When family or friends come to me with a challenge, I usually send them away with a list of books. It has gotten so bad that my boys will laugh, and before I even get the words out, say, “Let me guess. You have a book that I should read?” This month I’m going to start on a series that will help explain the six characteristics that will help you live and share your genius. The first characteristic is PERSPICACITY. Enjoy!
Perspicacity is a big word – but we are talking about genius, so let’s use a big word! Perspicacity has to do with perception, insight, and discernment. Rene Descartes said that intelligence consisted of perspicacity and sagacity. NASA considers perspicacity to be the most important characteristic for its astronauts to have (“Scientist-Astronauts: Only the “Perspicacious” Need Apply”, Science, 1966). Here are a few books for different ages that can help you and your family develop this trait.
What to do with an Idea by Kobi Yamada. For the young and young at heart, this book helps us recognize that we need to be open to and recognize new ideas. And then we have to do something with them! This book is part of the What you do Matters series of picture books.
The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Part of the Narnia series. A classic. This book is full of different ways the characters had to be willing to see things differently and learn new things. Just the idea that a wardrobe could lead them into another world! It took a while for them to get there, but they figured out how to accomplish so many things. An excellent book for ages 8 to 12 (or 99!)
The Rent Collector by Cameron Wright. I would never have read this, except it was a book for a group discussion. It is a fantastic book! The setting is a dump in Cambodia, and the main character is a young mother with a sick child. This character shared many of the characteristics of a genius, but the one that stood out to me the most was how she learned to see the world differently through her journey. A must-read! I’d recommend it for older youth and adults.
The Well-Educated Mind by Susan Wise Bauer. From one of my favorite homeschool writers, this book is for those who want to learn and develop perspicacity by reading the classics. It can help you with your education as it guides you through how to read different genres. This would be a great book to base a high school English program on.
The One-World Schoolhouse by Salman Khan. The founder and developer of Khan Academy, Sal Khan, is an amazing man who is a wonderful example of perspicacity. His book re-imagines education. He has created a system where individualization is possible, and teachers can meet each student’s needs.
Enjoy!