Great question! I am just finishing a book on genius that is the culmination of several years of research on the greatest geniuses since Archimedes. This is an excerpt from that book that may help to answer your question. (There is a full chapter on Erdos, that looks specifically at mathematical research and the changing …
Do you think the era of the “lone genius” mathematician is officially over? Read More »
Many highly intelligent people are capable of performing practical tasks, but there is a large sector of this group whose interests in life center mainly about ideas and concepts. In my study of genius, I have found both types. Physicist Richard Feynman was fascinated by radios shortly after their invention and during his early teenage …
Of course, the importance of IQ relative to other factors, like emotional intelligence and perseverance, depends on the career or profession. For success in an academic career in the physical sciences, an IQ of at least 120 is probably required. Similarly, a high IQ is vital in professional careers such as a top physician or …
Yes, geniuses see the world through a different lens from the rest of us. They tend to be more rational than most of the population and slower to reach certainty on any issue, retaining a high level of tolerance for ambiguity. As an alternative to feeling frustration over the limited rationality of the masses, they …
We judge genius, not by IQ, but by the scope and originality of their accomplishments. My favorite quote defining genius comes from Arthur Schopenhauer: Talent hits a target no one else can hit; genius hits a target no one else can see. As Schopenhauer observed, genius is not about perfecting a skill and bringing it …
The ancient Romans had an adage: Mens sana in corpore sano—“a sound mind in a sound body.” Some philosophers of the Roman Empire held this up as an ideal for developing a balanced and fulfilling life. In modern research we often see a similar pattern. On average, more intelligent people are somewhat more likely to …
What long-term perspectives do intelligent people typically have that others might miss? Read More »
A great advantage of an IQ in the gifted range (≥ 125) is that it enables you to pursue almost any career you choose with a high chance of success if you combine it with hard work, commitment and intense curiosity. In your voyage through life, you have the opportunity to make groundbreaking discoveries that …
Our five senses are the only tools we have for perceiving the vast chaotic universe well enough to survive. Processing an infinite variety of stimuli through these senses and storing them as perceptions required significant compression and distortion of information. Gustav Fechner, a German physicist and experimental psychologist in the 1850’s explored the connection between …
Of course, the answer to this question depends upon the area of achievement is sought. The most important factor in achievement of any kind is intensity of purpose. This is a passionate commitment to a goal that is so strong that it drives a person to work intensely toward achieving a particular ambition. Michael Jordan …
Learning about the struggles and triumphs of the great geniuses of the past can help young people harness rather than enhance their intelligence and potential. Many young people imagine that geniuses were recognized early, nurtured by their parents, sent to the best universities and then produced their masterpieces. However, this path to fame and glory …
