Review of Genius

Abstract

Reviews the book, Genius, some revaluations by Arthur C. Jacobson. The discussion of genius in this book is almost entirely confined to literary men. The author confesses to a belief that literature is the highest and best form of the expression of genius and it may be possible that he ignores most scientists as being unworthy of the title of "genius," according to the reviewer. The author also predicates alcohol, unstable ancestry, multiple personality, ethnic mixtures, physical debility and tuberculosis as the necessary antecedents of productive genius. Undoubtedly there have been many cases of release from inhibition through multiple personalities, alcohol, etc., in literary fields. The author cites many examples, but somehow leaves the impression that he is determined to find one of his "causes" for genius whether it exists or not, the reviewer reports. Overall, the reviewer notes that the reader of this book will be interested, but he or she will eventually lay down the book with the feeling that it is too uncritical to be a real "revaluation of genius." (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)