With THE GENIUS IN ALL OF US, David Shenk shrugs off out-dated concepts of genetic-giftedness and inborn intelligence, and proves that talent is not a thing, but a process.  This book sets out to correct the common misconceptions about genes and IQ that have led to unnecessary and harmful pessimism about human potential and badly designed public policy, especially in education.  
 
Shenk utilizes in-depth research in cognitive science, psychology, and genetics to explain and analyze the science behind human potential.  Through dissecting myths from child prodigies to Jamaican runners' "giftedness" to misleading twin studies—myths that incorrectly promote the idea of innate intelligence—Shenk illustrates that genes are not blueprints that bless some and doom others.  Instead, intelligence is malleable as genes continuously interact with our environment and affect development.
 
Genes continuous interplay with environment explains why over the last century so many groups of experts—swimmers, violinists, chess players—have broken records and achieved things long thought impossible.  It’s not that humans are evolving at a rapidly impossible place.  We’re just getting better at figuring out how to accomplish different feats through disciplined training.
 
‘Nature vs. Nurture’ is over.  The paradigm of ‘innate talent’ is dead.  Genes are not blueprints that bless some and doom others.  Instead, genes interacting with our environment (GxE) produce an outcome.  THE GENIUS IN ALL OF US heralds a revolutionary and deeply optimistic message based in scientific findings and research of how we can tap into latent reserves of talent and ultimately flourish. Both astonishing and liberating, Shenk’s concept of human potential has direct, lasting significance and makes THE GENIUS IN ALL OF US a profoundly important and compelling read. 
 
“A thinking man’s Outliers.”   – New York Magazine
 
“Shenk corrects common knowledge about what twin studies and IQ tests really show; clarifies the arguably most misunderstood genetics term, heritable; and scientifically revives faith in not just practice and determination but also parenting and lifestyle as crucial factors, along with genes, in the realization of talents.”—Booklist, starred review
 
David Shenk is a national-bestselling author of four previous books, including The Forgetting, Data Smog, and most recently, The Immortal Game.  He is a contributor to National Geographic, Harper’s, Slate, New York Times, New Yorker, NPR and PBS.  He frequently lectures on health, education and technology.  His blog “The Genius in All of Us” is featured on The Atlantic.com.  He lives in Brooklyn, New York.