Strange brains and genius : the secret lives of eccentric scientists and madmen

In this unusual and penetrating work, Clifford Pickover internationally recognized science popularizer - takes us on a wild ride through the bizarre lives of brilliant, but eccentric geniuses who made significant contributions to science and philosophy. Unveiling the hidden secrets of a number of the most intelligent and prolific real-life mad scientists, Pickover delights us with unexpected stories of their obsessive personalities and strange phobias. These common threads lead us to wonder if creativity and genius are inextricably linked to madness. A highly entertaining collection of oddity and mischief, this original new work playfully uncovers the scandalous details that lurk behind the unseemly lives of these geniuses. We discover that the "Unabomber," Ted Kaczynski, a mathematical whiz with an IQ of 170, was pathologically shy, had an uncontrollable obsession with loud sounds, especially earthy bodily noises, and enjoyed playing practical jokes in high school, such as creating homemade gadgets that would pop loudly and emit a stream of violet smoke amid class - a compulsion that may have turned deadly. Then there was the great inventor Nikola Tesla who had a peculiar love for pigeons, particularly white ones, and was terrified of women's pearls. Plenty of other surprises abound, including the statistician and world explorer Francis Galton who quantified anything he saw - including the curves of women's bodies, and then there are others who all lived exceedingly unusual sexual or celibate lives. With Pickover's unique ability to draw the reader into this marvelous web of madness, he amuses us with remarkably quirky quotations attributed to these geniuses, and enchants us with intriguing yet morbid anecdotes celebrating the wonderfully unconventional childhood and careers of these individuals. Moreover, a fascinating "curiosity smorgasbord" to whet our appetites teases us with provocative questions to ponder along the way, such as: Where is Einstein's brain? In this unusual and penetrating work, Clifford Pickoverinternationally recognized science popularizer - takes us on a wild ride through the bizarre lives of brilliant, but eccentric geniuses who made significant contributions to science and philosophy. Unveiling the hidden secrets of a number of the most intelligent and prolific real-life mad scientists, Pickover delights us with unexpected stories of their obsessive personalities and strange phobias. These common threads lead us to wonder if creativity and genius are inextricably linked to madness. A highly entertaining collection of oddity and mischief, this original new work playfully uncovers the scandalous details that lurk behind the unseemly lives of these geniuses. We discover that the "Unabomber," Ted Kaczynski, a mathematical whiz with an IQ of 170, was pathologically shy, had an uncontrollable obsession with loud sounds, especially earthy bodily noises, and enjoyed playing practical jokes in high school, such as creating homemade gadgets that would pop loudly and emit a stream of violet smoke amid class - a compulsion that may have turned deadly. Then there was the great inventor Nikola Tesla who had a peculiar love for pigeons, particularly white ones, and was terrified of women's pearls. Plenty of other surprises abound, including the statistician and world explorer Francis Galton who quantified anything he saw - including the curves of women's bodies, and then there are others who all lived exceedingly unusual sexual or celibate lives. With Pickover's unique ability to draw the reader into this marvelous web of madness, he amuses us with remarkably quirky quotations attributed to these geniuses, and enchants us with intriguing yet morbid anecdotes celebrating the wonderfully unconventional childhood and careers of these individuals. Moreover, a fascinating "curiosity smorgasbord" to whet our appetites teases us with provocative questions to ponder along the way, such as: Where is Einstein's brain? Is it true that humans use only 10% of their brain capacity? Also, find out how you would fit into the astonishing results of Pickover's human mind survey on intelligence, memory, and the brain, which he conducted exclusively over the Internet. Unveiling The Hidden Secrets Of A Number Of The Most Intelligent And Prolific Real-life Mad Scientists, Pickover Delights Us With Unexpected Stories Of Their Obsessive Personalities And Strange Phobias. These Common Threads Lead Us To Wonder If Creativity And Genius Are Inextricably Linked To Madness. Includes Profiles Of: Nikola Tesla, Oliver Heaviside, Samuel Johnson, Richard Kirwan, Jeremy Bentham, Henry Cavendish, Francis Galton, Geoffrey Nathaniel Pyke, Theodore Kaczynski. Profiles: The Pigeon Man From Manhattan ; The Worm Man From Devonshire ; The Rabbit-eater From Lichfield ; The Fly Man From Galway ; The Rat Man From London ; The Mutton Man From London ; The Sprained Brain From Birmingham ; The Ice Man From Cornwall Gardens ; The Hermit From Montana ; Obsession -- Curiosity Smorgasbord: The Brain Shelter ; Where On Earth Is Einstein's Brain? ; Do We Really Only Use 10 Percent Of Our Brain? ; The Human Mind Questionnaire -- Finale: Epilogue ; A Touch Of Madness. Clifford A. Pickover. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Unveiling the bizarre lives of a number of the most brilliant but eccentric geniuses, "Strange Brains and Genius" delights readers with unexpected stories of their obsessive personalities and curious phobias. Included are anecdotes about Ted Kaczynski, Albert Einstein, and Nikola Tesla. 27 illustrations. Presents portraits of eccentric geniuses who have made contributions to science and philosophy, focusing on bizarre behavior, strange beliefs, and obsessive personalities