The Geography of Genius: A Search for the World's Most Creative Places from Ancient Athens to Silicon Valley

Description

“An intellectual odyssey, a traveler’s diary, and a comic novel all rolled
into one. Smart, original, and utterly delightful.” —Daniel Gilbert, Harvard
professor and bestselling author of Stumbling on Happiness “A charming mix of
history and wisdom cloaked as a rollicking travelogue.” —Walter Isaacson,
bestselling author of Steve Jobs Travel the world with Eric Weiner, the New
York Times bestselling author of The Geography of Bliss, as he journeys from
Athens to Silicon Valley—and throughout history, too—to show how creative
genius flourishes in specific places at specific times. In The Geography of
Genius, acclaimed travel writer Weiner sets out to examine the connection
between our surroundings and our most innovative ideas. He explores the
history of places, like Vienna of 1900, Renaissance Florence, ancient Athens,
Song Dynasty Hangzhou, and Silicon Valley, to show how certain urban settings
are conducive to ingenuity. And, with his trademark insightful humor, he walks
the same paths as the geniuses who flourished in these settings to see if the
spirit of what inspired figures like Socrates, Michelangelo, and Leonardo
remains. In these places, Weiner asks, “What was in the air, and can we bottle
it?” This link can be traced back through history: Darwin’s theory of
evolution gelled while he was riding in a carriage. Freud did his best
thinking at this favorite coffee house. Beethoven, like many geniuses,
preferred long walks in the woods. Sharp and provocative, The Geography of
Genius redefines the argument about how genius came to be. His reevaluation of
the importance of culture in nurturing creativity is an informed romp through
history that will surely jumpstart a national conversation. Read more Read
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Features:

Product Details:

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster; First Edition (January 5, 2016)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1451691653
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 58
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
• Best Sellers Rank: #741,905 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #831 in Human Geography (Books) #1,294 in Travel Writing Reference #2,462 in Travelogues & Travel Essays
• #831 in Human Geography (Books)
• #1,294 in Travel Writing Reference