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'The thinking man's Outliers.' New York magazine 'A deeply interesting and important book.' New York Times 'The Genius in All of Us has quietly blown my mind.' Salon.com 'Cogent and compelling ... The Genius in All of Us will convince many readers that the conventional wisdom about talent is due to be overthrown. Shenk gets that revolution well under way.' The Week 'Shenk robustly disputes the popular belief that intelligence and talent are genetically predetermined, and methodically explains the thousands of hours of practice behind the 'genius' of a host of musical and athletic superstars (and those amazing London cabbies).' Freakanomics blog, New York Times 'David Shenk sweeps aside decades of misconceptions about genetics - and shows that by overstating the importance of genes, we've understated the potential of ourselves. A persuasive and inspiring book that will make you think anew about your own life and our shared future.' Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us 'A great book. David Shenk handily dispels the myth that one must be born a genius. From consistently whacking the ball out of the park to composing ethereal piano sonatas, Shenk convincingly makes the case for the potential genius that lies in all of us. While our genes may provide a nice runway, only hard work and unwavering focus can allow true genius to take flight.' Rudolph E. Tanzi, Harvard Medical School 'Old fashioned beliefs, a desire to simplify and the remarkable successes of molecular biology led to an undue emphasis on the role of genes in the development of human intelligence. Environmental determinism exists too, but biology and psychology have moved well beyond these extreme positions. The importance of David Shenk's book is that he has made accessible to a wide audience the advances in the understanding of how each person develops. I congratulate him.' Sir Patrick Bateson, Cambridge University
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In this dazzling look at the new science of genetics and the frontiers of human potential, David Shenk argues that talent - for piano playing, sprinting, designing computers, you name it - is not a thing we're gifted from birth and coded in our genes, but a process - a lifelong project. The genetic legacy for which we thank our parents is not what holds us back - it is our inability, so far, to tap into what we already have. Shenk discusses evidence which shows how the average London cabby's posterior hippocampus - the part of the brain that specializes in recalling spatial representations - is not just larger than normal but increases in size as the driver's experience grows. He illustrates that Mozart, seemingly born a musical prodigy, was in fact brought up in an environment almost uniquely perfect to mould him into the child star he became. He points out that Copernicus, Rembrandt, Bach, Newton, Kant, da Vinci, Einstein and Michael Jordan were all super-achievers who led undistinguished lives as children. Genes, he argues, are not a 'blueprint' that bless some with greatness and doom most of us to mediocrity. Integrating cutting-edge research from a wide swath of disciplines - cognitive science, genetics, biology, child development - Shenk portrays a highly optimistic new view of human potential, and in the book's second Part, he outlines his prescription for cultivating excellence within us all. Deftly written and already hugely praised, The Genius in All of Us carries a deeply revolutionary and optimistic message: we are not prisoners of our DNA, and we all have the potential for greatness.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Shenk: The genius in all of us.
The great thing about Shenk's book is that it casts out the belief in the immutability of intelligence. I grew up with the concept of "g" (general intelligence) and saw its profound effect on education. It suited stratified societies to continue the myth of "g" but it couldn't explain away drive and motivation. Yong Zhao (2009) also warned of the educational problem of high scores, low ability.
In an equation that acknowledges that intelligence is a function of environment (G X E), the triggers for intelligence growth were identified as:
1. Speaking to children early and often;
2. Reading early and often;
3. Nurturance and encouragement;
4. Setting high expectations;
5. Embracing failure;
6. Encouraging a `growth mindset'. (pp. 39-40)
In the story of Suzuki developing a world famous violin pedagogy, his starting point was a faith that every student has enormous potential, and then with parental support that potential is developed.
Shenk says that at birth the parents of the child have two alternatives:
a. The prodigy that is pushed by narcissistic parents, and then fall back into mediocrity in adulthood; or
b. The emotionally balanced child who will gather skills and develop greatness as an adult. Walter Mischel's marshmallow experiment of delayed gratification is still as relevant today as it was thirty years ago.
Epigenetics is an area of genetic study that is developing, and it claims that the effects of events and trauma can be transferred across generations. John Cloud wrote in Time magazine- Why Your DNA Isn't Your Destiny (January 6, 2010).
Shenk's contribution to genetics, education and life is his belief in the plasticity of human potential. All educators need to rejoice at this conclusion, and the book should be compulsory reading for all teachers and aspirant teachers.
The great thing about Shenk's book is that it casts out the belief in the immutability of intelligence. I grew up with the concept of "g" (general intelligence) and saw its profound effect on education. It suited stratified societies to continue the myth of "g" but it couldn't explain away drive and motivation. Yong Zhao (2009) also warned of the educational problem of high scores, low ability.
In an equation that acknowledges that intelligence is a function of environment (G X E), the triggers for intelligence growth were identified as:
1. Speaking to children early and often;
2. Reading early and often;
3. Nurturance and encouragement;
4. Setting high expectations;
5. Embracing failure;
6. Encouraging a `growth mindset'. (pp. 39-40)
In the story of Suzuki developing a world famous violin pedagogy, his starting point was a faith that every student has enormous potential, and then with parental support that potential is developed.
Shenk says that at birth the parents of the child have two alternatives:
a. The prodigy that is pushed by narcissistic parents, and then fall back into mediocrity in adulthood; or
b. The emotionally balanced child who will gather skills and develop greatness as an adult. Walter Mischel's marshmallow experiment of delayed gratification is still as relevant today as it was thirty years ago.
Epigenetics is an area of genetic study that is developing, and it claims that the effects of events and trauma can be transferred across generations. John Cloud wrote in Time magazine- Why Your DNA Isn't Your Destiny (January 6, 2010).
Shenk's contribution to genetics, education and life is his belief in the plasticity of human potential. All educators need to rejoice at this conclusion, and the book should be compulsory reading for all teachers and aspirant teachers.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The Genius in All of Us traverses a similar path to Talent is Overrated and Outliers, but has enough differences to warrant a look. Unlike Gladwell's splendid Outliers, which is more of a journalistic investigation and less aimed at personal development, The Genius in All of Us focusses on the specific type of 'hard practice' that high acheivers perform. Unlike Talent is Overrated, Shenk's focus is less on corporate excellence and more on personal excellence.
Shenk's focus seems more personal (almost -if one can forgive the cliche- existential), and this permeates throughout his work. At one point, he even discusses the struggles he has as a writer, and he clearly puts himself through some punishment in the writing and editing process, re-drafting until he is absolutely happy. As a consequence of his own perfectionism, this book is short, with only half of it being taken up by the actual text- the last half is his notes and references. It is good to see a book in this genre with a flora of referencing; I did however, feel a little cheated when I realised this book was over halfway through (especially after buying the hardback).
Had I been aware of this before hand, I would still have bought the book, and having realised Shenk's network of referencing at the back, I would have worked through his notes concurrently, as they do provide an extra level of analysis. He is also -as far as I am aware- the only author in this genre to tackle the issue of genetics and how they relate to level of performance (he goes as far as to critique the 'monozygotic twin' studies so beloved of Pinker in The Blank Slate). In addition, he also deals nicely with some of the many critiques leveled at Gladwell's thesis about how many hours is required to make someone 'elite'.
Finally, he focusses heavily on the successes of Michael Jordan, but Jordan's success is only part of the story- I would have liked some consideration of Jordan's brief (but disastrous) flirtation with professional Baseball. Why did Jordan's drive not translate into results? Was he too old? I'm quite sure that Shenk's thesis would not be harmed by Jordan's failure, but strengthened, after all, part of the thesis of this book is the embracing of failure.
In the end, this is a well referenced, even-toned book that adds to a growing number of well researched self-help books.
Shenk's focus seems more personal (almost -if one can forgive the cliche- existential), and this permeates throughout his work. At one point, he even discusses the struggles he has as a writer, and he clearly puts himself through some punishment in the writing and editing process, re-drafting until he is absolutely happy. As a consequence of his own perfectionism, this book is short, with only half of it being taken up by the actual text- the last half is his notes and references. It is good to see a book in this genre with a flora of referencing; I did however, feel a little cheated when I realised this book was over halfway through (especially after buying the hardback).
Had I been aware of this before hand, I would still have bought the book, and having realised Shenk's network of referencing at the back, I would have worked through his notes concurrently, as they do provide an extra level of analysis. He is also -as far as I am aware- the only author in this genre to tackle the issue of genetics and how they relate to level of performance (he goes as far as to critique the 'monozygotic twin' studies so beloved of Pinker in The Blank Slate). In addition, he also deals nicely with some of the many critiques leveled at Gladwell's thesis about how many hours is required to make someone 'elite'.
Finally, he focusses heavily on the successes of Michael Jordan, but Jordan's success is only part of the story- I would have liked some consideration of Jordan's brief (but disastrous) flirtation with professional Baseball. Why did Jordan's drive not translate into results? Was he too old? I'm quite sure that Shenk's thesis would not be harmed by Jordan's failure, but strengthened, after all, part of the thesis of this book is the embracing of failure.
In the end, this is a well referenced, even-toned book that adds to a growing number of well researched self-help books.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This was a fascinating read, but with the final section on epigenetics, it seemed to fundamentaly contradict the claims the book made in the first section. Also like a lot of books that take this position, it argued somewhat ludicrously that West African males have no particular innate advantage in sporting events like the 100 metres and it's all down to attitude and culture plus good old racism. This struck me as nonsense on stilts. It's worth reading for the section on epigentics alone and this is an areas that is worth studying as it seems to blow apart natural selection alone as an evolutionary driver, but I do not know how widely this concept is accepted. Interesting but ultimately confused in its thinking.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Genius
This book lives up to it's name - 'Genius'. David Shenk breaks everything down into understandable chunks, whilst also leaving in the detail in case you want to go further. Read more
Published 12 days ago by L. Mullins
Changes your view of skill
Skill is underpinned form the abilities you inherit from your parents, right? WRONG.
This book will give you many examples of how hard work is far more important than... Read more
This book will give you many examples of how hard work is far more important than... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Smart Mart 13
Review
This product was delivered on time and was in the condition stated on the advert. Consequently, this was a satisfactory purchase.
Published 7 months ago by Mr. P. O'BRIEN
Great book - ideal present
Thought provoking; interesting ideas that really make you think. Have given copies as presents and they have always been well received.
Published 9 months ago by lindsay326
Not worth the money
I bought this book hoping it would help me understand how some people excel and others don't/can't. Sadly, there's a lot of 'technical' information in it and not much at all... Read more
Published 12 months ago by bazza
Genius in all of us review
I am so impressed by this that at this time I would strongly recommend this as the first book to anyone interested in reading or learning about behaviour (also to anyone interested... Read more
Published 16 months ago by J R
Hope for all of us
I liked this book with its positive message of seeing genes not as fatalistic determinants of us as human beings, but as possibilities shaped by the environment (it's not nature vs... Read more
Published on 3 May 2010 by Dr. Eli Joseph Jaldow
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