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Origins of Genius: Darwinian Perspectives on Creativity 1st Edition

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Dean Keith Simonton (Author)
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Dean Keith Simonton (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 14 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0195128796
ISBN-10: 0195128796
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press; 1 edition (July 8, 1999)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0195128796
  • ISBN-13: 978-0195128796
  • Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1.2 x 9.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #858,429 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsperhaps the best book ever written on this subject
By Richard Greene on November 19, 2001
Format: Hardcover
This book presents one theory on creativity, but that misleads. It covers another 30 theories along the way, using its one favored theory to knit and mesh, distinguish and fit all the others. Each page contains the same contents as entire other books on the subject (fortunately for this book; unfortunately for the others). I try my best to find faults with the books that I buy but I would be hard pressed to find a single fault with this book. You will learn more about creativity from this book, even if the theory it presents turns out to be wrong, than you will from any other book, I believe, though Sternberg, Amabile, Runco, Martindale, Gruber and a few few others have near competitors so excellent that you would be foolish not to buy their books as well. This book teaches you 30 theories of creativity while presenting its favored one. It is wonderful. Finite limited human beings can do no better.
Some readers might think that this book is too researchy, especially readers looking for how to books on quick and easy creativity methods. Strangely, this book while maintaining all the professional balance and careful definition of any academic work, makes it much clearer what you have to do to become creative than the top 50 how to books combined. I counted an amazing 1100 particular suggestions in this book for how to make someone more creative--that is about 1000 more than any other published how to book and this book avoids the exaggerations, the sales language, and the imbalanced treatment of pros and cons of such lesser books.
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5.0 out of 5 starsGreat, but ponderous, exposition on Genius and Creativity
By John C. Dunbar on August 23, 2002
Format: Hardcover
I don't know how the author did it, but he produced a great book that was both ponderous and a real page-turner.
I found this book to be extremely interesting and well-written in detail. But the author could be ponderous in repeating some sub-themes and points.
You will learn a lot about the causes of genius and creativity but you won't walk away with a quick set of techniques to help you on your immediate problem. You will learn an overall approach of what has worked in the past.
His references and analogies to Darwin make the book even better. His references of other readings are also excellent and very detailed.
I really liked his comparison of artistic vs. scientific creativity or genius. One selection from the book that I found very interesting was this one on what makes for greatness in a genius:
"... individual differences in total lifetime output are indeed associated with the degree of eminence achieved. In fact, research has consistently shown that the most powerful single predictor of reputation among both contemporaries and future generations is the person's sum total of contributions. Furthermore, almost all other variables that may correlate with the differnce in fame between individuals do so only because they affect the output of creative products."
The point made in this sub-theme by Simonton was that it was the QUANTITY rather than the just the QUALITY that often was the leading indicator of peer acceptance of genius. If the genius is not stepping up to the plate and taking a lot of swings, he won't go down as a "Babe Ruth." Most of the geniuses studied were single home-runners.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsAbsolute Must Reading!
By A Customer on January 5, 2000
Format: Hardcover
I have read several of Simonton's books and dozens of his scientific articles. This book is without any question his very best. It is absolutely superb! Simonton is always extremely intelligent and awesomely creative. But in his previous works, I sometimes got the feeling that he was racing so fast to be productive that something important was being passed by. But in this extraordinary volume, he seems to have slowed down enough to smell the roses that he himself (as well as other creativity researchers) have flowered, and his careful reflection and superb writing shines in what ranks as possibly the best book yet written on the topic. It is bracingly, jarringly creative, beautifully crafted, highly counter-intuitive, sufficiently well-explained that even a statistical dufus like me can understand, and awesome in its expanse. Anyone who wishes to understand creativity must read this great book.
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5.0 out of 5 starsDarwin in the mind
By Stephen A. Haines HALL OF FAME on September 18, 2003
Format: Hardcover
Studies abound on the causes of outstanding human accomplishment. A glance at Simonton's bibliography will confirm that observation. His own efforts to define the roots of creativity are of long standing. This work artfully assembles this wealth of information, placing it squarely within a "Darwinian perspective". With a modest disclaimer, Simonton sees this book as "one long argument", the phrase Darwin applied to Origin. He's correct to do so. This book exemplifies how far Darwin's ingenious idea of natural selection can reach. Simonton's well organised and clearly presented survey of the roots of creativity is an noteworthy effort.
Darwin himself provides the pivotal focus in Simonton's study. He explains how Darwin's work is symbolised by a combination of genius, creativity and the capacity for hard work to bring ideas to fruition. He postulates two forms of "Darwinism" - primary, the purely biological and the secondary which he describes as "adaptive with environmental interaction". He strives to relate how primary Darwinism underlies the secondary form where genius can emerge. It's clear from his analysis that genius doesn't "just happen". Many elements are involved, and most or all must be brought into play to express creativity and have ideas disseminated to the wider world.
Simonton places heavy reliance on the model proposed by Donald Campbell. Campbell proposed an "ideational" concept with the creative mind coping with rich variations of concepts and ways of expressing them. From this foundation Simonton goes on to discuss individual differences and how these fit within a Darwinian framework. From the individual, he analyses the "product" of the creative mind.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsA Book Ripe With Ideas

Origins of Genius by Dean Keith Simonton is idea dense study of the origin and nature of creativity from a Darwinian perspective, not a study of genius in the popular sense of the... Read more

Published 7 days ago by Social Blunder
5.0 out of 5 starsThis is an essential, scholarly work for anyone interested ...

This is an essential, scholarly work for anyone interested in creativity and its processes! Origins of Genius has helped me understand creativity and discuss it more effectively... Read more

Published 20 months ago by Gary Delanoeye
4.0 out of 5 starsBiological exegesis of creativity

As the title indicates, an evolutionary explanation for the rise of genius. This book requires, if not an already-present aptitude for biology, a willingness to follow the author's... Read more

Published on October 7, 2014 by Arjun
4.0 out of 5 starsCan Creative Genius Be Scientifically Studied?

It's common to think of the genius of men like Shakespeare, Darwin, and Einstein as something impossible to understand or study, kind of like a miracle. Read more

Published on June 16, 2011 by Harry Magnet
5.0 out of 5 starsTerrific, covering a lot of ground

Simonton has written an excellent book--and a thorough one at that. He has been careful in studying and thinking about all the possible sources and influences going into the... Read more

Published on October 4, 2008 by Kirk Petersen
4.0 out of 5 starsInteresting Book, Limited Scope But Thorough

I recently have read several books on this topic. This was quite thorough. Any topic he covered, he covered in detail. Read more

Published on April 3, 2008 by Tom Hunter
5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent

One of the best books I've read in years.

Simonton does a great job of linking old and new ideas into something meaningful. Read more

Published on July 11, 2006 by M. Williams
2.0 out of 5 starsRepetitive and boring

The subject matter is quite interesting, but no tangible Darwinian perspective of creativity emerges from this book. Read more

Published on July 6, 2002
5.0 out of 5 starsHoly Cow!

So good, I just about peed in my pants!

Published on December 26, 2000 by Paul Triggiani

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