Introduction
What makes a genius? Is it an innate, almost magical ability that only a select few are born with? Or are there certain traits and habits that set geniuses apart - habits that we might be able to learn from and cultivate ourselves?
In "The Hidden Habits of Genius," author Craig Wright explores the lives and practices of some of history's greatest geniuses, from Leonardo da Vinci and Albert Einstein to Pablo Picasso and Mary Shelley. Through examining these extraordinary individuals, Wright identifies key characteristics and behaviors that seem to be common among geniuses across different fields and time periods.
While we may not all be destined for Einstein-level breakthroughs, understanding the habits of genius can help us tap into our own creative potential and approach problems in new ways. This book offers fascinating insights into the minds of brilliant innovators and thinkers, along with practical takeaways we can apply in our own lives and work.
Cultivate a Childlike Perspective
One of the defining traits of genius, according to Wright, is the ability to look at the world with fresh eyes - much like a child does. This childlike perspective allows geniuses to see things in new ways and make unexpected connections.
Take the example of Mary Shelley, who wrote her groundbreaking novel "Frankenstein" when she was just 18 years old. Rather than viewing her youth as an obstacle, we might consider how her proximity to childhood actually fueled her creativity and allowed her to imagine a story that continues to captivate readers centuries later.
Similarly, Pablo Picasso is known for producing innovative, genre-defying art well into his old age. How did he maintain his creative edge? By deliberately cultivating a childlike approach to his work. Picasso famously said, "It takes a lot of time to become young." He had to unlearn the rigid techniques he was taught as a young artist in order to tap into a more playful, experimental style.
This youthful outlook allows geniuses to question assumptions, imagine new possibilities, and approach problems with curiosity rather than preconceived notions. While society often pushes us to "grow up" and become more serious, geniuses recognize the value in maintaining a sense of wonder and openness to the world around them.
To foster more of this childlike perspective in our own lives, we might:
- Ask more "why" questions and challenge assumptions
- Try looking at familiar objects or situations from new angles
- Engage in playful, open-ended activities without a specific goal
- Spend time with children and observe how they interact with the world
- Practice beginner's mind by approaching tasks as if for the first time
By tapping into our innate curiosity and shedding some of our adult inhibitions, we can start to see the world through fresh eyes.
Cultivate Intense Curiosity
Another key trait of geniuses is an insatiable curiosity about the world around them. This goes beyond casual interest - geniuses tend to have an almost obsessive drive to understand how things work and to continuously expand their knowledge.
Leonardo da Vinci exemplifies this trait perfectly. Despite lacking formal education in many areas, Leonardo's boundless curiosity drove him to become a master across multiple disciplines, from art and engineering to anatomy and architecture.
A glimpse at one of Leonardo's to-do lists reveals the breadth of his interests and his constant quest for knowledge:
- Calculate the area of Milan and its suburbs
- Find a book describing the area's churches
- Learn how to square a triangle mathematically
- Examine a crossbow
- Find out how to repair a canal lock
- Ask someone about measuring the sun
This wide-ranging curiosity allowed Leonardo to make unexpected connections and apply knowledge from one field to another in innovative ways.
While few of us can match Leonardo's polymathic genius, we can all cultivate more curiosity in our lives:
- Ask more questions and dig deeper into topics that interest you
- Explore subjects outside your usual areas of focus
- When visiting a new place, take time to wander and observe
- Read widely across different genres and disciplines
- Take up new hobbies or skills regularly
- Practice mindfulness to become more aware of your surroundings
By nurturing our natural curiosity, we open ourselves up to new ideas and perspectives that can fuel creativity and innovation.
Develop Intense Focus and Concentration
While curiosity drives geniuses to explore widely, they also possess the ability to focus intensely on a single problem or project for extended periods. This power of concentration allows them to dive deep into complex issues and achieve breakthroughs.
Leonardo da Vinci, for instance, was known for his meticulous attention to detail and willingness to spend weeks perfecting seemingly minor aspects of a painting. When criticized for working slowly on The Last Supper, he replied that great geniuses need time to form "perfect ideas" before manifesting them.
Albert Einstein demonstrated an almost superhuman ability to concentrate, regardless of his surroundings. A friend described visiting Einstein shortly after he became a father and finding him calmly working on equations with his baby on one knee, completely unfazed by the chaos and odors of new parenthood.
Other geniuses go to great lengths to create distraction-free environments that allow for deep focus:
- Leo Tolstoy locked himself in his study while writing
- Vladimir Nabokov wrote in his parked car to avoid noise and drafts
- Maya Angelou rented hotel rooms to write, having all distractions removed
While most of us can't match Einstein's powers of concentration, we can take steps to improve our focus:
- Create a dedicated workspace free from distractions
- Use techniques like the Pomodoro method to work in focused sprints
- Practice mindfulness meditation to train attention
- Limit multitasking and focus on one task at a time
- Take regular breaks to recharge mental energy
By cultivating the ability to concentrate deeply, we give ourselves the best chance of achieving creative breakthroughs and producing high-quality work.
Break Rules and Challenge Conventions
Geniuses are often rule-breakers and iconoclasts who aren't afraid to challenge established ways of thinking. This willingness to go against the grain allows them to see possibilities others miss and push boundaries in their fields.
Andy Warhol provides a great example of this. When he arrived in New York as a young artist, he noticed a disconnect between the art world and the commercial, consumer-driven culture of the city. Rather than conforming to artistic conventions, Warhol broke the rules by making everyday objects like soup cans and Coke bottles the subject of his art. This radical approach helped establish him as a pioneer of the Pop Art movement.
Martin Luther took an even bolder stance against established rules when he posted his 95 Theses challenging Catholic doctrine, sparking the Protestant Reformation. By daring to question centuries of religious tradition, Luther reshaped the course of Western Christianity and history.
While we may not all be positioned to spark religious revolutions, we can cultivate more of this rule-breaking spirit:
Question assumptions and "the way things have always been done"
Look for unconventional solutions to problems
Combine ideas from different fields in unexpected ways
Be willing to fail and learn from mistakes
Surround yourself with diverse perspectives
Embrace your unique voice and vision rather than conforming
By giving ourselves permission to think outside the box and challenge norms, we open up new realms of creative possibility.
Transform Weaknesses into Strengths
Many geniuses throughout history have grappled with mental health issues, leading to the common notion that there's a fine line between genius and madness. While this connection shouldn't be overly romanticized, it does point to another key trait of genius: the ability to transform potential weaknesses into sources of creativity and insight.
The link between creativity and mental health struggles is particularly strong among poets. One study found that eminent poets were 30 times more likely to experience manic-depressive illness compared to the general population. Rather than being paralyzed by these challenges, many poets have channeled their emotional turbulence into powerful, evocative verse.
Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama provides a striking example of turning mental health difficulties into creative fuel. Kusama, who has lived voluntarily in a psychiatric hospital for decades, describes her work as "psychosomatic art." She transforms her hallucinations and obsessive thoughts into mesmerizing paintings and installations. For Kusama, art-making becomes a way of processing and finding meaning in her experiences.
While most of us (thankfully) don't face such extreme mental health challenges, we all have weaknesses or struggles we can learn to reframe:
- Reflect on your perceived flaws or difficulties - how might they offer a unique perspective?
- Look for ways to channel emotional pain or frustration into creative expression
- Consider how past struggles have shaped your worldview and values
- Practice self-compassion and view your whole self (strengths and weaknesses) with kindness
- Seek support if you're dealing with mental health issues, but also explore how they might inform your work or art
By shifting our relationship to our struggles and seeing them as potential sources of insight, we can often unlock new realms of creativity and meaning.
Balance Intense Work with Relaxation
While geniuses are known for their ability to focus intensely on their work, they also recognize the importance of mental downtime. Many of history's great thinkers and creators have found that their best ideas come not while actively working, but during periods of relaxation and disengagement.
Physical activity, especially walking, has long been recognized as a way to stimulate creative thought. The ancient Greek Peripatetic philosophers conducted their discussions while strolling through Aristotle's school. Centuries later, Charles Dickens was said to walk up to 15 miles a day while working on novels like A Christmas Carol.
Sleep and dreaming also play a crucial role in the creative process for many geniuses. During REM sleep, the logical centers of our brain power down while areas linked to memory, emotion, and imagery become highly active. This unique brain state can lead to unexpected insights and associations. Artists like Salvador Dalí and musicians like Paul McCartney have credited dreams with inspiring some of their most iconic works.
To harness the power of relaxation for creativity:
- Take regular walks, especially in nature
- Build breaks and downtime into your schedule
- Prioritize getting enough quality sleep
- Try meditation or other mindfulness practices
- Engage in low-stakes creative play or hobbies
- Allow your mind to wander and daydream
By balancing intense focus with periods of relaxation and mental wandering, we give our brains the space to make new connections and generate fresh ideas.
Embrace Interdisciplinary Thinking
Many of history's greatest geniuses weren't specialists in a single field, but polymaths who excelled across multiple disciplines. This interdisciplinary approach allowed them to draw unexpected connections and apply knowledge from one area to challenges in another.
Leonardo da Vinci is the quintessential example of this trait. His mastery spanned art, engineering, anatomy, architecture, and more. This broad knowledge base allowed him to approach problems from multiple angles and devise innovative solutions.
In more recent times, Steve Jobs credited his study of calligraphy in college with influencing Apple's groundbreaking approach to typography and design. By venturing outside his core focus of technology, Jobs gained insights that helped set Apple products apart.
To cultivate more interdisciplinary thinking:
- Read widely across different subjects
- Take classes or workshops in areas outside your expertise
- Collaborate with people from diverse professional backgrounds
- Look for ways to apply concepts from one field to another
- Practice analogical thinking - how are two seemingly unrelated things similar?
- Cultivate varied hobbies and interests
By breaking down the silos between disciplines, we open ourselves up to novel ideas and approaches that can lead to true innovation.
Persist in the Face of Setbacks
Genius is not just about having brilliant ideas - it's about having the persistence to see those ideas through to fruition, often in the face of significant obstacles and setbacks. Many of history's greatest geniuses faced repeated failures and rejections before achieving success.
Thomas Edison famously said of his work developing the light bulb: "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." This resilient attitude allowed him to persist through countless experiments before finally succeeding.
Vincent van Gogh sold only one painting during his lifetime and faced constant rejection and criticism. Yet he continued to develop his unique artistic vision, producing over 2,100 artworks that would later be recognized as masterpieces.
To cultivate more persistence:
- Reframe failures as learning opportunities
- Set specific, achievable goals to maintain motivation
- Celebrate small wins along the way
- Develop a growth mindset - believe in your ability to improve
- Seek feedback and be willing to iterate on your ideas
- Build a support network to encourage you during tough times
By viewing setbacks as temporary and maintaining faith in our vision, we give ourselves the best chance of achieving meaningful breakthroughs.
Final Thoughts: Nurturing Your Inner Genius
While we may not all be destined to revolutionize physics like Einstein or paint masterpieces like Picasso, the habits and traits of genius are accessible to us all in varying degrees. By cultivating curiosity, maintaining a fresh perspective, focusing deeply, challenging conventions, transforming weaknesses, balancing work and rest, thinking across disciplines, and persisting through challenges, we can tap into more of our creative potential.
The journey toward genius is not about achieving some fixed, lofty status, but about continually expanding our capabilities and pushing the boundaries of what we think is possible. It's about approaching life and work with wonder, openness, and a willingness to think differently.
As we've seen through the lives of various geniuses, there is no single path to groundbreaking achievement. Each person must find their own unique combination of habits and practices that unlock their greatest potential. The key is to remain curious, stay open to new experiences and ideas, and never stop learning and growing.
By embracing these hidden habits of genius in our own lives, we open ourselves up to new realms of creativity, innovation, and personal growth. While we may not all change the course of history, we can certainly enrich our own lives and potentially make meaningful contributions to our fields and communities.
So go forth with the curiosity of Leonardo, the persistence of Edison, the rule-breaking spirit of Warhol, and the fresh perspective of Picasso. Your own unique genius is waiting to be unlocked.