{
  "id": 5940751,
  "title": "5 myths about being a genius",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/5-myths-about-being-a-genius",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-06T08:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91595374/5-myths-about-being-a-genius"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "1. You possess the capabilities of a genius, yet you remain unaware of it. As you read these words, your brain is effortlessly processing a continuous stream of symbols, organizing them into recognizable words, and linking meanings together into coherent ideas. All of this occurs seamlessly and automatically, without any conscious effort on your part. This remarkable feat rivals or surpasses the feats that are traditionally attributed to geniuses. Similarly, tasks such as recognizing a friend's face in a crowd or navigating a crowded space while conversing are feats of cognitive complexity that we have only recently come to appreciate. Early computer scientists mistakenly believed that the challenges faced by humans in areas like chess and mathematics would be equally difficult for machines to replicate, while the seemingly effortless tasks of walking and talking would be relatively straightforward to achieve. However, the reality is quite the opposite. While we have pocket calculators and computers capable of winning chess championships, creating machines that can engage in natural conversations or perform complex tasks like folding laundry while chatting remains a challenge. This phenomenon, known as Moravec's paradox, highlights the complexity of the cognitive abilities we often take for granted. So why do we so frequently underestimate our own potential? The brain builds expertise by creating specialized problem-solving circuits. Once these circuits are established, they no longer require conscious effort. As we become better at something, the effort diminishes, leading us to mistakenly perceive the task as simple. However, this feeling of ease is not a sign of simplicity; rather, it reflects our mastery of the task. The impressive abilities exhibited by our brains often appear effortless, even though they are the result of years of dedicated learning and practice.",
  "summary": "Below, Dr. Josh Turknett shares five key insights from his new book, The Genius and the Impostor: The Neuroscience of Unlocking Human Potential . Turknett is a neurologist and founder of the Institute for Performance Neurology, where he works at the intersection of neuroscience, learning, and human potential. He is also an award-winning musician and host of the Performance Neurology podcast.…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}