Examining the 14 key traits of genius, from curiosity to creative maladjustment to obsession, Professor Craig Wright, creator of Yale University's popular "Genius Course," explores what we can learn from brilliant minds that have changed the world. What is genius? The word evokes iconic figures like Einstein, Beethoven, Picasso, and Mozart, whose cultural contributions have irreversibly shaped society. Yet Beethoven could not multiply. Picasso couldn't pass a fourth grade math test. And the music of Mozart is incomprehensible to Aborigines. The Hidden Habits of Genius explores the meaning of this contested term, and the unexpected motivations of those we have dubbed "genius" throughout history, from Charles Darwin and Marie Curie to Leonardo Da Vinci and Andy Warhol to Toni Morrison and Elon Musk. What personal characteristics drove these people to greatness? Wright argues that genius is about more than intellect and work ethic--it is far more complex. And the habits of mind that produce great thinking and discovery can be actively learned and cultivated.