INTRODUCTION In Genius: Your Illustrated & Actionable Guide to Doing Great Things , you will be introduced to geniuses who did extraordinary things. You will learn about what each one did and how they did it. But, just as importantly, you will find that you too have the poten- tial to achieve great things, as you read and enjoy their stories you will find many characteristics in common with each one of them. Their stories showcase the 24 characteristics that all geniuses have in common. You will realize that each one of the characteris- tics is a natural part of who you are and can be developed. At the end of each story, you will find questions that will inspire you to take action and become increasingly more genius. A marathon is traveled one step at a time. And then another. And another. Before you get to the stories, we’d like to introduce you to three of the geniuses from our book. Consider it a sneak peek of what’s to come. As you’ll see, there is something to be learned from each of them that will help you get the most out of their stories. So say hello to Sor Juana Ines, William Kamkwamba, and Noah Webster. As you’ll find out, Sor Juana was one of the most knowledgeable people of her time. From her, we can learn that having an innate desire to know and understand the world may be your most valu- able trait. So, as you make your way through each person’s story, ask yourself what you can learn from them. Constant curiosity is what drove William to greatness. He needed a solution to his family’s problem and found the answers in sci- ence books from the library. When he read, if he came across a word he didn’t understand, he defined it in a dictionary. And if dic- tionaries weren’t enough, he would study pictures. He also used whatever he had around him to create his own experiments. In these ways, he taught himself how to solve a problem for not just his family but his country as well, and people across the world. Be curious about what you read. If something doesn’t make sense, take the time to understand it until you are satisfied you’ve got it.
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