This handbook investigates the multifaceted nature of genius, exploring its origins, characteristics, and impact across diverse fields and historical figures. The work synthesizes contributions from a multi-disciplinary group of experts to provide a comprehensive treatment of genius, focusing on cognitive science, individual differences, life-span development, and social context. It examines a wide array of individuals, including creators, leaders, and performers, to illustrate the varied manifestations of genius. The handbook employs a range of methodologies, from genetics and neuroscience to psychometric tests and case studies, to offer a thorough understanding of this complex phenomenon.

This handbook is presented as the first to comprehensively address all facets of genius, drawing on a wide range of expert contributors from various disciplines. It aims to cover the origins, characteristics, careers, and consequences of genius, utilizing diverse methodologies such as genetics, neuroscience, longitudinal studies, psychometric tests, interviews, and case studies. The work explores individual genius through examples of creators, leaders, and performers from history, suggesting a broad and interdisciplinary approach to understanding this endlessly fascinating topic.