Gifted Lives: What Happens When Gifted Children Grow Up

This book reveals the dramatic stories of twenty outstandingly gifted people as they grew from early promise to maturity in Britain. Written by an award-winning psychologist who has meticulously recorded these intimate biographies over the last 35 years, this fascinating account reveals the frustrations and triumphs of her remarkable participants, and investigates why some fell by the wayside whilst others reached fame and fortune. The individuals featured here possess a range of intellectual, social and emotional gifts, including mathematics, the arts, empathy and spirituality. As well as negotiating the basic trials of growing up, the particular abilities of these exceptional people often meant they were confronted with extra emotional challenges, such as over-anxious and pushy parents, teacher put-downs, social trip-wires, loss of fun time, boredom and bullying in school and conflicting life choices. Their stories illustrate how seemingly innocuous events such as skipping one or more school grades could have devastating life-long consequences, and allow the reader to ponder intriguing questions such as: Does having a brilliant mind help when you are ethnically different or suffering serious depression? How does a world-class pianist cope when repetitive strain injury strikes, or a young financier when he hits his first million? Joan Freeman's interpretations and insights of the twists and turns of the lives of these extraordinary people are fascinating and deeply moving. She shows us that while fate played a large part in their successes, so did a personal outlook which could see and grab a fleeting chance, overcome great odds, and put in the necessary hard work to lift childhood prodigy to greatness. Readers will identify with many of the intriguing aspects of these people's lives, and perhaps learn something about themselves too.