An engaging exploration of the traits that fuel originality across various fields, this book delves into 14 key characteristics of genius, including curiosity, creative maladjustment, and obsession. Professor Craig Wright, creator of Yale's Genius Course, examines what we can learn from iconic figures like Einstein, Beethoven, Picasso, and Jobs, whose contributions have significantly shaped society. Notably, these geniuses often struggled with conventional metrics of success—Beethoven couldn't multiply, Picasso failed a 4th-grade math test, and Jobs graduated high school with a 2.65 GPA. This raises questions about how we measure achievement and why we encourage children to conform when transformative thinkers have thrived by breaking the rules. Over two decades, Wright has investigated the nature of genius, revealing insights from the lives of figures such as Darwin, Curie, Da Vinci, Warhol, Morrison, and Musk. He identifies common drivers of genius and argues that it encompasses more than just intellect; it involves complex thinking processes and lengthy development rather than sudden epiphanies. Most importantly, he shows that the habits that lead to great discoveries can be cultivated, offering strategies for becoming more strategic, creative, and ultimately happier.
