. In this essential book, Craig Wright reveals how genius inhabits each of us by uncovering the hidden habits of geniuses from all walks of life across history.
In a book that constantly surprises and delights, Wright argues persuasively that the true measure of genius is its impact on society. Geniuses are norm busters, and every generation has a limited tolerance for them, which prevents countless brilliant people from reaching genius status. This is a must read!
Bad news: You’re probably not a genius. Good news: In this fascinating and practical book, Craig Wright has unpacked 14 specific traits shared by geniuses throughout history, providing a wealth of insights for anyone looking to be more creative, use their time more effectively, and make the most of their unique gifts.
A good read if you’re interested in the topic of creativity (as opposed to mere facility), and I am. Each chapter introduces a different point about creative genius using various examples, along with some suggestions you might take from them for yourself. (One suggestion might be to avoid being personally involved with geniuses, especially the male ones.) It points out how various assumptions we make are often wrong, i.e. many were not high achievers, weren’t necessarily child prodigies or even young at the time of their best work, and their epiphanies usually resulted from years of work (as well as dreams, walks, and showers). Also, a lot of these guys were/are insufferable. (Meanwhile, women geniuses tend not to be fully recognized — there’s a whole chapter on that.) All in all, an interesting read.