Surprisingly, though not completely unbelievable is that genius and creativity are related. Geniuses generally create new things, whether that is a physical product, a new math equation that solves a problem, or a machine, the list is endless. There is, of course, the question of where creativity comes from. Psychologists debate about multiple factors in creativity, some of them being intelligence, unconscious processing, and mental illness. It is also commonly known that many intelligent or "genius" people are crazy, so it's no surprise that this is mentioned in the book.
Genius is a continued example of the idea that success does not occur overnight, that a number of so-called geniuses work for years to prepare for the perfect experiment to work. Though it appears to be a sudden realization by the creator, it instead is the result of tireless efforts over a number of years. One example is Leonardo Da Vinci, for The Last Supper. He began preparations as early as 1481, though the painting was completed in 1498. Obviously what has become apparent is the fact that it does not come easily to them. They work many of their waking hours on these projects, inventions, and writings. It is not simply a gift, but an obsession. Even geniuses have to work hard.
As previously stated, mental illness is said to be a factor. Many of the most mentally ill people have created work that baffles the mind. These people have minds that work differently, a mind, unlike the rest. Not to refute the past claim, but to examine the possibilities. In my experience, many genius people do not operate well in social situations. As a teacher once told me, “though these students are extremely intelligent, they will likely end up working at a desk by themselves and rarely communicating with others.” The important thing to examine here is their rate of success.
One woman, Mary Temple Grandin, is a great example of this. Around the age of four, her mother decided to visit a specialist who diagnosed her with autism. He stated that it could be because of a lack of nurture from the mother. She refuted his claim, explaining that she had treated her other daughter in much the same way. He also suggested that she institutionalize the child, as she would likely not develop like other children. However, she did, with intense therapies and the efforts of her mother to teach her manners, she was able to develop considerably normally. Her struggle remains. She chronicles how she is sensitive to certain sights and sounds, how she does not understand why girls like boys, and common social cues. In the end, she was able to receive various degrees.
Many of these people would work at an insane rate, creating work faster than it could be processed. Not surprisingly, Thomas Edison owned 1,093 patents, Bach composed 20 pages of completed music in a day, and Picasso created more than 20,000 works. They each would work the majority of their waking hours and their lives.
There is also the concept of eureka or epiphanic moments. Eureka moments are where a person experiences a “pivotal revelatory experience.” As for epiphanic experiences, they are where the person has found the idea they mean to create. There are a variety of these so-called “experiences.” A sound example is Mozart when he was composing a score of music and completed it in about six weeks. Though it is debated about whether it is true. The only person to have mentioned it is his librettist Da Ponte, a man by the name of Wren.
The thought that genius is all inspiration is false. However, it can be viewed in different ways. As Thomas Edison himself said, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Another man, by the name of George Bernard, said, “ninety percent perspiration, ten percent inspiration.” This, of course, rings true. Any successful person around will tell you that, among other important factors, hard work is number one. When all else will fail you, hard work will help you win.
These examples all go on to show us that genius is not simply a special or unique brain, but also a mound of work. Though my initial assumption was that these people are born with “special” brains, it is, in fact, the culmination of many factors, starting at a young age. As they grow to adulthood, their success is determined by their work ethic. This also requires inspiration, resulting in the work of the greatest geniuses, Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Leonardo Da Vinci, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Thomas Edison.
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