This path-breaking work offers the first comprehensive examination of the important personalities and events that have influenced the course of history. It discusses whether people who go down in history are different from the rest of us and whether specific personality traits predispose certain people to become world leaders, movie stars, scientific geniuses, and athletes. It sheds light on the depth of potential in everyone, yielding important clues as to how we can take advantage of our own individual personality traits. Probing the lives of a range of important figures, the book explores the full range of phenomena associated with greatness, scrutinizing the significance of everything from genetic inheritance, intuition, aesthetic appreciation, and birth order, to formal education, sexual orientation, aging, IQ, and alcohol and drug abuse. This book will be of interest to anyone interested in the people and events that have helped shape the world, including mental health professionals and scholars studying psychological topics in the larger context of science, art, politics, and history. The book also serves as an engaging text for undergraduate psychology courses.
Dean Keith Simonton Books
Dean Keith Simonton is a world-renowned expert in the study of genius, focusing his research on the psychological underpinnings of creativity and exceptional individuals. His extensive publications delve into the nature of genius, its origins, and its manifestations across various fields of human endeavor. Simonton's work is characterized by a deep understanding of the psychological principles that drive extraordinary achievement and innovation. His approach offers readers a fascinating glimpse into the minds of history's most significant thinkers and creators.
Exploring the intersection of psychology and creativity, the book utilizes Darwin's theory of natural selection to understand the traits of creative geniuses. Simonton examines the brilliance of various eminent scientists and artists, while also applying these concepts to Darwin, offering insights into the nature of genius and the evolutionary processes behind creative thought.