Discover your Genius
- Book Title: Discover your Genius: How to Think like History’s 10 most Revolutionary Minds
- Author: Michael J. Gelb
- Year written/published: 2003
- Book Source: Amazon, Library
- Summary:Based on 10 most revolutionary historical figures, Gelb tells us the patterns about the way they led their life and thought about their dreams and desires.
- My Comments: It’s a brilliant book full of little pondering exercises and examples from these historical men and women.
- Contents page:
- Plato: Deepening your love of Wisdom
- Brunelleschi: Expanding your perspective
- Columbus: Going Perpendicular: Strengthening your optimism, Vision and Courage
- Copernicus: Revolutionising your Worldview
- Elizabeth 1: Wielding your Power with Balance and Effectiveness
- Shakespeare: Cultivating your Emotional Intelligence
- Jefferson: Celebrating your freedom in the pursuit of happiness
- Darwin: Developing your power of observation and opening your mind
- Gandhi: Applying the principles of spiritual genius to harmonise spirit, mind and body
- Einstein: Unleashing your imagination and combinatory Play
Some thought provoking quotations…
- life must be lived as play ~ Plato
-We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time ~T. S. Elit’s The 4 Quartets
- History knows of no man who ever did the like ~ Inscription on Columbus’ tomb in Seville Cathedral
- Success does not always go along with merit: America is not named after Columbus ~Sigmund Freud
- the speculations of a philosopher are far removed form the judgement of the multitude, for his aim is to seek truth in all things ~Copernicus, preface to the Revolution of the heavenly spheres
- Video et taceo (I see but i say nothing) ~Elizabeth I’s motto
- All the world’s a stage And all the men and women are merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts… ~Shakespeare, As You Like It
- For a bowl of water give a goodly mean; For a kindly greeting bow thou down with zeal; For a simple penny pay thou back with gold; If thy life me rescued, life do not withhold; Thus the words and actions of the wise regard; Every little service tenfold they reward; But the truly noble know all men as one, And return with gladness good for every evil done. ~ Hindi sacred text
- Study and in general the pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives ~ Albert Einstein
Plato self assessment:
- My Happiness is based on my success at work
- My happiness is based on how others see me
- My happiness is based on my financial success and material possessions
- My happiness is based on nurturing my soul
- I have a well-reasoned perspective on goodness and a strong code of ethics and moral behaviour
- I seek the essence of beauty every day
- i ask probing, challenging questions of myself and others
- For which principles would i be willing to sacrifice?
Brunelleschi…
- When i begin a project i start with visualisation of its successful completion
- I keep my priorities when i’m under stress
- I have faith in my own ideas
- I can think out of the box and then apply creative solutions to real-life problems
- I have faith in my own ideas
Columbus…
- I have a dream or vision that sets the course for my life
- I can persuade others to share my dream or vision
- i can communicate my ideas clearly to others
- i am an optimist
- i take the word ‘impossible’ as a challenge
- i have the courage to pursue new ideas
- i believe that my dreams will become a reality
Copernicus…
- My mind is open to new ideas
- i am willing to question my assumptions and beliefs
- i am sensitive to others when presenting them with my ideas
- i seek truth in all things
- i use my reason and logic to solve problems
- i cultivate my memory power
Elizabeth I:
- I am self-reliant and can keep important information to myself
- I can wait patiently for the right moment
- I am tolerant of other’s views
- I am calm in crisis
- I am no easily intimidated
- i study something new everyday
- i have a strong sense of purpose
Shakespeare…
- I am aware of the different roles i play
- I can laugh at myself at any time
- I take delight in the richness of languages
- I make my time to give my imagination free rein
Jefferson…
- I understand and embrace the responsibilities that come with freedom
- I actively protect the rights and freedoms of other people
- I cherish and support intellectual freedom
- I regard religious freedom as a fundamental human right
Darwin…
- i accentuate the positives in my life
- i do not cling to old familiar ideas when they are proved wrong
- i am patient and persistent
- i do not let illness, childhood issues, or other people’s criticism intimidate me, dampen my spirits or affect my self confidence
- my love for truth is greater than my need to be right
Gandhi…
- I can forgive those who upset, offend, or oppose me
- I regularly experience service to others as a source of joy
- i’m vigilant in monitoring my own integrity
- i believe in and practise nonviolence in dealings with others
Einstein…
- I like to daydream
- i can take serious challenges and play with in my mind
- i balance logic with my gut feeling in making decisions
- i seek solace and inspiration in nature
- i maintain my sense of humour in the face of serious problems
- i maintain my sense of humility in the face of great success
- i nurture the rational and imaginative sides of myself
- i create a brain nourishing environment at work and home
- i can take an open, childlike approach to problems
- i notice things that others wouldn’t think were important and wonder about them