Find your genius
When self-described grump Eric Weiner went in search of the world’s happiest places, he produced his bestselling The Geography of Bliss. The agnostic journalist then set off on a global exploration of religions and wrote Man Seeks God.
Weiner uses this same formula, of an outsider looking in, for his third humorous philosophical travel memoir, The
Geography of Genius. The focus is not IQ but creative genius, specifically creative clusters in the arts and sciences at certain junctures of geography and history. Weiner aims to learn why creativity flourished in ancient Athens, Hangzhou’s Song Dynasty, the Scottish Enlightenment, the golden age of Kolkata and other seemingly gifted places and times.
Weiner visits historical sites and galleries, hangs out in coffee shops and consults, among others, American expats and local tour guides he finds online.
Although his ramblings are frequently amusing, it’s clear Weiner is no historian. He’s genuinely floored to learn the Parthenon’s seemingly straight columns are actually curved, or that Renaissance art was often commissioned by or for the Catholic Church and presents this as new and exciting research. He can’t wrap his tongue around “slippery Italian names” such as Michelangelo and must have his guide anglicize it to “Mike.” He dislikes museums and barely endures his first classical music concert.
Weiner’s regard for Socrates, Freud and other luminaries often seems genuine but is strongly Ameri-centric. He praises Jack Ma, billionaire creator of China’s e-commerce site Alibaba, for his “American gumption” but wonders if Ma’s musings on creativity are “just a bunch of Karate
Kid mumbo jumbo.” He concludes creativity thrives in chaotic environments and withers when we narrow our interests. But mostly, we learn more about Weiner than creative genius.
Weiner says genius continues to fascinate him “in much the way a naked man is fascinated by the subject of clothing.” That may be so, but while a grump can successfully discuss happiness and an agnostic explore religion, perhaps the naked man is not the best one to discuss the intricacies of high fashion.