The Genius Myth

A Curious History of a Dangerous Idea

De: Helen Lewis

Narrado por: Helen Lewis

From acclaimed Atlantic staff writer and host of BBC’s podcast “The New Gurus” Helen Lewis comes a timely and provocative interrogation of the myth of genius, exploring the surprising inventions, inspirations and distortions by which some lives are elevated to 'greatness' - and others are not

*A Guardian, Financial Times, New Statesman and GQ Book for 2025*

You can tell what a society values by who it labels as a genius. You can also tell who it excludes, who it enables, and what it is prepared to tolerate. In The Genius Myth, Helen Lewis unearths how this one word has shaped (and distorted) our ideas of success and achievement.

Ultimately, argues Lewis, the modern idea of genius — a single preternaturally gifted individual, usually white and male, exempt from social niceties and sometimes even the law— has run its course. Braiding deep research with her signature wit and lightness, Lewis dissects past and present models of genius in the West, and reveals a far deeper and more interesting picture of human creativity than conventional wisdom allows. She uncovers a battalion of overlooked wives and collaborators. She asks whether most inventions are inevitable. She wonders if the Beatles would succeed today. And she confronts the vexing puzzle of Elon Musk, the tech disrupter who fancies himself as an ubermensch.

Smart, funny, and provocative, The Genius Myth will challenge your assumptions about creativity, productivity, and innovation --- and forever alter your mental image of the so-called “genius.”

Reseñas de la Crítica

PRAISE FOR THE GENIUS MYTH

“By degrees unsettling, amusing, and prescient; a much-needed audit of a consuming idea”
— Kirkus Review

"A brilliant, timely and compulsively readable book. With her characteristic combination of deep reporting and lightness of touch, Helen Lewis shows how the idea of genius has warped our understanding of human creativity – and why people of vast accomplishment in one domain can prove so destructively clueless in others."
— Oliver Burkeman, author of Four Thousand Weeks
"A provocative take on the problems we create when we put brainpower on a pedestal, from a journalist who pulls no punches."
— Adam Grant, bestselling author of Think Again and host of the "ReThinking" podcast















"A hilarious and thoughtful take-down of the ways we idolize brilliant assholes in science, art and business. Necessary reading."
— Scott Galloway, Professor of Marketing, NYU Stern and Co-host of the Pivot and Prof G Markets podcasts

Very interesting examination....

Insightful and at times fascinating of what is genius and how it's is viewed by people. Didn't feel like the author was trying to claim to have all the answers just shining a light on subject.

Interesting but ...

Defining "genius" is a formidable endeavour. The Genius Myth doesn't attempt this task. The structure is a series of articles loosely linked by a concept. The treatment is uneven. There's a long section on the Beatles that seems out of place. The author's narration is good enough. It's entertaining but not in-depth.

Brilliant analysis!

The Genius Myth is an excellent, thorough analysis of our assumptions about intelligence, giftedness, genius. Peppered with a breathtaking number of sly witticisms and wry observations; listening to this will require you hit the back button at least once a chapter—as in: did I really hear that? Yes, yes, you did. You will chuckle and go on making this a listen that not only informs and asks you to re-think everything you've known about genius since birth, but challenges other topics as well.

If you want to continue to believe in the singularities of Great Men and The Genius, avoid this at all costs. If you want to know how so many "geniuses" are thought of and remembered as such, by all means, do not delay in listening to this tightly constructed book.

Brava to the author, Helen Lewis!

Interesting

And interesting at creative moments we label as Genius. As it explored the idea of social input for said label.

Genius as (is) performance

I wish Helen Lewis had been in the audience recently when a famous research leader startled his conference on the future of science with, “First, we must kill the hero PI” (Principal Investigator). He knew, as she does, that society’s infatuation the Great Man of Genius, while a source of inspiration, buries the brilliance of many others, crippling lives and even the development of entire fields. In her book, Ms. Lewis deftly navigates the history of “genius” in many fields to show how a good story - and good luck - is crucial to creating (and enforcing) the myth of a “special” class of people. She sees the human need for these mythologies, while casting a cold eye on the dark side that excuses bad behavior and sometimes, justifies monstrosity. I especially enjoyed her perspective on The Beatles, who embodied opposing myths of genius life and death that will keep me thinking. She’s an eloquent and entertaining writer whose other work I now look forward to reading.