“What is honored in a country will be cultivated there.” ~ Eric Weiner
Weeks back my now roommate Jill linked me to a podcast. Stubbornly refusing to fall victim to the influence of her confidence, and lacking a sense of relevancy, I declined to acknowledge it had been received. Recognizing the pitfalls of my obstinance and opting to preserve the relationship with my soon to be domestic partner — I listened.
Hosted on the Re/code Decode Podcast was Eric Weiner, the author of a recently released book provocatively titled “The Geography of Genius”. With the proclamation that ‘where we live influences how smart we are’ I expected to have a binary opinion.
The hour long episode provided a tantalizing exploration into Eric’s journey to search for the origins of genius. The episode seemed so theatrical it was almost as if it had been scripted and rehearsed. His ability to leverage every element of communication at his disposal to evoke the emotions and sensations, placing you emphatically in even the most mundane of environments, was utterly astounding.
The deep resonance of his voice and intentionality of pacing carried with it a forced contemplation. It was as if the genius of which he spoke was as contagious as the plagues sweeping through Athens in the days of Socrates. Effortlessly captivating.
With nothing but the inspiration of his self-narrated book and the heady buzz of my morning coffee, I channel my inner Eric to communicate to you the immense power of his craft — it’s a thing of genius. For the most revolutionary of concepts are still lost to the winds of time without the creator’s ability to communicate them effectively.
In an attempt to tap the vibrant fervor of Weiner’s capacity for vividly immersing the reader into his explorations and discoveries, I implore you to download the audiobook of “The Geography of Genius” and experience his story.
It’s, as one reviewer put it, “an entertaining if factually tenuous look at genius and where it is most at home” and “a genial jaunt through space and time” said another.
My favorite review, brilliant in its simplicity, “Around The World In 80 Anecdotes”
The most tangible support for the development and communication of your story can be discovered and harnessed by immersing yourself in that of another. Where most let the sensations of story — those shared through art, music, and philosophy — pass without notice like a polar bear shaking off the cold of an arctic winter, you must open yourself to their embrace. Seek artful stories and you will uncover your own.
What story, of any format, was one of the most memorably immersive?