Modern Genius

Modern begins on a specific day—March 22, 1905—at a specific place: the Salon des Indépendants in Paris, where works of art we recognize as modern were first exhibited. Philip Hook illuminates how this new art came to be—and how truly shocking it was. We witness movement upon movement that burst forth in dizzying succession: Fauvism, Expressionism, Primitivism, Symbolism, Cubism, Futurism, and Abstract. His vivid accounts breathe new life into the work and times of nearly two hundred artists, and whose collective genius was understood and appreciated by few at the time.

The Age of Genius explores the eventful intertwining of outward event and inner intellectual life to tell, in all its richness and depth, the story of the 17th century in Europe. It was a time of creativity unparalleled in history before or since, from science to the arts, from philosophy to politics.

What if genius is not a gift but a regime — a specific, identifiable state of a system that can be understood, entered, and sustained? For centuries, the question of exceptional achievement has been carved up among rival disciplines. Geneticists claim it lives in DNA. Psychologists insist it emerges from practice. Neuroscientists locate it in synaptic density. Sociologists point to culture and timing. Each holds a piece of the truth. None holds the whole.

Goethe was the inventor of the psychological novel, a pioneer scientist, great man of the theatre and a leading politician. As A. N. Wilson argues in this groundbreaking biography, it was his genius and insatiable curiosity that helped catapult the Western world into the modern era. A N. Wilson tackles the life of Goethe with characteristic wit and verve. From his youth as a wild literary prodigy to his later years as Germany’s most respected elder statesman, Wilson hones in on Goethe’s undying obsession with the work he would spend his entire life writing – Faust.

He survived forty thousand years in ice. Modern life might finish the job. When thirteen-year-old Richard Gardner crashes his snowmobile into a glacier, he expects a broken bone—maybe a lecture from his parents. What he doesn’t expect is to discover a living Neanderthal frozen inside the ice. Defrosting Bruce turns out to be the easy part. Now Richard, his sarcastic sister, and their overwhelmed parents are stuck hiding a prehistoric houseguest who thinks automatic doors are predators, microwaves are weapons, and grocery stores are an endless buffet. As Bruce struggles to make sense of ...

“Eunice Wong's narration is clear, well paced, and emotionally balanced…This is a thoughtful, slow-burning novel with a narration that complements the complexity of the plot.” — AudioFile From the New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six comes the story of three siblings who...

From the bestselling author of Home Comforts comes the “timely” (The New Yorker), “fascinating, and morally serious,” (The Wall Street Journal) story of our wedding vows—what they mean and why they still matter. In the West, marrying is so thoroughly identified with ceremonial promises...

Witness Napoleon Bonaparte's Rise and Fall: From an outsider on Corsica to the Emperor of France, Napoleon's journey is a tale of ambition, strategy, and leadership. This book delves deep into his life, revealing a story that transcends history and offers timeless lessons.

Our changing world demands creative thinkers and collaborative problem solvers, but too often, schools stifle growth and discovery in favor of getting through the curriculum or preparing for "the test." Learning opportunities and teaching methods must evolve to match the learner's needs....

Napoleon Bonaparte: Genius, Tyrant, or Architect of the Modern World? Few figures in history have inspired as much admiration, fear, and debate as Napoleon Bonaparte. He rose from a young outsider from Corsica to Emperor of France, reshaped Europe through war and reform, and left a legacy that still influences politics, law, and military strategy today. But Napoleon’s story is often buried in biographies that feel long, dense, and written only for specialists. This book is different. Napoleon Bonaparte: An Enthralling Guide offers a clear, fast-paced, and well-organized journey through ...

This audiobook is for highly sensitive people who have felt out of place in the modern world. It provides a narrative that describes how they fit into a lineage of creatives throughout history. Jacob Nordby offers a bold new definition of success in the modern era. "The only success now is living and creating a work-of-art life: unique, rich with meaning, naked of anything we don't care about, and ruthless about carving out something absolutely real from a world that has gorged itself on fakeness and become critically ill from it."

Mad scientists have never had it so tough. In super-hero comics, graphic novels, films, TV series, video games, and even works of what may be fiction, they are besieged by those who stand against them, devoid of sympathy for their irrational, megalomaniacal impulses to rule, destroy, or otherwise dominate the world as we know it. It’s just not fair. So those of us who are so twisted and sick that we love mad scientists have created this guide.

In a book that Doris Kearns Goodwin has called "brilliantly crafted to draw leadership lessons from history", Philip Barlag uses dramatic and colorful incidents from Caesar's career to illustrate what modern leaders can learn from him. Central to Barlag's argument is the distinction between power and force. When leading his own organization, Caesar never used brute force to motivate his followers.

What if the technologies changing our world today were imagined thousands of years ago? Tap Into Genius is a fascinating journey through time — from the minds of ancient philosophers to the innovators of the digital age. Drawing bold and surprising connections between Aristotle and artificial intelligence, Plato and the metaverse, and Epicurus and quantum theory, Robyn March shows that the roots of modern technology reach deep into humanity’s oldest questions. This is not another history of ideas — it’s a map of how human thought evolves, how the past continues to invent the future,...

Elon Musk is undeniably a business titan. He controls massive companies like Tesla and SpaceX, and has cemented himself in history forever - but how much do you really know about the man behind it all? Inside this detailed account of Elon Musk’s life and career, you’ll learn about his childhood and schooling in South Africa, his humble beginnings on the American continent, and his first endeavors into business.

Dive into the dazzling world of modern glass art with "Refracting Genius," the compelling eBook that shatters the boundaries of traditional craftsmanship. This treasure unfolds with a pristine glance into the evolution of glass as an artistic medium and sweeps you through the dynamic fusion of technique and imagination, where art is not just seen but felt through its transparent allure. From the marriage of technology and tradition to pioneering digital designs, "Refracting Genius" guides you through the modern alchemy of transforming sand into treasured art. Witness the revolutionary tools...

The unfiltered wit of the Man Utd legend. 100+ iconic George Best quotes on football, fame, Miss Worlds, and why he only quit drinking for 20 minutes. Get the ultimate collection. Before Beckham, Before Ronaldo, There Was Best. George Best was not just a genius with a ball at his feet; he was the first superstar footballer, a cultural phenomenon, and the most quotable maverick of the modern era. His life was a dizzying whirlwind of dazzling goals, European glory, and spectacular self-destruction. This definitive collection, Best of Best: 100 Quotes from a Football Genius, offers a direct ...

“I’ve never dated a genius before. Or a billionaire. Or a guy who ignites my insides as if they were infused with northern lights. It’s not like I thought it would be.” When Arabella goes looking for love, she discovers her hidden fear is true—she’s invisible to men. Solving her romantic problems will take a genius, and she has one in mind. Arabella is the quiet reader of the GUM sorority. She’s a lover of Shakespeare but no one’s lover. As the Bard’s doing nothing to fix her love life, Arabella consults brilliant Logan Kentwell. Logan is their university’s most ...

Discover the compelling story of Vincent van Gogh, a visionary artist whose intense emotional experiences and revolutionary ideas forever changed the landscape of modern art. Vincent van Gogh was a complex figure, blending creativity, struggle, and sheer brilliance to create masterpieces that resonate with raw emotion and vivid color. This book takes you on a journey into van Gogh's life, exploring his motivations, his groundbreaking works, and the legacy of his artistic genius. From his early works in the Netherlands to his iconic "Starry Night," van Gogh's journey is a testament to the ...

We live in a society seduced by stuff. Advertising and not so clever marketing make us want any conceivable object, and in this age of mass production, materialism has become an epidemic. Our belongings have become no more than self-imposed, self-maintained jail bars, and it's time to break free, and maybe make a little cash in the process. Understand and learn how to get the most of your living space by following exercises such as the 20%-80% rule, and the 4 box system.