“Everyone is a genius,” goes one famous quote, “but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” In other words, intelligence is not a single, fixed quality, but rather a suite of potential capabilities.
And as Carol Dweck famously argued in her groundbreaking book Mindset, our intellectual abilities can always grow and expand in exciting new directions. It is in that spirit that we present the five books below, each of which will help you get to know your own mind—and get in touch with your inner genius.
Black-and-White Thinking: The Burden of a Binary Brain in a Complex World
By Kevin Dutton
Using the latest advances in psychology, neuroscience, and evolutionary biology, psychologist Kevin Dutton shows how we can optimize our tendency to categorize, and fine-tune our minds to avoid the pitfalls of too little, and too much, complexity. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
The Socrates Express: Searching for Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers
By Eric Weiner
The bestselling author of The Geography of Bliss embarks on a rollicking intellectual journey, following in the footsteps of history’s greatest thinkers and showing us how each—from Epicurus to Gandhi, Thoreau to Beauvoir—offers practical and spiritual lessons for today’s unsettled times. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
The Hidden Habits of Genius: Beyond Talent, IQ, and Grit―Unlocking the Secrets of Greatness
By Craig Wright
Looking at the 14 key traits of genius, from curiosity to creative maladjustment to obsession, professor Craig Wright, creator of Yale University’s popular “Genius Course,” explores what we can learn from brilliant minds that have changed the world. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain
By Shankar Vedantam and Bill Mesler
Renowned NPR host Shankar Vedantam teams up with science writer Bill Mesler to argue that self-deception can be good for us, and that it can explain why some people live longer than others, why some couples remain in love and others don’t, and why some nations hold together while others splinter. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know
By Adam Grant
Wharton psychologist Adam Grant offers bold ideas and rigorous evidence to show how we can embrace the joy of being wrong, encourage others to rethink topics as wide-ranging as abortion and climate change, and build schools, workplaces, and communities of lifelong learners. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
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