Awaken Your Genius - by Ozan Varol (Hardcover)

About the Book

"From the critically acclaimed author of Think Like a Rocket Scientist comes a simple process for discarding obsolete beliefs and cultivating independent thought A rare handful of leaders, artists, scientists, and entrepreneurs seem to have Teflon in their heads. They think and act with genuine independence, offering up ideas and insights direct from the subtle workings of their own minds. No matter how far that might take them from their social or political group. We sometimes call these people geniuses, as if they're another breed. But genius doesn't have to belong to just a few people-it can be cultivated. Great thinkers operate unconstrained by the opinions of others-or their own past opinions. They can act on new information regardless of the beliefs they once held, or identities they once adopted. They distinguish fact from manipulation. And just as importantly, they act first instead of reacting-creating new ideas and opportunities for themselves and others. This is a book for aspiring universe-denters: executives and entrepreneurs, activists and artists, individuals who want to escape groupthink, discard obsolete and harmful beliefs, generate breakthrough ideas, spot hidden opportunities, and flourish in a world of ever-increasing manipulation, change, and challenge. In short, it's a book for geniuses"--

Book Synopsis

A WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER

Unlock your originality and unleash your unique talents with this simple guide from the acclaimed author of Think Like a Rocket Scientist.

We say some people march to the beat of a different drummer. But implicit in this cliché is that the rest of us march to the same beat. We sleepwalk through life, find ourselves on well-worn paths that were never ours to walk, and become a silent extra in someone else's story. Extraordinary people carve their own paths as leaders and creators. They think and act with genuine independence. They stand out from the crowd because they embody their own shape and color. We call these people geniuses--as if they're another breed. But genius isn't for a special few. It can be cultivated.

Awaken Your Genius will show you how. You'll learn:

• A simple practice the best thinkers use to generate original insights
• The one question you can ask to identify hidden time-sucks that clutter your brain and create overwhelm
• Why you'll never feel "on top of everything" (and what to do about it)
• The surprising strategy that the writers of The Office used to boost their creativity (it's weird ... but it works!)
• Why comparing yourself to others is stealing your joy (and how to stop doing it once and for all)
• How to promote yourself (without selling your soul)
• And much more!

Overall, you'll learn how to discard what no longer serves you and discover your first principles--the qualities that make up your genius. You'll be equipped to escape your intellectual prisons and generate original insights from your own depths. You'll discover how to look where others don't look and see what others don't see. You'll give birth to your genius, the universe-denter you were meant to be.

Review Quotes

If you looked up the word 'polymath' in the dictionary, you may see a picture of Ozan Varol.--Nir Eyal, Bestselling author of Hooked and Indistractable

Ozan Varol is like Nassim Taleb meets Daniel Kahneman.--Clara Shih, CEO of Salesforce Service Cloud

Ozan Varol is one of my favorite thinkers on thinking.--Shane Snow, Bestselling author of Smartcuts and Dream Teams

Ozan Varol's a brilliant mind, a warm and kind heart, and the exact type of spirit we need putting resilient vibes into the world right now.--Neil Pasricha, New York Times-bestselling author of Book of Awesome

When the stakes are high, the unknowns are threatening, and the problems seem insurmountable, you need a superhero--which means you need Ozan Varol.--Daniel Pink, New York Times-bestselling author of Drive

"Ozan Varol always makes me think."--Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Varol succeeds in distilling from their stories sensible advice that benefits from his encouraging tone. Readers who feel stuck in a rut will find this a boon."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Ozan Varol is a rocket scientist turned award-winning professor and bestselling author. A native of Istanbul, Turkey, Ozan moved to the United States by himself at 17 to attend Cornell University and major in astrophysics. While there, he served on the operations team for the 2003 Mars Exploration Rovers project that sent two rovers to Mars. Ozan then pivoted and became a law professor to influence others to make giant leaps on Earth. His work has been featured in various domestic and foreign media, including the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, BBC, TIME, CNN, and the Washington Post. You can follow him at ozanvarol.com.