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Title details for The Hidden Habits of Genius by Craig Wright - Available

The Hidden Habits of Genius

Beyond Talent, IQ, and Grit—Unlocking the Secrets of Greatness

by Craig Wright
Fred Sanders
Audiobook (Includes supplementary content)
6 of 6 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
6 of 6 copies available

"An unusually engaging book on the forces that fuel originality across fields." —Adam Grant

Looking 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 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.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    October 6, 2020

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780063005389
      • File size: 291376 KB
      • Duration: 10:07:01

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      With his intimate vocal tone and creative phrasing, Fred Sanders narrates this audiobook as though he were solving a series of fascinating mysteries. His performance creates an ongoing sense of anticipation that, along with the author's lively writing, makes this a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience. The author describes the lives of well-known achievers--da Vinci, Beethoven, Marie Curie, Picasso, J.K. Rowling, and Steve Jobs, to name a few--and extracts 14 traits they share to varying degrees. He dispels popular myths about geniuses, saying that they are often rebellious workaholics, social misfits, and obsessed problem solvers whose greatest achievements occur not suddenly, but after years of hard work. This is a winning combination of stories and inspiration that Sanders's performance makes even more engaging. T.W. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      August 10, 2020
      Wright (Listening to Music), Guggenheim fellow and professor of music at Yale, provides details on the routines of successful people in this informative, anecdote-heavy book about famous people. Each of the 14 chapters highlights one quality or personality trait the author believes is tied to genius, such as childlike wonder or “opposite thinking.” For instance, Wright discusses da Vinci’s passion, Einstein’s curiosity, Oprah’s love of reading, and Marie Curie’s determination through short biographies, as well as quotes from their journals or family. Some chapters consider fundamental questions, such as “which is more essential to greatness, intelligence or curiosity?” and is being exceptional the product of nature or nurture? Wright also goes beyond the common discussion of genius, most notably by declaring that established indicators of intelligence—SAT scores, IQ tests, and grades—are usually wrong. While Wright’s topic ranges widely across vocations, there is an unfortunate lack of cultural diversity among the “heroes” profiled; South Asian, Middle Eastern, and African geniuses are glaringly left out except for a fleeting reference to Gandhi. Despite this narrow selection, Wright’s freewheeling profiles of those considered to be geniuses will inspire readers to rethink their natural gifts.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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