What does it take to be a genius?

Question

Do you really think you need to have a dismorphed brain to be a genius? Or you just have to have the right surroundings?
I have noticed that a lot of people like Edison and Mozart never went to school.
Edison's mother took him out of school and put him in this place where he could pusue his interests (building machines and such). He patented his first invention at the age of 15.
Mozart never went to school and he was who you know he was.
Einstein dropped out of university without his parents knowing and he is famous for his different views on the universe.
Bill Gates dropped out from Harvard.

Are they really that special? Or they just had the guts to leave school and maximise their skills?
they were in an environment where they could pursue their interests and augment them at the rate they wished. not rushing information into their brains or taking it too slow.
Does being considered a genius really demand that you have a weird brain? Or is it just a way you live your life?

Answer 1

Put Simply, Genius is a natural thing. You have it or you don't.

Answer 2

No one doesn't have to be weird to be a genius. Edison did not make all the inventions him self, he had a lot of technicians around him. It is said that he invented the lamp, but he did not as there was a watchmaker in New York who did it before him. It is said that some of the thing that Einstein have gotten credit for wasn't made by him. Some say that it was his fiance who did the work. Bill Gates have bought ideas from others and some others are working for him. It is know that some of the great inventors have had another way of thinking. Stretch out your arm and lift the hand so you can see all your fingers. What do you see - five fingers don't you? Look through your finger and you will see at least eight if you focus far away behind the fingers. That makes the difference between a genius and an ordinary person. You look trough the problem, not on it as most people do. That's why they are not a genius.

Answer 3

Excellent question! I have wondered about this as well. I strongly feel that nurture is far more influential than nature. Not trying to seem all "geniusy" here but:

By all accounts, I was a very intelligent child.
My teachers wanted me to "skip" a grade in elementary school but my mother did not allow me to as I was already the youngest in my class due to my birthdate.
The next year, I became very bored with school. I remember hiding at the back of the class under the coats and also I would sneak out and go hide in the bathroom, and my favorite: I would sneak out to the library to read. My mother had to come to the school once for a conference and when the teacher could not find me in the classroom, she non-chalantly said "Oh, she's probably in the library as that's where she usually goes." My mother was floored. Anyway, fast forward to seventh grade when I nearly failed.

I never did fail a grade and I finished college but I often wonder how I might have benefitted from an alternative school setting as I remember dreading school because everything was being taught at a snail's pace. (And this happened way before "No Child Left Behind").

As a parent, I buy the usual toys for my children but I also buy things like bug-catching kits, kidsize microscopes, etc. Basically, anything to stimulate curiousity. Also, it is important to take every opportunity to teach my children myself even if the conversation is one minute long.

I remember reading something about Einstein's mother's reaction to him spilling some milk on the floor. Rather than fretting over the accident, she asked him questions about the milk, and encouraged him to just look at it. The milk got cleaned up but even that experience was turned into a learning experience and also, a positive one for the child. At every opportunity, she taught her child to think, rather than to memorize and regurgitate.

JMHO. Thanks for the question.

Answer 4

First you need a brain. A normal one should do it. Then you need to find out what does really interest you, and have the guts to pursue that dream, and study all the knowledge related to that topic, and if there isn't any knowledge recorded yet, well then you'll have to discover it and be the first to record it.
If my recipe is any good then it means I'm a genius, but I'm not. It's just a wild guess.
... and yes, it's the way you live your life.

Answer 5

Not to brag, but I myself am considered a ''genius'' and could give you some pointers.
-Read or listen to everything of interest. If you like a certain topic, try to read about it and get informed. Also, discuss with smart people of similar interests.
-Stay Informed. Know about the current events,and also the past and what led up to certain things
-Be Open-minded. Listening and learning about other peoples' views and cultures is the only way you will be able to expand your thinking capabilities
-Excersise your brain. Read, do sudokus, anything to keep those neurons connected.
-Be curious and observant. Ask yourself why things happen, how stuff works, or what is a certain thing. This is a key ingredient

Answer 6

Define genius. I think there is a mighty fine line between true genius and insanity.

Answer 7

If you ever notice...people who are really smart read and enjoy books. I am not saying that just because you read books you are smart, but it is almost a fact that those who read are smarter.

Answer 8

I believe you’re born that way. Usually they act pretty odd .

Answer 9

2 no me

Answer 10

have an IQ above 150 or one step away from being mad.