The Geography of Genius - by Eric Weiner (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Tag along on this New York Times bestselling "witty, entertaining romp" (The New York Times Book Review) as Eric Winer travels the world, from Athens to Silicon Valley--and back through history, too--to show how creative genius flourishes in specific places at specific times.

In this "intellectual odyssey, traveler's diary, and comic novel all rolled into one" (Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness), acclaimed travel writer Weiner sets out to examine the connection between our surroundings and our most innovative ideas. A "superb travel guide: funny, knowledgeable, and self-deprecating" (The Washington Post), he explores the history of places like Vienna of 1900, Renaissance Florence, ancient Athens, Song Dynasty Hangzhou, and Silicon Valley to show how certain urban settings are conducive to ingenuity. With his trademark insightful humor, this "big-hearted humanist" (The Wall Street Journal) walks the same paths as the geniuses who flourished in these settings to see if the spirit of what inspired figures like Socrates, Michelangelo, and Leonardo remains. In these places, Weiner asks, "What was in the air, and can we bottle it?"

"Fun and thought provoking" (Miami Herald), The Geography of Genius reevaluates the importance of culture in nurturing creativity and "offers a practical map for how we can all become a bit more inventive" (Adam Grant, author of Originals).

Review Quotes

"The Geography of Genius is witty, informative, and compulsively readable. Whether you're getting genius tips from Freud in Vienna or hearing the secrets of high-tech powerhouses in Silicon Valley, you'll emerge smarter after reading this delightful travelogue of ingenuity."
-- Daniel H. Pink, bestselling author of To Sell Is Human and Drive

"A global odyssey that seeks to discover why geniuses gather in certain places during certain eras and why these hot spots burn out, often after a half-century of grand achievements. Weiner is a superb travel guide: funny, knowledgeable, self-deprecating and always up for sharing a bottle of wine."
-- Washington Post

"A witty, entertaining romp. Weiner's vivid descriptions of modern-day life in each locale make the spots feel like must-visit destinations."
-- The New York Times Book Review

"An entertaining and thought-provoking book, a combination of history and travelogue... Part of the book's charm stems from the pure joy of experiencing these places alongside a narrator like Weiner... His wry wit shines through as he drinks sublime tea in China and contemplates a coffin collar in an Edinburgh museum; as he interviews figures such as Jack Ma, a Hangzhou native who founded multibillion dollar company Alibaba; and as he wanders the Ringstrasse of Vienna and the strip malls of Silicon Valley, pondering the conditions that lead to genius."
-- Christian Science Monitor

"Eric Weiner has single-handedly invented a new nonfiction genre in which a brilliant and hilarious writer leaves his home and family to circle the globe in search of the answer to a timeless question. The Geography of Genius is an intellectual odyssey, a traveler's diary, and a comic novel all rolled into one. Smart, original, and utterly delightful, this is Weiner's best book yet."
-- Daniel Gilbert, Harvard professor and bestselling author of Stumbling on Happiness


"Fun and thought provoking."
-- Miami Herald

"In the genial style of Bill Bryson, Weiner scouts the world looking for places that have spawned geniuses."
-- Kirkus Reviews

"Informative and dryly witty, Weiner's odyssey is both an insightful examination of genius and a call to readers to explore their own untapped creative resources."
-- Shelf Awareness (starred review)

"It's rare to read a book that makes you laugh and learn, but Eric Weiner has done it again. This witty, wise explorer offers fascinating insights on how culture has inspired creativity across the ages--ripe for chats at water coolers and cocktail parties--and offers a practical map for how we can all become a bit more inventive."
-- Adam Grant, Wharton professor and bestselling author of Give and Take and Originals

"There are some writers whose company is worth keeping, whatever the subject... And Mr. Weiner is blessed with this gift. He is a prober and questioner, a big-hearted humanist who will always take a colorful, contradictory reality over some unfounded certainty."
-- Wall Street Journal

"Weiner illustrates the power that culture and location can lend to creative efforts. Using a series of well-crafted travel essays the author propels readers across the globe... A welcome read for lovers of geography, history of geography, historical travel, travelogues, and the history of science."
-- Library Journal (starred review)

"Weiner is an affable tour guide and a lively, witty writer in the style of Bill Bryson; the connections he makes between places of genius are sharp and sometime unexpected."
-- Booklist

"Well read, thoughtful and above all curious, Weiner invites the reader to explore a satisfying take on a meaningful topic while also enjoying daily pleasures in cities around the world."
-- BookPage.com

"Why do certain places produce a spontaneous eruption of creativity? What made Athens and Florence and Silicon Valley? This witty and fun book has an insight in every paragraph. It's a charming mix of history and wisdom cloaked as a rollicking travelogue filled with colorful characters."
-- Walter Isaacson, bestselling author of The Innovators and Steve Jobs

About the Author

Eric Weiner is author of the New York Times bestsellers The Geography of Bliss and The Geography of Genius, as well as the critically acclaimed Man Seeks God and, his latest book, The Socrates Express: In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers. A former foreign correspondent for NPR, he has reported from more than three dozen countries. His work has appeared in the New Republic, The Atlantic, National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal, and the anthology Best American Travel Writing. He lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with his wife and daughter. For more information, visit: EricWeinerBooks.com.