"I have no special talents," said Albert Einstein. "I am only passionately curious." Everyone is born curious. But only some retain the habits of exploring, learning, and discovering as they grow older. Those who do so tend to be smarter, more creative, and more successful. So why are many of us allowing our curiosity to wane? In Curious, Ian Leslie makes a passionate case for the cultivation of our "desire to know." Just when the rewards of curiosity have never been higher, it is misunderstood, undervalued, and increasingly monopolized by a cognitive elite. A "curiosity divide" is opening up. This divide is being exacerbated by the way we use the Internet. Thanks to smartphones and tools such as Google and Wikipedia, we can answer almost any question instantly. But does this easy access to information guarantee the growth of curiosity? No--quite the opposite. Leslie argues that true curiosity the sustained quest for understanding that begets insight and innovation--is in fact at risk in a wired world. Drawing on fascinating research from psychology, economics, education, and business, Curious looks at what feeds curiosity and what starves it, and finds surprising answers. Curiosity isn't, as we're encouraged to think, a gift that keeps on giving. It is a mental muscle that atrophies without regular exercise and a habit that parents, schools, and workplaces need to nurture. Filled with inspiring stories, case studies, and practical advice, Curious will change the way you think about your own mental habits, and those of your family, friends, and colleagues.
Show more"I have no special talents," said Albert Einstein. "I am only passionately curious." Everyone is born curious. But only some retain the habits of exploring, learning, and discovering as they grow older. Those who do so tend to be smarter, more creative, and more successful. So why are many of us allowing our curiosity to wane? In Curious, Ian Leslie makes a passionate case for the cultivation of our "desire to know." Just when the rewards of curiosity have never been higher, it is misunderstood, undervalued, and increasingly monopolized by a cognitive elite. A "curiosity divide" is opening up. This divide is being exacerbated by the way we use the Internet. Thanks to smartphones and tools such as Google and Wikipedia, we can answer almost any question instantly. But does this easy access to information guarantee the growth of curiosity? No--quite the opposite. Leslie argues that true curiosity the sustained quest for understanding that begets insight and innovation--is in fact at risk in a wired world. Drawing on fascinating research from psychology, economics, education, and business, Curious looks at what feeds curiosity and what starves it, and finds surprising answers. Curiosity isn't, as we're encouraged to think, a gift that keeps on giving. It is a mental muscle that atrophies without regular exercise and a habit that parents, schools, and workplaces need to nurture. Filled with inspiring stories, case studies, and practical advice, Curious will change the way you think about your own mental habits, and those of your family, friends, and colleagues.
Show moreIan Leslie writes on psychology, social trends, and politics for publications in the UK and US, including Slate, The Economist, NPR, Bloomberg.com, The Guardian, Daily Mail, The Times, Daily Telegraph, and Granta.
"A beautiful and important exploration of the need to nurture,
develop, and explore our curiosity even when we've long left our
childhood behind."
--Maria Konnikova, author of Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock
Holmes
"A refreshingly commonsensical voice in the ongoing argument over
how to best mold human minds."
--Scientific American Mind
"Ian Leslie's fine new book Curious constitutes an excellent bridge
between the two sides of the facts vs. experiences learning
debate."
--Inside Higher Ed
"Leslie delineates the various types of curiosity and what might be
lost as we lean on search engines and offload our memories to cloud
storage. He's at his best when considering how socioeconomic
conditions impede curiosity."
--New York Times Book Review
"Leslie...writes convincingly...about the human need and desire to
learn deeply and develop expertise."--Wall Street Journal
"This book is a beautiful and fascinating tribute to one of
mankind's most important virtues."
--Tyler Cowen, George Mason University
"With this enthralling manifesto on the power of curiosity, Ian
Leslie has written a book that displays all the key characteristics
of its subject matter: an inquisitive, open-minded, and ultimately
deeply rewarding exploration of the human mind's appetite for new
ideas."
--Steven Johnson, author of Where Good Ideas Come From
Highly recommended for educators of all kinds. Leslie reaches to
the true heart of education - turning students into 21st-century
learners by bringing back that curiosity."
--Library Journal
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