Eric Weiner is author of the New York Times bestsellers The Geography of Bliss (now a docu-series featuring Rainn Wilson) and The Geography of Genius, as well as the critically acclaimed Man Seeks God and The Socrates Express. A former international correspondent for NPR, his work has appeared in The Atlantic, National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and the anthology Best American Travel Writing. He lives with his family and a menagerie of animals in the Washington, DC, area. For more information, visit: EricWeinerBooks.com.
"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
“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
"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
"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
"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
"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
“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
"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
"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
“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)
“Fun and thought provoking.”
— Miami Herald
"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)
“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
"In the genial style of Bill Bryson, Weiner scouts the world
looking for places that have spawned geniuses."
— Kirkus Reviews
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