
Curious
The Desire to Know and Why Your Future Depends on It
Ian Leslie(Author)
Rich Keeble(Speaker)
Quercus Publishing
Published on 4. June 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-1-78206-497-8 (ISBN)
Description
A fascinating multi-disciplinary analysis of why curiosity makes the world go round.
'A lovely, erudite exploration of what it is that makes us human' - Independent on Sunday
'I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious' Albert Einstein.
Everyone is born curious. But only some retain the habits of exploring, learning and discovering as they grow older. Which side of the 'curiosity divide' are you on?
In Curious Ian Leslie makes a passionate case for the cultivation of our desire to know. Curious people tend to be smarter, more creative and more successful. But at the very moment when the rewards of curiosity have never been higher, it is misunderstood and undervalued, and increasingly practised only by a cognitive elite.
Drawing on fascinating research from psychology, sociology and business, Curious looks at what feeds curiosity and what starves it, and uncovers surprising answers. Curiosity isn't a quality you can rely on to last a lifetime, but a mental muscle that atrophies without regular exercise. It's not a gift, but a habit that parents, schools, workplaces and individuals need to nurture if it is to thrive. Filled with inspiring stories, case studies and practical advice, Curious will change the way you think about your own mental life, and that of those around you.
'A lovely, erudite exploration of what it is that makes us human' - Independent on Sunday
'I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious' Albert Einstein.
Everyone is born curious. But only some retain the habits of exploring, learning and discovering as they grow older. Which side of the 'curiosity divide' are you on?
In Curious Ian Leslie makes a passionate case for the cultivation of our desire to know. Curious people tend to be smarter, more creative and more successful. But at the very moment when the rewards of curiosity have never been higher, it is misunderstood and undervalued, and increasingly practised only by a cognitive elite.
Drawing on fascinating research from psychology, sociology and business, Curious looks at what feeds curiosity and what starves it, and uncovers surprising answers. Curiosity isn't a quality you can rely on to last a lifetime, but a mental muscle that atrophies without regular exercise. It's not a gift, but a habit that parents, schools, workplaces and individuals need to nurture if it is to thrive. Filled with inspiring stories, case studies and practical advice, Curious will change the way you think about your own mental life, and that of those around you.
Reviews / Votes
'A lovely, erudite exploration of what it is that makes us human' Independent on Sunday. * Independent on Sunday * 'An inspiring read that gives lie to the old saying that ignorance is bliss' Good Book Guide. * Good Book Guide * 'Leslie [...] writes convincingly [...] about the human need and desire to learn deeply and develop expertise' Wall Street Journal. * Wall Street Journal * 'Timely and readable' Guardian. * Guardian * 'Stuffed with facts, ideas, questions, quotes, musings, findings, puzzles, mysteries, and stories, this is a book - as Montaigne said of travel - with which to 'rub and polish'one's brain. It's the most delightful thing I've read about the mind in quite some time' New York Times. * New York Times *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
218 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78206-497-8 (9781782064978)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
04/2014
Quercus Publishing
€3.99
Available for download
Persons
Ian Leslie lives in London where he combines careers in advertising and writing. His book Born Liars: Why We Can't Live Without Deceit was hailed as 'consistently startling and fascinating' by the Daily Mail and was BBC Radio 4's 'Book of the Week'. He writes about ideas, culture, and politics for a wide range of publications including Intelligent Life, the New Statesman, and the Guardian, and is the creator and presenter of the BBC radio comedy, Before They Were Famous.