Beyond Genius

What do Richard Branson, Quincy Jones, Yvon Chouinard, Dave Stewart, Elon Musk, Frank Nuovo, John Paul DeJoria and Steve Jobs have in common with Benjamin Franklin, Leonardo da Vinci, Teddy Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson and Sir Isaac Newton? They all share the 12 Essential Traits of the Renaissance Man. BEYOND GENIUS travels through history to determine the 12 essential traits that define a Renaissance Man, then applies those attributes to determine some of the Renaissance Men of today. We tell their stories of determination and perseverance, their expertise in a variety of fields, their insatiable curiosity, the infusion of their wisdom and creativity into our culture. We explore the making of a Renaissance Man and the deep connection these men have to advancements in the sciences, the arts and our way of being. Scott Griffiths & Eric Elfman, and their team, have put more than 1,000 hours of research into studying the history of the Renaissance Man, identifying common attributes that are constant throughout time, and identifying a select group today’s most successful Renaissance Men. By understanding these traits, identifying and developing them, the innerRenaissance Man can be unleashed in more men for the betterment of the world.

Eric Elfman is the award-winning author of twelve books, including Tesla’s Attic (co-writer), the first of a three-book series to be published by Disney-Hyperion Books starting in 2014. Also a screenwriter, Eric has sold screenplays to Interscope Pictures, Walden Media, Revolution and Universal Studios. He wrote the English-language dialogue for several Japanese animated TV series, and has written articles for Global Trade Magazine, Dwell and Mental Floss. Since 2005, he has been on the faculty of the Big Sur Children's Writers Workshop.