I’m delighted to announce the publication of my new book: Spark: How Genius Ignites, From Child Prodigies to Late Bloomers, which makes its debut on April 27, 2021. The book explores moments of inspiration in the lives of 13 remarkable individuals, from Pablo Picasso and Isaac Newton to Julia Child, Maya Angelou, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Yo-Yo Ma.

Through a mix of biography, psychology, and brain science, I explore several overarching questions: What are the origins of genius? How do luck, failure, personality, and serendipity play into the arc of discovery? And why do some people reach extraordinary creative heights early in life while others achieve greatness decades later?

As I write in my introduction: My hope is that these profiles will not only illuminate the many junctures at which discovery can happen, but will also inspire those who are still searching for fulfillment.

Huge round of applause to Allison Bruns for her brilliant cover art!