The Genius in All of Us

New Insights into Genetics, Talent, and IQ

By: David Shenk

Narrated by: Mark Deakins

With irresistibly persuasive vigor, David Shenk debunks the long-standing notion of genetic “giftedness,” and presents dazzling new scientific research showing how greatness is in the reach of every individual.

DNA does not make us who we are. “Forget everything you think you know about genes, talent, and intelligence,” he writes. “In recent years, a mountain of scientific evidence has emerged suggesting a completely new paradigm: not talent scarcity, but latent talent abundance.”

Integrating cutting-edge research from a wide swath of disciplines—cognitive science, genetics, biology, child development—Shenk offers a highly optimistic new view of human potential. The problem isn't our inadequate genetic assets, but our inability, so far, to tap into what we already have. IQ testing and widespread acceptance of “innate” abilities have created an unnecessarily pessimistic view of humanity—and fostered much misdirected public policy, especially in education.

The truth is much more exciting. Genes are not a “blueprint” that bless some with greatness and doom most of us to mediocrity or worse. Rather our individual destinies are a product of the complex interplay between genes and outside stimuli-a dynamic that we, as people and as parents, can influence.

This is a revolutionary and optimistic message. We are not prisoners of our DNA. We all have the potential for greatness.


Includes a bonus PDF of the back pages, containing chapter notes, expansions on the material, and a bibliography

Takes us beyond Outliers

David Shenk does a deeper dive into what causes genius, beyond where Gladwell took us. Specially the genetics/ dna/ epigenetic part. Well researched insights. Worth reading (listen).

Connecting genetics, talent and IQ intelligently

I have been reading extensively on talent and IQ for about three years. You know the regular suspects: Outliers, The Talent Code, Talent is Overrated, Bounce and the likes.
Shenk's book is fascinating in the depth of the science he goes into. With the book you get his full endnotes in PDF, which is quite the launching pad for further reading and research.
Well written, very well researched and very intersting.

Great listen on the cutting edge of neuroscience..

What did you love best about The Genius in All of Us?

This is a great book. It's very up to date with citation of many of modern scientific studies. Usually a book like this is very up and down. Some exciting research mixed with some very boring downside. But this managed to keep me on my toes. I am actually looking forward to listening this again after listening to a few other books about neurology and psychology, hopefully gaining a better understanding of the whole picture. I loved how they brought up the most successful people being the ones who did not give up. It's really all a numbers game, this concept went beautifully with

Which scene was your favorite?

I listened to the concluding chapter a few times because it sums up the book really well.

Any additional comments?

I can't suggest this enough.

Decent book but there are better ones

I really wished he would have covered what IQ is more fully and how much depends on genetics. Personally I would say it's a decent book but a more in depth look at deliberate practice is covered by Anders Ericsson in his book Peak. For a more social and cultural look on intelligence I recommend Intellectuals and Race by Thomas Sowell.

A good follow up to The Talent Code

Another great reference to how genius is developed and not necessarily an innate quality. Great read!