The Achievement of Genius

Book excerpt: Who are the men and women drawn from all civilizations and historical epochs that have made the most original and long-lasting contributions to human progress? How can we, in concise and human terms, delineate the various achievements of the most important religious founders, philosophers, artists, prophets, scientists, mathematicians, leaders, and architects? A fitting pursuit for these distracting and confusing times would be a careful examination of the geniuses whose achievements are so original and creative that they are woven into the very fabric of our civilization. The goal of this book is not merely a study of the past. It also raises questions about the goal of human life and its amazing creative potentialities. If these achievements of ancient or recent times were possible in the conditions of isolation and hostility by the surrounding world, what even greater achievements are possible in the future? Is there something in these geniuses’ lives and works that we can apply to our present dilemmas? It’s certainly worth a closer look at the greatest geniuses in all of history.