The Gifted Adult: A Revolutionary Guide for Liberating Everyday Genius(tm)

This book is the most important book that I have ever read besides the Bible. I need to repeat that - This book is the most amazing book that I have ever read besides the Bible. As a child I was treated badly and bullied by my peers because of my intelligence. As a result, I tried to hide my gifts from the other kids. I set out to attain the "Perfect C" in a failed attempt to win the approval of my classmates. I did not know that this behavior is a common trait among the Gifted. I tried to project to others that I was just like everybody else, and I told myself that everyone else was just like me. This was a lie and I believed my own lie. My teachers tried to tell me that I was smart, but I didn't want to hear it because in my mind, being "smart" was a one way ticket to "outcastville". The lie to myself persisted into adulthood. So I have lived my first 50 years in turmoil and feeling that I was unbalanced in almost every aspect of my life. All of the counselors that I sought could not give me any insight to my struggles. This left me frustrated and disillusioned with the psychiatric community. Again, I did not know that this was a common experience among the Gifted. The reason for this is that the psychiatrists did not realize that my brain functions differently. I used to think that my gifts were my curses. I used to pray, "God, please take these curses from me." The funny thing is that my children are EXTREMELY gifted, world class artists. Yet, I never recognized the gifting that is within me. Strange how that works. Even within an engineering community I was constantly being belittled by jealous peers - and I believed their jabs even though I was the one coming up with the creative ideas. Several months ago I went through a moment of crisis. Debrowski might call this a moment of "Positive Disintegration". I began to seek out "what was wrong with me". What I found shocked me to my core. I began reading on sengifted.org and other web sites. I found that, indeed, I was a Gifted Adult. I read about Debrowski and others that had done research on how the Gifted mind worked. I read about the OE's and how they worked (I didn't believe them at first). I read everything that I could get my hands on and I still wanted to know more. So I ordered the Gifted Adult by Mary-Elaine Jacobsen and began reading in earnest. Mary-Elaine Jacobsen's book is AMAZING! It seemed like every word was a description of ME. Mary-Elaine Jacobsen takes the reader through a process of self-discovery. Then she will help you to heal the old wounds. Finally, she places you on a path to an uncharted future full of endless possibility and excitement. She helps uncover the "Natural Optimist" that is buried within the Gifted Adult (I was extremely depressed and without hope before picking up this book). The book is full of grace and healing. She is also very clear to point out that Gifted Adults are not better than others - we are just different. We hear things, see things, and smell things that other people don't experience. Our brains are running around inside our heads connecting new dots that nobody else has ever noticed. We observe our world through different lenses. I have read the book through from cover-to-cover. And now I'm reading through it again to find the buried nuggets - each page is full of them. The only criticism of the book would be on page 107 where she makes a math error. It's kind of funny actually to have a book written to Gifted Adults that makes a math error. She forgot to divide by three. lol. But I'm sure that EVERY reader will be able to see the humor there. :-) But I digress... Mary-Elaine says, "Everyday Geniuses spend the first part of their lives trying to be who they are and meeting with disapproval. The second part is spent pretending to be someone they are not in order to fit in. And, if they are determined and lucky, they can spend the third part chipping away at the rock of that created false self and moving closer to being the authentic individuals they were uniquely destined to be." (page 20). I now have a new tool for life. I have a new perspective. I am on the road to a new me. There is no turning back! I don't know what I am going to do with my new-found self, but the future is a wealth of endless possibilities. Thinking that my gifts were curses, I used to ask God to take them away. Now I see myself as God created me to be. Now my prayer is, "Dear Lord, thank you so much for making me so unique!" This is not a "feel good" book. This is a book with real solutions to real problems that the Gifted Adult has to face every day. So, Mary-Elaine Jacobsen, if you ever read my review, I just want to say, "Thank You Thank You Thank You" from the bottom of my heart. Your book is a life changer, and I will be eternally grateful.

As a gifted adult myself, this book has helped me understand many aspects of the process of becoming a conscious gifted adult. I've ordered this book for the second time, to share it with a close friend of mine. Instead of being study literature (like 'How the gifted brain learns', which, for other purposes, is another excellent read - mostly if you are teaching or coaching gifted people), the book is mostly full of 'aha-moments' and reads quite easily. I discovered a kind of trajectory in the book, where I naturally found my 'spot'; so there's three 'parts' regarding past, now and future hidden in the book. The first part is mostly recognizing and reframing the past. It describes cases, including the auther herself at some point, about the process from being full of perceptions about yourself (all the typical elements of gifted people are translated into negative views, mostly how non-gifted people perceive the gifted) until realizing how these elements many of us got to dislike or hate in their lives can be qualities. The second part, including the Evolutionary Intelligence model, contains some tools to get more insight into your personal development needs. This felt for me as the 'now'. Also, the author describes how she got to do work that connects directly to her soul calling, or life mission, or personal passion as you will. A life-changing insight for me, which I found also in other books, is that with the current world-wide crisis it is no wonder that more gifted and talented people are being born. Finding our way, creating coaching and therapy for gifted people (and recognizing all the misdiagnosis going on, because of ADHD and other mental disorders in DSM-IV but no good, 'official' literature on giftedness and its effects) but also transforming our educational systems and training human resource departments at big companies, is essential to help the planet in her process. For me this is the future, I don't feel I have the role that connects exactly to this, but the call is getting stronger. So, since they say 'patience is a virtue', I train myself in taking my time. Not everything has to be finished yesterday? Aha! ;-)

The Book is very informitive. And worth the time. I never knew that there is several types of gift people. I believe that their are many undiscovered genius out there. But never knew that others, knew it too. I felt so out place. The things in the book. Was like I talk to the author about it. Myself. I was a child of the late twentith century. For the longest time. I never knew that one of many forgotten of the system they called modern society. The lost of how many minds, how many talents ignored. How many potential discovery unfound. For every gifted person known. There are possible maybe two or three times as many not unkown. It's like putting a child in special educations. And being told he or she is mental tarded. And then told several years later. The child was normal.And he or she could go back regular school. The damage that was to the child. Could very well scar them. In many ways. We need to fix the problems, not sweep it under rug, so to speak. We need to be on equal footing. Basical we need understanding, not the controlers.

I've read every book I can find on giftedness (not focused on children.) Many are good at explaining how gifted people are different and the effects of those differences, but this book goes farther, explaining what to do to help yourself adjust to the pain of being different. It opened my eyes like never before, inspiring me, and gave me a hope I haven't had in my 55 years on Earth. Well written and easy to understand. My eternal thanks to Ms. Jacobsen, for saving not only my sanity, but my life.

I loved one half of the book and even though that tended toward repetition I endured it, it was worth it,for a while. What she has to say is immensely important, she's very well informed, so I kept reading. But I started skimming at Ch.9 and then just leafing through the rest of it. It was just too much. I respect the author but she doesn't know when to stop and any decent editor would toss at least half the book. She doesn't seem to know her own boundaries and when, no matter how much she thinks what she's writing is needed or necessary, she appears to lack the capacity or common sense not to overburden, and yes, bore the reader. Expecting him to read through what has surely already been covered except for endless nuances to fit every perceived life situation; it becomes superfluous. It's very much like the "Bible Of Giftedness," does she perceive it as such? That one would keep at their bedside and read some every day and then maybe they'd get it all. You can't get all of anything out of a book! And who could possibly remember all she has to say anyway? Methinks she dost protest too much and needs to have a little more faith in the gifted that they will learn things for themselves. So it's not necessary to spoon feed and try to cover every,as she conceives it, life situation that an everyday genius will confront. Unfortunately this author is either inexperienced as a writer or not smart enough about writing, and this is not and should not be an academic treatise, which it's not, just a vastly overdone running off at the mouth. Saying too much is as bad or worse than not saying enough.

Gifted adult magnificently illustrates how people of high intelligence sabotage their relationships, work life and professionalism. It has been very insightful to read and everyone should read this book to see how there positive and negative qualities impact all aspects of their live. Additionally, I really liked the premise and I could follow the hypothesis well enough. In fact, the book made me smile in acknowledgement a couple of times at the how much it described my personality. Instead of identifying giftedness based on IQ scores (or similar metrics), the book provides an interesting and original survey that enables to scale oneself intelligence based on those 3 features (intensity, drive and complexity). The originality of the book is related to the way giftedness is defined, that is people whom the main characteristics are high intensity, drive and complexity. The way the author defines genius as intensity, complexity and drive helped me to understand not what's wrong with me but what's right with me and how to best mange these gifts. Until I read this book these gifts often felt like a liability more so than anything else. On the downside, it's not a page-turning crime novel. I advise reading it whilst not being distracted, but taking the time to read it while your head can focus. Also, It's written from the assumption the gifted adult in question doesn't know they're gifted, so it's not going to be as helpful if you were aware of being gifted as a child. Unfortunately, I wasn't, so this book is indeed a very insightful guide for those of us who did not have an easy time or who didn't attend the right schools. I have definitely found myself floundering as an adult when have found my skills to be a great hindrance at times. If you are a deeply intelligent person and yet you're struggling to function in a world where the rules of conduct seem both stupidly simple and yet infuriatingly difficult at the same time; you should definitely check out the ideas in this book.

(Currently reading) I had all the common signs of an unidentified GT child. I grew up in lower socioeconomic area and quickly labeled "rebellious". I eventually took ownership of the title and created a pretty rough reputation. I despised school and never did well, and even forced a couple teacher to resign with my sharp wit and ability to control a classroom. I eventually got heavy into drugs and dropped out of school my senior year. Fast forward a decade, went to college and was on the deans list every semester. All the accolades society deemed valuable I achieved. I felt for the first time validated because I always knew in my heart I wasn't stupid. I married a wonderful woman who teaches elementary. She's the type of teacher you pray your child gets. She became the GT liaison for her district a few years ago. Slowly over time she began talking to me about what she had been learning and how she believed it applied to my life. Of course I couldn't fathom the idea of ME being "Gifted". The more I researched the more enthralled I became. I couldn't care less about being "gifted" but having finally identified myself as not crazy has done tremendous good for me. Finally coming across people who are like me has been healing. This book has had me in tears at times just due to its relevance in my life. The idea that millions of children are forced to repeat this same pattern with a possibly worse outcome breaks my heart. I'm just a few years into unearthing myself from the depths of my childhood and formal education with the hopes to have an impact on the future GT children who don't yet have a voice. if you have even a hint of and idea you may be a gifted adult or married to someone who is, READ THIS BOOK!

This book changed my life. I could not be more serious. This book arrived in my life at JUST the right moment, and changed my entire outlook. It was a revelation to read, with one page after another after another describing ME, but me in a way I'd never considered before. I've now read and re-read this book, and is has essentially become The Bible of Me - the book that best describes me, my issues, my challenges, my gifts, my unique outlook on life, my ...well, everything about me. The Gifted Adult made me challenge the belief that I was a "freak" and instead start to appreciate that I am in fact something so much more. THANK YOU, Mary-Elaine Jacobsen. I think I literally owe the second half of my life to you and this book.

essenziale per i gifted adulti misconosciuti anche a sè stessi. Un po' complesso, anche emotivamente, bisogna leggerlo lentamente. ha la mania tutta anglosassone di creare acronimi per tutto, e questo può rendere un po' difficile ricordarli tutti, soprattutto se , come me, si legge nei ritagli di tempo

El libro es como un terapeuta guiándote en el auto descubrimiento y en el reconocimiento de las altas capacidades en otros. No puedo evitar pensar que es obligatorio para quien gestiona personas.

Dieses Buch wurde von einer Hochbegaten mit wohltuend weitem Horizont geschrieben. Es beschreibt Modelle zum Intelligenzbegriff und bietet sehr aufschlußreiche Tests an. Ich hatte bereits ein IQ-Testergebnis und war Mitgleid bei Mensa. Dieses Buch geht darüber hinaus und ich finde, die Autorin hat mir eine Art Gebrauchsanweisung für's Gehirn & die Persönlichkeit an die Hand gegeben und damit auch mein Selbstbewußtsein gestärkt. Nach der Lektüre und den Erkenntnissen aus den Tests habe ich mich jetzt für ein Zweitstudium eingeschrieben! Ich finde das Buch äußerst empfehlenswert, weil es nicht nur die Daseinsberechtigung (-; für Hochbegabte erklärt/bestätigt sondern einen auch vom Denken ins Handeln bringt.

C'est de loin le meilleur livre que j'ai lu sur les "surdoués". Extrêmement complet, il n'offre pas simplement une description théorique mais une véritable vision, de l'intérieur, de tout ce que cela signifie en termes de mode de fonctionnement cognitif, émotionnel, physique, motivationnel... L'auteur est elle-même un "génie ordinaire" et cela se sent dans chaque développement. Je pense que toute personne concernée sera bluffée par le miroir incroyablement juste qui lui est tendu. Bien plus que la lecture d'articles divers et d'autres ouvrages moins personnels sur le sujet, ce livre porte bien son nom : j'ai eu le sentiment d'une libération en le lisant. Quelle vitalité et quelle confiance lorsque l'on comprend, enfin, toutes ces spécificités ! Jamais je n'aurais cru que cette "petite" différence puisse impacter autant d'aspects d'une vie et j'ai souvent ri ou souri devant des détails frappants de justesse. J'ai également beaucoup apprécié le prototype de test qui se base sur sa propre conception du profil, tout en intégrant la notion d'intelligences multiples qui commence à être validée par la neuro-imagerie. Bien plus intéressant à mon avis que les tests d'intelligence traditionnels qui ne sont pas faits, à la base, pour évaluer la douance. Dommage que cet outil n'existe pas encore, à ma connaissance, dans une version validée à l'usage des professionnels, mais il est vrai que les intelligences multiples posent de sérieuses difficultés de mesure. Il n'en reste pas moins que l'auto-évaluation par ce prototype de test, associée à la richesse des récits, réflexions et anecdotes, permet de se reconnaître en tant qu "Everyday Genius". Le livre est très américain comme le souligne un autre lecteur, tout le monde ne partagera pas la partie "spirituelle" de la vision de Jacobsen, mais je pense que le livre aurait été incomplet si elle n'avait pas fait part de ses convictions en la matière. Chacun pourra intégrer cela dans sa propre philosophie ou spiritualité le cas échéant. Enfin, ce livre est véritablement un manuel de développement personnel, bourré de conseils sur de nombreux sujets.

Overall Very Good...