Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kalb, author of the best seller Andy Warhol Was a Hoarder, brings her award-winning journalistic talent to cover the topic of genius. In Spark, she profiles 12 renowned lives, each of them gifted with intelligence, curiosity, creativity, perseverance, and luck. Intriguingly, the book is organized by the time in the subjects' lives in which genius first stood out. Some are child prodigies (Pablo Picasso, Shirley Temple, Yo-Yo Ma, Bill Gates). For others, genius arrives in young adulthood or middle age (Isaac Newton, Sara Blakely, Julia Child, Maya Angelou, Alexander Fleming). Three of the profiles are for individuals who achieved their greatest success late in life (Eleanor Roosevelt, Peter Roget, Grandma Moses). One is profiled because echoes of his genius are seen in each of the others' lives (Leonardo da Vinci). Each profile focuses on brilliant attainments but also discusses challenges and times of unhappiness. Kalb uses each brief biography to explore a series of questions: Is genius innate or nurtured? What allows people to excel? What accounts for "aha" moments? VERDICT Kalb's book should have universal appeal for public and academic libraries but may particularly resonate with readers who are comforted by the notion that accomplishment and discovery come at different ages.—Beth Dalton, Littleton, CO

Publishers Weekly
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Journalist Kalb (Andy Warhol Was a Hoarder) explores what animates geniuses in this entertaining series of vignettes. She asks if successful individuals are born with their talents or are, instead, “lured by passion.” Put another way: ­what, she wonders, “is a genius?” Kalb studies the lives of 13 prominent figures to find out, organizing her subjects “by the age at which genius ignites”: Shirley Temple, for example, earned acclaim in childhood; entrepreneur Sarah Blakley hit her stride in young adulthood; Julia Child is a “mid-lifer”; and Grandma Moses created her “most enduring work” in the final decades of her life. While each of these individuals’ work provides a solid basis for the exploration of creativity, the links between them are tenuous, and though Kalb’s thumbnail biographies are sprightly, she often falls back on cliché—failure is “integral” to success, as are resilience, perseverance, and passion. Instinct, as when Temple used the warmth from studio lights to figure out how to hold her head best, plays a part, as does a large dollop of timing and luck. But in the end, “genius” remains elusive. In the absence of a unified theory of genius or definition of the term, this is best taken as a light series of character studies. (Apr.)

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Genius comes in many forms and peaks at various times in life. In this collection of profiles, Kalb (Andy Warhol Was a Hoarder, 2016) looks at artists, movie stars, musicians, scientists, humanitarians, entrepreneurs, chefs, and linguists. Some of the subjects, like Picasso, Shirley Temple, and Yo-Yo Ma, were famous as children. Others, such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Peter Roget, Julia Child, and Grandma Moses, found their spark later in life. Some are of our time, such as Maya Angelou, Sara Blakely, and Bill Gates; others are past geniuses, such as Isaac Newton, Alexander Fleming, and Leonardo da Vinci. Kalb looks at factors that influenced her subjects, including early tragedies, working collaborations, family fortunes, and life-changing setbacks. She visits the homes of many and offers insights into the settings and historical times that shaped them. She also delves into the mystery of genius. Is it a matter of nature or nurture? The overall theme is the importance of having open, curious minds, following your instincts, and celebrating the unexpected. Widely appealing, this group portrait may inspire readers to revisit their own childhood dreams.