Cradles of Eminence: Childhoods of More Than 700 Famous Men and Women

Softcover

ISBN 10: 091070757X ISBN 13: 9780910707572

Publisher: Gifted Psychology Press, 2004

What were the common childhood experiences of 700 eminent adults? Among things, they disliked school; their families valued education; they had strong mothers; and they grew up feeling "different" from others. This exciting update of the 1964 classic includes information from "Three Hundred Eminent Personalities" (1978), as well as from new biographies published in the last six years. Key findings include:

-Most had at least one ambitious parent who was striving and driving.

-Their parents were highly opinionated

-Their parents often held unconventional opinions that were shocking, even antagonistic, to others.

-Many of the parents--especially mothers--dominated their children's lives.

-As children, few liked school, and still fewer liked their teachers.

-Nearly all showed the characteristics used today to identify gifted children.

About the Author:

Victor Goertzel, a psychologist specializing in psychotherapy, was past president of the National Association for Gifted Children. Mildred George Goertzel directed a school for emotionally disturbed children. Ted George Goertzel is a professor and former chairperson in the sociology department at Rutgers University in Camden, NJ. Ariel Hansen is a recent graduate from Haverford College and works in the field of science journalism.

Review:

"Must Read!" -- Today's Books

"Fascinating to read...a wealth of anecdotal information about the youthful struggles of truly remarkable people" --Midwest Book Review, August 2004