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book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Book on CD read by the author
The subtitle is all the synopsis you need: A Search for the World’s Most Creative Places, from Ancient Athens to Silicon Valley.
Weiner explores the culture of various cities and eras that resulted in an environment that fostered genius – Ancient Athens, Hangzhou in the time of the Song Dynasty, Renaissance Florence, 18th century Edinburgh, Calcutta from about 1840 to 1920, Vienna with TWO golden ages, separated by nearly a century (Mozart to Freud), and California’s Silicon Valley.
He looks at whether individual effort was more important than cooperation within a group; how financial need influenced the genius; the role of nurture vs nature; and the preponderance of failure which spurs the genius to continue working. It’s an interesting book, but not a particularly compelling one, and there were times when I just zoned out. Still, I learned a little about a variety of subjects.
Weiner reads the audio book himself. He clearly has a passion for the subject, which is especially evident in the epilogue.
The subtitle is all the synopsis you need: A Search for the World’s Most Creative Places, from Ancient Athens to Silicon Valley.
Weiner explores the culture of various cities and eras that resulted in an environment that fostered genius – Ancient Athens, Hangzhou in the time of the Song Dynasty, Renaissance Florence, 18th century Edinburgh, Calcutta from about 1840 to 1920, Vienna with TWO golden ages, separated by nearly a century (Mozart to Freud), and California’s Silicon Valley.
He looks at whether individual effort was more important than cooperation within a group; how financial need influenced the genius; the role of nurture vs nature; and the preponderance of failure which spurs the genius to continue working. It’s an interesting book, but not a particularly compelling one, and there were times when I just zoned out. Still, I learned a little about a variety of subjects.
Weiner reads the audio book himself. He clearly has a passion for the subject, which is especially evident in the epilogue.
suzukabunny's review against another edition
4.0
its quite struggling to finish this book. Its story is so diverse, mansplaining that some genius appear at the right time in the right place on the right society. And every place has its version of what are called jenius, whether its art, or philosophy, or science, etc. What makes a human called jenius or a place become genius pool maybe just a drop of good luck or coincidence.
Eric Weiner maybe not a brilliant story teller, but he did his research right and try to tell a different story about some places that attract and produce geniuses.
Eric Weiner maybe not a brilliant story teller, but he did his research right and try to tell a different story about some places that attract and produce geniuses.
colleengeedrumm's review against another edition
4.0
Cafes are a second kind of home - "a great good place."
The past, it's been said, is a foreign country. They do things differently there.
Squint. Sometimes we can see more by narrowing our view than by expanding it.
I'm hoping to find answers to questions, or at least better questions, as Socrates would say.
The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing.
The inability to acknowledge and mourn loss is apt to lead to a shutdown of vital creative impulses...only the resolution of loss allows for a fresh start and renewed access to sources of creativity.
Genius is sorrow's child.
Human happiness never remains long in the same place.
Coffee made me think more quickly, but tea made me think more deeply.
The past is like that. It is absent and then suddenly not absent. The present doesn't displace the past; it conceals it.
Keep asking. The road to wisdom is paved with good questions.
Places of genius require a degree of uncertainty, and perhaps even chaos.
May you live in interesting times.
In China, a good day is a rainy day. Rain means life.
A deep and abiding sense of awe is an indispensable aspect of genius.
The beauty of sudden seeing. It is a fatal fault to reason whilst observing. See what is before you, the thing itself. Analyze later.
A truly creative person perceives not only "the pastness of the past but also its presence."
When you push me here (solar plexus) - I don't push back. Instead I fight you here, and here. Where you don't expect it. The idea is to use wisdom, fight smart, always keep your balance.
Enjoying enjoying.
Sprezzatura - a squirt of something extra.
It is useful to be ignorant of bad knowledge.
I desire the things that will destroy me in the end. - Sylvia Plath
It surprises, and surprise, along with the attendant phenomena of wonder and awe, lies at the heart of all creative genius.
The densest happiness.
The great affair is to move.
If we knew what we were doing we wouldn't call it research.
That's the way doubt works. It either paralyzes or emboldens. Nothing in between.
Here is another trait common to geniuses: an utter and complete lack of self-consciousness.
Most of us look. The genius sees.
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; genius hits a target no one else can see.
Picasso was asked if he knew what a painting was going to look like when he started it, and he said, 'No, of course not. If I knew, I wouldn't bother doing it.
I believe we must adjourn this meeting to another place. (on Adam Smith's deathbed)
The chaos and madness has its own rhythm. Chaos is the Neighbor of God.
Chance favors the prepared mind.
The great affair is to move.
Individualism combined with gregariousness. Each one does what he/she wants while enjoying being part in a group.
-People whose hatred of their fellow human beings is as fierce as their longing for people, who want to be alone but need companionship for it.
Auf geht's, mein Kleiner. Du Schaffst das! Let's go my little one. You can do it!
People accuse the Germans of not being creative, but their language is fabulously flexible. The Germans are inventing words constantly. The language was designed for inventing words.
Can you still hike in these woods?
One can hike.
A tough man climbs the mountain. A wise man sits in the water.
Nature = a glorious school for the heart.
Music, good music, is about "exporting sadness."
Two attitudes seem modern in our time: analyzing life and escaping from it. In the coffeehouse, you could do both simultaneously, and for only a few shillings. It was pure genius.
When asked about the secret to a happy life, Freud famously answered, "Liebe und Arbeit." Love and work.
"Remember it and move on" is the way of genius. (vs. forget)
How different from today, when an academic is considered successful when no one can understand a word he says.
Recognizing your ignorance is the beginning of all wisdom. -Socrates
The novels help me understand others. The music helps me understand myself.
Creativity doesn't happen "in here" or "out there" but in the spaces in between.
The past, it's been said, is a foreign country. They do things differently there.
Squint. Sometimes we can see more by narrowing our view than by expanding it.
I'm hoping to find answers to questions, or at least better questions, as Socrates would say.
The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing.
The inability to acknowledge and mourn loss is apt to lead to a shutdown of vital creative impulses...only the resolution of loss allows for a fresh start and renewed access to sources of creativity.
Genius is sorrow's child.
Human happiness never remains long in the same place.
Coffee made me think more quickly, but tea made me think more deeply.
The past is like that. It is absent and then suddenly not absent. The present doesn't displace the past; it conceals it.
Keep asking. The road to wisdom is paved with good questions.
Places of genius require a degree of uncertainty, and perhaps even chaos.
May you live in interesting times.
In China, a good day is a rainy day. Rain means life.
A deep and abiding sense of awe is an indispensable aspect of genius.
The beauty of sudden seeing. It is a fatal fault to reason whilst observing. See what is before you, the thing itself. Analyze later.
A truly creative person perceives not only "the pastness of the past but also its presence."
When you push me here (solar plexus) - I don't push back. Instead I fight you here, and here. Where you don't expect it. The idea is to use wisdom, fight smart, always keep your balance.
Enjoying enjoying.
Sprezzatura - a squirt of something extra.
It is useful to be ignorant of bad knowledge.
I desire the things that will destroy me in the end. - Sylvia Plath
It surprises, and surprise, along with the attendant phenomena of wonder and awe, lies at the heart of all creative genius.
The densest happiness.
The great affair is to move.
If we knew what we were doing we wouldn't call it research.
That's the way doubt works. It either paralyzes or emboldens. Nothing in between.
Here is another trait common to geniuses: an utter and complete lack of self-consciousness.
Most of us look. The genius sees.
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; genius hits a target no one else can see.
Picasso was asked if he knew what a painting was going to look like when he started it, and he said, 'No, of course not. If I knew, I wouldn't bother doing it.
I believe we must adjourn this meeting to another place. (on Adam Smith's deathbed)
The chaos and madness has its own rhythm. Chaos is the Neighbor of God.
Chance favors the prepared mind.
The great affair is to move.
Individualism combined with gregariousness. Each one does what he/she wants while enjoying being part in a group.
-People whose hatred of their fellow human beings is as fierce as their longing for people, who want to be alone but need companionship for it.
Auf geht's, mein Kleiner. Du Schaffst das! Let's go my little one. You can do it!
People accuse the Germans of not being creative, but their language is fabulously flexible. The Germans are inventing words constantly. The language was designed for inventing words.
Can you still hike in these woods?
One can hike.
A tough man climbs the mountain. A wise man sits in the water.
Nature = a glorious school for the heart.
Music, good music, is about "exporting sadness."
Two attitudes seem modern in our time: analyzing life and escaping from it. In the coffeehouse, you could do both simultaneously, and for only a few shillings. It was pure genius.
When asked about the secret to a happy life, Freud famously answered, "Liebe und Arbeit." Love and work.
"Remember it and move on" is the way of genius. (vs. forget)
How different from today, when an academic is considered successful when no one can understand a word he says.
Recognizing your ignorance is the beginning of all wisdom. -Socrates
The novels help me understand others. The music helps me understand myself.
Creativity doesn't happen "in here" or "out there" but in the spaces in between.
hilaryelle's review against another edition
2.0
I loved the geography of bliss, but this book didn't have the same magic. It seemed like the author was trying too hard to make tenuous comparisons and observations about places of genius that were long long gone (ie ancient athens). I learned some fun facts but overall, found it tedious.
ameyawarde's review against another edition
4.0
An entertaining read, especially for someone like myself with a particular interest in polymaths and history. The book reads like a travelogue with biographies thrown in, which I found an enjoyable mix-- especially as I was listening to the audiobook, read by the author, and he very much sounds like Anthony Bourdaine in voice and style, which I dig. I will say two things though, somehow he managed to say, twice, that the Chinese language doesn't allow for wordplay because they use characters?, which is BAFFLING because the Chinese love wordplay and are excellent at it. The other part was that he included Freud at all. The book I had just finished the day I started this one was Freud: The Making of an Illusion, and he was SO VERY MUCH not a genius that it sort of took away some of my inherent trust in this writer, for including him at all, and not really mentioning how many people recognize that Freud was a complete lying, malpracticing, plagarizing, misogonystic fraud, etc.
But, other than Freud being included (seriously, how did that happen?) and the confusing comment about Chinese, it was an enjoyable romp through world history via some brilliant folks.
But, other than Freud being included (seriously, how did that happen?) and the confusing comment about Chinese, it was an enjoyable romp through world history via some brilliant folks.
mahir007's review against another edition
4.0
نحن جميعًا يونانيون قليلاً ، سواء عرفنا ذلك أم لا. إذا سبق لك التصويت أو خدمت في هيئة محلفين أو شاهدت فيلمًا أو قرأت رواية أو جلست مع مجموعة من الأصدقاء يشربون الخمر ويتحدثون عن أي شيء من مباراة كرة القدم إلى طبيعة الحقيقة ، يمكنك أن تشكر اليونانيين.
إذا كان لديك في أي وقت مضى فكرة عقلانية أو سألت لماذا؟ أو تحدق في سماء الليل في تعجب صامت ، إذن فقد مررت بلحظة يونانية. إذا كنت قد تحدثت الإنجليزية من قبل ، فيمكنك أن تشكر اليونانيين. نشأت الكثير من كلماتنا من لغتهم الثرية لدرجة أن رئيس وزراء يوناني ألقى خطابًا كاملاً باللغة الإنجليزية ، مستخدمًا كلمات مشتقة من اليونانية فقط.
نعم ، لقد جلب لنا الإغريق الديمقراطية والعلوم والفلسفة ، لكن يمكننا أيضًا أن نشكرهم (أو نلعنهم) على العقود المكتوبة ، والعملات الفضية والبرونزية ، والضرائب ، والمدارس ، والقروض التجارية ، والكتيبات الفنية ، والسفن الشراعية الكبيرة ، والمشتركة- الاستثمار في المخاطر ، والملاّك الغائبين. تقريبًا كل جزء من حياتنا مستوحى من الإغريق ، بما في ذلك فكرة الإلهام ذاتها. وتخلص المؤرخة إديث هاميلتون إلى القول: "نحن نفكر ونشعر بشكل مختلف بسبب الإغريق".
.
Eric Weiner
The Geography Of Genius
Translated by #Maher_Razouk
إذا كان لديك في أي وقت مضى فكرة عقلانية أو سألت لماذا؟ أو تحدق في سماء الليل في تعجب صامت ، إذن فقد مررت بلحظة يونانية. إذا كنت قد تحدثت الإنجليزية من قبل ، فيمكنك أن تشكر اليونانيين. نشأت الكثير من كلماتنا من لغتهم الثرية لدرجة أن رئيس وزراء يوناني ألقى خطابًا كاملاً باللغة الإنجليزية ، مستخدمًا كلمات مشتقة من اليونانية فقط.
نعم ، لقد جلب لنا الإغريق الديمقراطية والعلوم والفلسفة ، لكن يمكننا أيضًا أن نشكرهم (أو نلعنهم) على العقود المكتوبة ، والعملات الفضية والبرونزية ، والضرائب ، والمدارس ، والقروض التجارية ، والكتيبات الفنية ، والسفن الشراعية الكبيرة ، والمشتركة- الاستثمار في المخاطر ، والملاّك الغائبين. تقريبًا كل جزء من حياتنا مستوحى من الإغريق ، بما في ذلك فكرة الإلهام ذاتها. وتخلص المؤرخة إديث هاميلتون إلى القول: "نحن نفكر ونشعر بشكل مختلف بسبب الإغريق".
.
Eric Weiner
The Geography Of Genius
Translated by #Maher_Razouk
naddie_reads's review against another edition
2.75
An interesting read for an promising premise, though ultimately I think this was a study that is only on a surface level and depends much on anecdotal evidence. There are chapters on Hangzhou & Calcutta, but mostly this focused on mostly Caucasian male geniuses and thus has a Westernized outlook of the 'genius' phenomena. No mentions of the Islamic Golden Age which gave the knowledge for the Renaissance to build upon, of course. There weren't any specific mentions of the women geniuses of the past either, though there were several examples he could've drawn from: Rosalind Franklin who was not credited with her scientific findings on the DNA even though the author mentioned the two men who won a Nobel prize for it; Hedy Lamarr, who paved the way for the creation of cellphones; Fatima al-Fihriya, the woman who gave birth to the university institutions; Ada Lovelace who pioneered the concept of computer programming, etc. Perhaps there will be arguments saying "well, there weren't a lot of these women geniuses compared to the men, were they?" to which I say, just because we haven't heard a lot of these women that didn't mean that they did not exist; women were not given the same opportunities as their male counterparts, and certainly history seemed fond of erasing these women's names from most major history books. The very fact that the author only went for the established list of geniuses meant that he did not bother to dig deeper and instead present facts which are already well known, which makes for a biased perspective in this study. (Even the study of Silicon Valley's most recent boom didn't include any women in it.)
Overall, there were good insights from all the studies the author had gone into, nevertheless, and one can take some lessons from it on how to emulate the conditions that can give birth to a genius.
Overall, there were good insights from all the studies the author had gone into, nevertheless, and one can take some lessons from it on how to emulate the conditions that can give birth to a genius.
hoodster's review against another edition
3.0
I'm being a little bit generous with three stars, mainly giving the author the benefit of the doubt since his previous book on happiness was so outstanding. I'm not sure why this one was such a bore in comparison. It was a real slog, I think mainly because every time he got into the interesting life of a historical character, he would then pivot to some study about genius or creativity in general and would totally disrupt the flow of the narrative. It also just wasn't funny, whereas the other book was extremely amusing.
jseargeant's review against another edition
Originally published at Novel Escapism
This thoroughly engrossing book asks the question “Why do some places become hot spots for genius?” Eric Weiner travels to places of genius from ancient Athens to Renaissance Florence to present-day Silicon Valley. He finds the similarities in those places that created huge leaps in culture, innovation, and ideas. Part history, part travelogue, The Geography of Genius, is well-researched and sublimely written. Mr. Weiner is a very talented, descriptive writer. He makes you feel connected to the place he’s describing and like you want to go there to see exactly what he sees.
This thoroughly engrossing book asks the question “Why do some places become hot spots for genius?” Eric Weiner travels to places of genius from ancient Athens to Renaissance Florence to present-day Silicon Valley. He finds the similarities in those places that created huge leaps in culture, innovation, and ideas. Part history, part travelogue, The Geography of Genius, is well-researched and sublimely written. Mr. Weiner is a very talented, descriptive writer. He makes you feel connected to the place he’s describing and like you want to go there to see exactly what he sees.
karenleagermain's review against another edition
3.0
Thank You to Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advanced copy of Eric Weiner's The Geography of Genius, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT- In The Geography of Genius, Eric Weiner travels around the world in an attempt to determine why certain cultures have experienced bursts of innovation. What are the common links between places like Renaissance Florence and ancient Athens? Is America's Silicon Valley the latest pocket of genius? Weiner examines the reason that these short-lived revolutionary periods happen, and why they quickly fizzle. Besides the commonalities, he looks at the unique attributes that each culture brings to the table. Is it possible to predict or create the next place of genius?
LIKE- I was a big fan of Weiner's previous non-fiction book, The Geography of Bliss, where in a similar set-up to The Geography of Genius, he travels the world to figure out the secret to cultures who are considered "happy".
Weiner's humor shines through in his writing, which is helpful to cut through this dense topic. He writes in a conversational style, that makes it seem like the information is coming through via a coffee chat with your most interesting friend. I have no doubt that amongst his friends, Weiner is the guy with a million unusual anecdotes. His interest in the subject is infectious.
The idea for the book is fascinating, and I liked how Weiner takes a broad approach with his inclusion of a range of cultures and time periods.
DISLIKE- The subject was dense and I could only read in small chunks, sometimes making The Geography of Genius, feel like a chore to read. I read it on my Kindle and read ten percent chunks a day. Sluggish.
RECOMMEND- Maybe. If the subject grabs your interest, go for it. Going in, I was most excited to read Weiner's latest book and would have probably read it, regardless of the subject. I wasn't as enthusiastic as I was towards The Geography of Bliss, which I recommended to everyone. Despite my lukewarm feelings towards The Geography of Genius, I still hold Weiner in high regard and I'm looking forward to his next book!
Like my review? Check out my blog!
PLOT- In The Geography of Genius, Eric Weiner travels around the world in an attempt to determine why certain cultures have experienced bursts of innovation. What are the common links between places like Renaissance Florence and ancient Athens? Is America's Silicon Valley the latest pocket of genius? Weiner examines the reason that these short-lived revolutionary periods happen, and why they quickly fizzle. Besides the commonalities, he looks at the unique attributes that each culture brings to the table. Is it possible to predict or create the next place of genius?
LIKE- I was a big fan of Weiner's previous non-fiction book, The Geography of Bliss, where in a similar set-up to The Geography of Genius, he travels the world to figure out the secret to cultures who are considered "happy".
Weiner's humor shines through in his writing, which is helpful to cut through this dense topic. He writes in a conversational style, that makes it seem like the information is coming through via a coffee chat with your most interesting friend. I have no doubt that amongst his friends, Weiner is the guy with a million unusual anecdotes. His interest in the subject is infectious.
The idea for the book is fascinating, and I liked how Weiner takes a broad approach with his inclusion of a range of cultures and time periods.
DISLIKE- The subject was dense and I could only read in small chunks, sometimes making The Geography of Genius, feel like a chore to read. I read it on my Kindle and read ten percent chunks a day. Sluggish.
RECOMMEND- Maybe. If the subject grabs your interest, go for it. Going in, I was most excited to read Weiner's latest book and would have probably read it, regardless of the subject. I wasn't as enthusiastic as I was towards The Geography of Bliss, which I recommended to everyone. Despite my lukewarm feelings towards The Geography of Genius, I still hold Weiner in high regard and I'm looking forward to his next book!
Like my review? Check out my blog!