Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined
Author(s): Scott Barry Kaufman
The author is a psychologist who explodes the myths surrounding talent, practice, genius, and intelligence. As a child, cognitive psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman was essentially told that he was too dumb to make anything of his life. The results of an IQ test sent him straight to a "special" school for learning disabled students, and when he returned to the public school system he was immediately tracked into the slow lane. A book he consulted in the local library told him that, at his IQ range, receiving a high school diploma would be an achievement. A decade and a half later, Kaufman is a professor at NYU, having received a PhD in psychology from Yale. Ungifted is Kaufman's attempt to explain his success by questioning everything we know about the predictors and pitfalls surrounding the pursuit of intellectual greatness. He explores the latest psychological research in genetics (including the cutting-edge research on epigenetics) and neuroscience, as well as evolutionary, developmental, positive, and cognitive psychology, to uncover the truth about human potential. What he finds is surprising.
For example, it turns out that IQ is a poor predictor of lifetime creative achievement, despite the fact that it's treated-especially in the school years-as the end-all-be-all of intelligence metrics. More generally, Kaufman discovers that your genes affect the rate at which you learn something, but talented genes aren't the only route to accelerated learning. Ultimately, he argues, forcing everyone-dyslexics, autistics, prodigies, savants-through an educational system designed exclusively for high-IQ types who score well on a particular kind of test is a disservice to us all. Kaufman peels away labels like "gifted and talented" to reveal the diversity of paths to success, showing that what we need is a more holistic approach that takes into account each person's specific psychology. Weaving together research, anecdotes, and a singular compassion, Ungifted proves that anyone - even those without observable gifts at any given point in time - can become great.
Product Information
"Fascinating....a smart, lucid, and down-to-earth exposition of the underlying neuroscience and the contentious history of theories of intelligence....Blending incisive analysis with a warm sympathy for intellectual insecurities--and potential--Kaufman demonstrates that even the most ordinary mind is a strange and wondrous gift."--"Publishers Weekly"
"A moving personal story of overcoming the effects of having been labeled as learning disabled, and at the same time a wide ranging exploration of a set of fascinating topics related to ability, learning, and achievement. An inspiring account that should both educate and give hope to children, teachers, and parents."--Ellen Winner, Professor of Psychology, Boston College, and author of "Gifted Children: Myths and Realities"
""Ungifted" provides a wealth of information about unlocking the potential of those at all levels of the IQ and personality scales. It is interwoven with the author's early life history, which was a tragedy of misdiagnosis."--James R. Flynn, Emeritus Professor of Politics, University of Otago, and author of "What is Intelligence?"
""Ungifted" insightfully interweaves a personal story with scientific research to prove that many of us have special gifts that can lead to greatness. Scott Barry Kaufman shows that we just cannot let others tell us what those gifts are."--Dean Keith Simonton, Distinguished Professor of Psychology, University of California, Davis, and author of "Origins of Genius"
""Ungifted" moves us closer to being more intelligent about how we define intelligence. Scott Barry Kaufman's new theory of intelligence includes IQ but is not limited to it--it also includes generous doses of inspiration, talent, energy, curiosity, creativity and sometimes, serendipity. His definition is dynamic and sculpts, rather than sterotypes and confines."--Darold A. Treffert, M.D., author of "Islands of Genius: The Bountiful Mind of the Autistic, Acquired, and Sudden Savant"
Scott Barry Kaufman is currently Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychology at New York University. He completed his doctorate in cognitive psychology at Yale University in 2009, and holds an M.Phil. in experimental psychology from the University of Cambridge. In addition to publishing more than 25 book chapters and articles in top professional journals, Kaufman is the editor of the forthcoming Beyond "Talent or Practice?": The Complexity of Greatness. His work has been covered in media outlets such as Scientific American Mind and Men's Health, and he writes a popular blog for Psychology Today called "Beautiful Minds."
General Fields
- :
- : The Perseus Books Group
- : Basic Books
- : 0.666
- : 31 May 2013
- : 235mm X 156mm
- : United States
- : 01 June 2013
- : books
Special Fields
- : Scott Barry Kaufman
- : Hardback
- : 153.9
- : 272
- : Black & white