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Searching for Genius

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Pencil drawing of a pair of eyes.
Drawing for Johann Caspar Lavater’s ‘Essays on Physiognomy’, around 1794. Source: Wellcome Collection. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
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Exceptional talent and the trouble with IQ tests

Is a high IQ really a mark of genius, or does something else explain the exceptional?

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Genius spirits and the mystery of creative inspiration

Once upon a time, we all had a genius.

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The enduring myth of the mad genius

There’s a fine line to tread between creativity and psychosis.

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Tragic artists and their all-consuming passions

Does having a debilitating disease help or hinder creative genius?

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Political brilliance and the power of self-promotion

How do you convince people you’re exceptional? Meet the ultimate self-styled genius.

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The quest to breed gifted children

If you had the chance, would you choose a genius baby?

About the author

Anna Faherty

Anna Faherty is a writer and lecturer who collaborates with museums on an eclectic range of exhibition, digital and print projects. She is the author of the ‘Reading Room Companion’ and the editor of ‘States of Mind’, both published by Wellcome Collection.