Curious: The Desire to Know and Why Your Future Depends on It

(Paperback)

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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.

Reviews

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 - New York Times

An inspiring read that gives lie to the old saying that ignorance is bliss - Good Book Guide

A lovely, erudite exploration of what it is that makes us human - Independent on Sunday

Leslie . . . writes convincingly . . . about the human need and desire to learn deeply and develop expertise - Wall Street Journal

Author Bio

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.