This is a very interesting and extremely encouraging book which postulates that genius is not something that only a select few people are born with, but rather something that is within us all. The closing sentence sums up the book perfectly : "Everything shapes us and everything can be shaped by us. The genius in all of us is our built-in ability to improve ourselves and our world."
If you don't believe this, well then, you need to pick up this book... ( )

Honestly, I think the author wrote this book as a reaction to being told he wasn’t good at something. Unless, you’re been living under a rock, you are probably aware of the role of epigenetics, nature, minute, and practice in developing abilities. So nothing new.

Not likely to recommend ( )

This book surprised me. I was still sold on the old "you are born with it or you're not" theory. Based on what I've been people who've recovered from accidents or severe illness so, it makes more sense. I don't think I ever would have understood it if I hadn't been watching SciShow on YouTube. I particularly recommended the episode on Epigenetics, which is where I first heard the word. I also recommend this book. ( )

DISCLOSURE: I received this book through a First Reads giveaway.
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This book in a sentence:
Work hard and you can achieve anything (within limits, of course) because you are not dictated entirely by your genes!

There, I saved you $15.95 and several hours of reading.


This book in more sentences:
"Work hard and you can do anything better than you're currently doing it!" This is basically the thesis statement of any lecture you might have been given by your teacher, coach, or parent when you weren't doing well at whatever it was you were being lectured about. This book is the same encouragement-cum-lecture, just repackaged and emblazoned with the word "SCIENCE" on it in big sparkly letters.

For what it's worth, there are some interesting points, such as the history of intelligence tests and some experiments that have been done. (Also, some of the metaphors are truly hilarious. I might be tempted to recommend this book simply for the ridiculous metaphors.) But, really, underneath all that interesting information and those hilarious metaphors is nothing particularly new, innovative, or interesting. ( )

Thank you, thank you, thank you... I've long believed that genetics only plays a small part in defining who we are or what we are capable of. Thank you David Shenk for showing us the researcj that backs that up that belief and doing so in such a way that makes it easy to understand while not diminishing the real science and research that has been done.

I really like the manner the information is presented and then the flow that Shenk takes as he steps through the different areas that all play a part of defining who we are, or who we could be.

This was a First-Reads selection ( )