Gifted Grownups: The Mixed Blessings of Extraordinary Potential (Hardcover)

by Marylou Kelly Streznewski (Author) "Who are the gifted?..." (more)
Key Phrases: gifted grownups, gifted adults, gifted workers, New York, Barbara Clark, David Willings (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
According to Streznewski, gifted people constitute 3% to 5% of the population, are inquisitive and energetic, have rapid mental processes and a restless drive to enlarge their world. Among the 100 "gifted grownups," ages 18 to 90, interviewed for this unsatisfying study, we meet a Wall Street lawyer, a machinist who writes poetry, a convicted murderer who's working on her autobiography, plus Ph.D.s, office workers, professors, dropouts, scientists and salesmen. Streznewski, who teaches gifted high school students, rather artificially classifies the gifted into three types: "strivers," high-scoring teacher-pleasers who go on to high achievements; "superstars," sociable scholar-athletes or popular personalities on a trajectory to fame and fortune; and "independents," inner-directed, creative intellectuals who challenge authority. Her contention that gifted adults ignore the conventional life stages and follow their own special rhythms, changing jobs and careers in spite of the cost to themselves and loved ones, remains speculative. And her lumping of "intelligent criminals" into the sample, however well-intentioned, stretches her fuzzy definition of giftedness to the breaking point. The author, who considers herself, her husband and their four children gifted, tends to use vapid or slippery statements ("Let's face it, if you are a gifted person, you are, on the great highway of life, something like a Porsche... you have a high-performance engine between your ears"). She dispenses advice targeted to gifted women, gifted senior citizens, corporations, schools and parents in an informal, occasionally edifying canvas that's too superficial to serve as a comprehensive handbook.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Debunking the myth that intellectually gifted people are either impractical social misfits or perfect specimens, Streznewski, a specialist in gifted education, presents a readable and poignant study of 100 people aged 18 to 90. Her criteria for inclusion were somewhat informal, based on the contemporary notion that intelligence is not merely a matter of high I.Q. However, a detailed set of indicators for giftedness was developed, and the study group included a wide range of individuals, from gifted women to senior citizens and criminals. Streznewski explores their experiences with schools, jobs, and in the social world. Lively personal narratives reveal how they adapt to their oddball status, determinants of their success or failure, and the structure of their high-powered interior lives. The original book is well referenced and contains enough practical advice to qualify as a self-help book for smart people and their families and teachers. Recommended for public libraries and education collections.Antoinette Brinkman, Southwest Indiana Mental Health Ctr. Lib., Evansville
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 292 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (March 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471295809
• ISBN-13: 978-0471295808
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #213,842 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My jaw is on the floor, April 10, 2001

By A Customer

This book is an absolute must-read for all of us who grew up as "gifted children", but soon found that the real world did not welcome us with open arms. So many of Ms. Streznewski's observations were frighteningly accurate descriptions of my own life experiences, and the many interviews she conducted made me feel less alone.

I've been meandering through life for over ten years thinking that my high IQ was useful in school, but had little relevance in the professional world. Finally, I am enlightened to the fact that "giftedness" does not end at graduation. Suddenly my spotty job history (I get bored very easily and bosses find my outside-the-box thinking threatening), and difficulty in choosing a long-term career make some sense!

I agree with others who stopped at four stars, because although this book provided me with incredibly valuable information about why I am the way I am, it doesn't offer much insight as to how to better focus my potential. I believe that there is a lot of talent being wasted every day because many extraordinarily gifted, talented people are not accepted by society and the business world. How about a sequel that addresses the challenges unique to gifted adults, and strategies to overcome them?

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow. What more can I say?, May 5, 2000

By	ChrisJ (Tampa, Florida) - See all my reviews

From the moment I began reading this book, until I finished it 12 hours later, my jaw hung in amazement. I've never had anyone quantify my life experiences so clearly, and this from a total stranger. I have always been labeled gifted, but all that ever got me was ostracization, and being held to a higher standard. My job history was flaky (I get bored easily), I experimented with drugs, my relationship problems, everything was here, and with an explanation. This book covers all aspects of "giftedness", from the stereotypical "nerds", to the antisocial rebels like myself. This book has truly opened my eyes to areas of my life I was unable or unwilling to look at and deal with. It clearly details how gifted people too often end up on the fringe, just for lack of fitting in. It also deals with how to interact with the gifted people in your life, for stonger relationships, and a valuable resource. Thank you for writing this, Ms. Streznewski. This is the most valuable book I have read all year.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, if Somewhat "Light" Coverage of Giftedness, June 30, 2004

By	Peter Messerschmidt "denmarkguy" (Port Townsend, WA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've noticed the reviews here-- editorial and otherwise-- have expressed rather mixed opinions about this book. And, in a sense, the book's subtitle ("The mixed blessings of extraordinary potential") serves to underscore the somewhat mixed blessings of the book, itself.

Did I find this to be an interesting book? Certainly. Did I seriously "get something out of it?" I'm shrugging a bit, at this second question. The author has certainly succeeded in writing a book many gifted people will relate to, simply because they will recognize themselvbes in the pages. But does the mere ability to make people relate to the text make this a *useful* book? Again, I am shrugging a bit, and I find myself saying "Yes, this was interesting, but I am not really that much wiser, so what exactly *was* the point....?" Ultimately, the "usefulness" of the book will depend on what the reader is looking for-- MY perception is that this book is more "descriptive" than "educational."

But back to the book's contents. It is divided into three sections:

Part One establishes what exactly the author *means* by the term "gifted grownup." On the initial plus side, Streznewski avoids the trap of correlating "giftedness" with numerical IQ scores. Instead she attributes giftedness to (a somewhat arbitrary?) 3-5% of the population who have exceptionally perceptive minds, quick thoughts and extraordinary talents. These people are then subcategorized into Strivers, Superstars and Independents. The rest of the section offers a bit of historical background on "defining giftedness," theories on the brains of gifted individuals, as well as an interesting (and fairly accurate) commentary on the way many gifted adults tend to "hide" their giftedness, due to social/environmental pressures.

Part Two traces the impact of giftedness of the life of a person, from birth to adulthood, covering childhood and parenting (along with other family dynamics), schooling and work. I found myself able to relate especially well to the section describing the difficulties many gifted children have while in school.

Part Three focuses on "Gifted Lives," covering such topics as gifted adults and relationships, special issues facing gifted women, and gifted senior citizens. At the end, Streznewski has added a section of resources and recommended reading.

"Gifted Grownups" did an excellent job of providing a large number of "Oh wow! Me too!" moments-- and thus offers nice validation, especially for those Gifted Adults who may feel like "misfits" in the world. Streznewski uses quotes from the many (over 100) gifted adults she interviewed in her research for the book, and many will be able to recognize themselves in these excerpts. Yes, there are indeed others "like you," out there!

But as I finished reading, it all struck me as being somewhat long on opinion and too focused on the fact "that" gifted adults face certain challenges, while too short on scientific research, explanations and "why" those difficulties occur. And it is also long on somewhat self-congratulatory "feel good" vignettes, but short on real-life solutions, help and applications for those Gifted Adults who find life to be a struggle. Finally, I found Streznewski to step somewhat lightly over the psychological issues facing the gifted.

In short: "Mixed blessings." But given how few books are available on Adult Giftedness, it was definitely worth a read. However, not enough "meat" here to warrant a 5-star rating.

Final thoughts: Recommended (7.5 out of 10 possible bookmarks). If you're a Gifted Adult, it'll offer you moments of recognition. More highly recommended for teachers of the gifted, in that it provides insights they might not otherwise have, and certainly recommended for any member of a family that feels "mystified" by a gifted family member.

Thanks for reading!
--Peter