Curious: The Desire to Know and Why Your Future Depends on It

Ian Leslie

4 Reviews

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Prose: non-fiction, Popular psychology

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Quercus
- Paperback Aug 11, 2015 | 9781782064978 | RRP $26.99 Buy Now
- Audiobook May 7, 2020 | 9781529410655 | RRP $35.99 Buy Now
- e-Book Apr 30, 2014 | 9781782064961 | RRP $11.99 Buy Now
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Imprint

Quercus
- Paperback Aug 11, 2015 | 9781782064978 | RRP $26.99 Buy Now
- Audiobook May 7, 2020 | 9781529410655 | RRP $35.99 Buy Now
- e-Book Apr 30, 2014 | 9781782064961 | RRP $11.99 Buy Now
Play Sample
0:00
Imprint

Quercus
- Paperback Aug 11, 2015 | 9781782064978 | RRP $26.99 Buy Now
- Audiobook May 7, 2020 | 9781529410655 | RRP $35.99 Buy Now
- e-Book Apr 30, 2014 | 9781782064961 | RRP $11.99 Buy Now
Play Sample
0:00

A fascinating multi-disciplinary analysis of why curiosity makes the world go round.

'A lovely, erudite exploration of what it is that makes us human' - Independent on Sunday 'I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious' Albert Einstein.

Everyone is born curious. But only some retain the habits of exploring, learning and discovering as they grow older. Which side of the 'curiosity divide' are you on?

In Curious Ian Leslie makes a passionate case for the cultivation of our desire to know. Curious people tend to be smarter, more creative and more successful. But at the very moment when the rewards of curiosity have never been higher, it is misunderstood and undervalued, and increasingly practised only by a cognitive elite.

Drawing on fascinating research from psychology, sociology and business, Curious looks at what feeds curiosity and what starves it, and uncovers surprising answers. Curiosity isn't a quality you can rely on to last a lifetime, but a mental muscle that atrophies without regular exercise. It's not a gift, but a habit that parents, schools, workplaces and individuals need to nurture if it is to thrive. Filled with inspiring stories, case studies and practical advice, Curious will change the way you think about your own mental life, and that of those around you.

Praise for Curious: The Desire to Know and Why Your Future Depends on It

I would never have guessed that so slim a volume could so richly pique my curiosity about curiosity. Stuffed with facts, ideas, questions, quotes, musings, findings, puzzles, mysteries, and stories, this is a book-as Montaigne said of travel-with which to 'rub and polish' one's brain. It's the most delightful thing I've read about the mind in quite some time - New York Times
An inspiring read that gives lie to the old saying that ignorance is bliss - Good Book Guide
A lovely, erudite exploration of what it is that makes us human - Independent on Sunday
Leslie . . . writes convincingly . . . about the human need and desire to learn deeply and develop expertise - Wall Street Journal

Ian Leslie

Ian Leslie lives in London, combining careers in advertising and writing. His first book, To Be President (Politicos, 2008), was described by Adam Boulton as 'brilliantly capturing the drama and emotion of Obama's successful run for the White House' and was extracted by Granta. He regularly appears as an analyst of American politics on Sky and the BBC. He has written about politics, culture, marketing, and psychology for Prospect, the Guardian and The Times.