"Leslie...writes convincingly...about the human need and desire to learn deeply and develop expertise."—Wall Street Journal New York Times Book Review Scientific American Mind Inside Higher Ed Library Journal Maria Konnikova, author of Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes Steven Johnson, author of Where Good Ideas Come From Tyler Cowen, George Mason University
Has the omnipresence of digital information reduced us to becoming dabblers? That is the contention of this stimulating, accessible new book by science journalist Ian Leslie. In Curious, he argues that with all these info tidbits at our fingertips, we no longer dive for insight or innovation; we surf for the next breaking factoid. Our increasing retreat into playful immersion has had another harmful side effect: the loss of empathy for the real people in our lives. A new millennial wake-up call. Editor's recommendation.
07/14/2014
Curiosity—that elusive, mysterious state—seems always to slide away when writers attempt to dissect it. Ian Leslie not only offers a compelling analysis of how curiosity works, he tells us how to prompt it in our children, our employees, and ourselves. Both fascinating and eminently practical, Curious is a book to be relished.”
author of Why Don’t Students Like School Daniel Willingham
I would never have guessed that so slim a volume could so richly pique my curiosity about curiosity. 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.”
A beautiful and important exploration of the need to nurture, develop, and explore our curiosity even when we’ve long left our childhood behind. Ian Leslie reminds us of those essential life lessons that we tend to forget in our quest to be busy and productive: that sometimes, it’s ok to waste time; and often, the most productive mind ends up being the mind most open to indulging its most childish impulses.”
New York Times bestselling author of Mastermind Maria Konnikova
If you weren’t the curious sort, you’d likely never even crack this book. But then you’d be missing out on a world of interesting science exploring just why humans find the urge to learn and know so utterly irresistible.”
With this enthralling manifesto on the power of curiosity, Ian Leslie has written a book that displays all the key characteristics of its subject matter: an inquisitive, open-minded, and ultimately deeply rewarding exploration of the human mind’s appetite for new ideas.”
author of Future Perfect: The Case for Progres Steven Johnson
08/01/2014Born Liars ) writes passionately about why our loss of curiosity is a serious detriment to society. The author argues that those who stay inquisitive will succeed the most in life. Pulling from developmental, behavioral, and educational psychology, Leslie discusses the history and stages of curiosity and how online search engines have made us less curious. He examines inventors and visionaries from centuries ago to the present day and how they became so successful. The author claims it wasn't luck but a need to fill gaps in information. While answers are so easily accessible through Google, Leslie states that "Google can answer anything you want, but it can't tell you what you ought to be asking." With heavy implications for the future of education, the author makes a strong case for a more inquiry-based approach. VERDICT Highly recommended for educators of all kinds. Leslie reaches to the true heart of education—turning students into 21st-century learners by bringing back that curiosity. Also a great read for librarians.—Jill Morningstar, Michigan State Univ. Libs., East Lansing
2014-06-30
