The Wiley Handbook of Genius

The Handbook of Genius is the first reference work to discuss all aspects of genius, a topic that endlessly provokes and fascinates. Bringing together essays from a multidisciplinary group of contributors, this book covers the origins, characteristics, careers, and consequences of genius.  The coverage is broken into sections focusing on cognitive science, individual differences, life–span development, and social context.  It encompasses genius creators, leaders, and performers across a range of disciplines including science, philosophy, art, music, literature, politics and war.  The contributors examine genius from a variety of perspectives—including genetics, neuroscience, psychology, and more—to provide a comprehensive treatment of the subject.  Engaging with classic debates as well as the latest research, this handbook is a singular achievement in the scientific study of genius that opens new avenues for continued exploration of the topic in years to come.

Dean Keith Simonton is Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Davis. His research concerns various aspects of genius, creativity, leadership, talent, and aesthetics. Simonton’s numerous honors include the William James Book Award, the Sir Francis Galton Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Study of Creativity, the Rudolf Arnheim Award for Outstanding Achievement in Psychology and the Arts, the SPSP Theoretical Innovation Prize, the George A. Miller Outstanding Article Award, and three Mensa Awards for Excellence in Research. He has produced more than 460 publications, including more than a dozen books. His most recent books include The Social Science of Cinema (2013), Great Flicks: Scientific Studies of Cinematic Creativity and Aesthetics (2011), and Genius 101 (2009).