Dickens and Prince: A Particular Kind of Genius
Having pored over a lot of writers’ and artists’ diaries and letters for my Daily Rituals research, I can say that most of them never felt that their work fulfilled their ambitions. Or, if they did feel that way, it was only in brief surges of confidence, which could be tremendously satisfying and productive—but which never lasted as lo
... See moreMason Currey • What if your ambition outstrips your talent?
Dean Simonton, a psychologist, has spent his career studying creative productivity. He has found that even creative geniuses, what some may call David Guetta, have a hard time recognizing when they have a hit. Simonton spent some time studying Beethoven and spoke about him,
“Beethoven’s own favorites among his symphonies, sonatas, and quartets are n... See more
“Beethoven’s own favorites among his symphonies, sonatas, and quartets are n... See more
genius is about caring about something more than a reasonable person cares about anything; actualized genius is the product of obsessive patterns of thought, coupled with raw intellectual power, carried through a lifetime.
On Genius, Intellect, and Obsession
He was also prolific, which matters almost as much.