The Secret of Genius: The Little Weaknesses of the Great

Author: (German) Gerhard Prause, translated by Zhu Luhua
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-12-01
Features:
Genius is a concept open to debate. Gottfried Benn once succinctly defined it with a hint of irony: "A creative, volcanic brain—we call it genius. Some stand out, some seize the moment, some become geniuses, while the majority remain at the bottom, as if nothing had ever happened." This book primarily discusses those who stand out—renowned figures in the fields of art, literature, science, and politics. But I am not describing their glorious achievements; rather, I am exploring the small and large fears they have experienced, the difficulties and troubles in their daily lives, their anxieties and vanities, their highly personalized aspects. After reading this book, we will feel that the distance between us and genius has narrowed, and we will no longer feel discouraged or inferior; we will believe that as long as we seize the opportunity, we too can stand out and become geniuses. ----＜＜China Book Review Weekly＞＞ recommends "The Secrets of Genius." As the title suggests, it is a book that introduces and discusses geniuses, but it takes a unique approach. It does not focus on the well-known growth processes of geniuses we are already familiar with, but instead lifts the long-standing veil covering geniuses and great figures, emphasizing the lesser-known, human side of them. Throughout history, countless famous geniuses and great figures have emerged, some renowned for their literary, musical, and artistic works, others celebrated for their strategic prowess in battle and politics. Yet they are far from perfect—they also have flaws and weaknesses. For example, Schopenhauer was naturally timid, Shaw was shy, Goethe feared death, and Voltaire was greedy. Even Marx, such as he, devoted his life to studying political economy, earning a good income, but was poor at managing money, living a life of financial hardship throughout his days. "Genius is also human" is the title of one chapter and also the red thread that runs through the entire book. Readers will see from the book that the lives of geniuses are not paved with flowers—they too suffer pain and trouble, such as family conflicts due to financial constraints, entanglements with women, obesity due to overeating, and being disliked for excessive drinking and smoking. After reading this book, we will feel that the distance between us and genius has narrowed, and we will no longer feel discouraged or inferior; we will believe that as long as we seize the opportunity, we too can stand out and become geniuses.