Kristine Barnett’s son Jacob has an IQ higher than Einstein’s, a photographic memory, and he taught himself calculus in two weeks. At nine he started working on an original theory in astrophysics that experts believe may someday put him in line for a Nobel Prize, and at age twelve he became a paid researcher in quantum physics. But the story of Kristine’s journey with Jake is all the more remarkable because his extraordinary mind was almost lost to autism. At age two, when Jake was diagnosed, Kristine was told he might never be able to tie his own shoes. The Spark is a remarkable memoir of mother and son. Surrounded by “experts” at home and in special ed who tried to focus on Jake’s most basic skills and curtail his distracting interests—moving shadows on the wall, stars, plaid patterns on sofa fabric—Jake made no progress, withdrew more and more into his own world, and eventually stopped talking completely. Kristine knew in her heart that she had to make a change. Against the advice of her husband, Michael, and the developmental specialists, Kristine followed her instincts, pulled Jake out of special ed, and began preparing him for mainstream kindergarten on her own. Relying on the insights she developed at the daycare center she runs out of the garage in her home, Kristine resolved to follow Jacob’s “spark”—his passionate interests. Why concentrate on what he couldn’t do? Why not focus on what he could? This basic philosophy, along with her belief in the power of ordinary childhood experiences (softball, picnics, s’mores around the campfire) and the importance of play, helped Kristine overcome huge odds. The Barnetts were not wealthy people, and in addition to financial hardship, Kristine herself faced serious health issues. But through hard work and determination on behalf of Jake and his two younger brothers, as well as an undying faith in their community, friends, and family, Kristine and Michael prevailed. The results were beyond anything anyone could have imagined. Dramatic, inspiring, and transformative, The Spark is about the power of love and courage in the face of overwhelming obstacles, and the dazzling possibilities that can occur when we learn how to tap the true potential that lies within every child, and in all of us. Praise for The Spark “[An] amazing memoir . . . compulsive reading.”—The Washington Post “The Spark is about the transformative power of unconditional love. If you have a child who’s ‘different’—and who doesn’t?—you won’t be able to put it down.”—Sylvia Nasar, author of A Beautiful Mind “Love, illness, faith, tragedy and triumph—it’s all here. . . . Jake Barnett’s story contains wisdom for every parent.”—Newsday “This eloquent memoir about an extraordinary boy and a resilient and remarkable mother will be of interest to every parent and/or educator hoping to nurture a child’s authentic ‘spark.’”—Publishers Weekly “Compelling . . . Jake is unusual, but so is his superhuman mom.”—Booklist “The Spark describes in glowing terms the profound intensity with which a mother can love her child.”—Andrew Solomon, author of The Noonday Demon and Far from the Tree “Every parent and teacher should read this fabulous book!”—Temple Grandin, author of Thinking in Pictures and co-author of The Autistic Brain

The extraordinary memoir of a mother's love, commitment and nurturing, which allowed her son, originally diagnosed with severe autism, to flourish into a universally recognized genius--and how any parent can help their child find their spark. Today, at 13, Jacob is a paid researcher in quantum physics, working on extending Einstein's theory of relativity. Diagnosed at 1 with severe autism, at 3 he was assigned to life-skills classes and his parents were told to adjust their expectations. The goal: tying his own shoes at 16. Kristine's belief in the power of hope and the dazzling possibilities that can occur when we keep our minds open and learn to fuel a child's true potential changed everything.

SelfDesign, a methodology developed by Brent Cameron over the past 23 years, is much more than another take-off from traditional teaching methods. It is instead a philosophy and a practice based in the belief that children are natural learners. Cameron uses individualized strategies, specific language tools, and a focus on the positive to shift the very premise on which education is built. Through his stories of learners and families he takes the reader on a tour of a new paradigm for learning-the art and science of SelfDesign.

Tag along on this New York Times bestselling “witty, entertaining romp” (The New York Times Book Review) as Eric Winer travels the world, from Athens to Silicon Valley—and back through history, too—to show how creative genius flourishes in specific places at specific times. In this “intellectual odyssey, traveler’s diary, and comic novel all rolled into one” (Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness), acclaimed travel writer Weiner sets out to examine the connection between our surroundings and our most innovative ideas. A “superb travel guide: funny, knowledgeable, and self-deprecating” (The Washington Post), he explores the history of places like Vienna of 1900, Renaissance Florence, ancient Athens, Song Dynasty Hangzhou, and Silicon Valley to show how certain urban settings are conducive to ingenuity. With his trademark insightful humor, this “big-hearted humanist” (The Wall Street Journal) walks the same paths as the geniuses who flourished in these settings to see if the spirit of what inspired figures like Socrates, Michelangelo, and Leonardo remains. In these places, Weiner asks, “What was in the air, and can we bottle it?” “Fun and thought provoking” (Miami Herald), The Geography of Genius reevaluates the importance of culture in nurturing creativity and “offers a practical map for how we can all become a bit more inventive” (Adam Grant, author of Originals).

Are you a parent who wants to give your child the best possible chance for success in life? Are you looking for practical strategies to help your child develop their full potential and achieve lifelong success? Look no further than "Raising Geniuses: A Practical Guide to Nurturing Your Child's Mind for Lifelong Success." In this comprehensive guide, you'll learn everything you need to know to help your child reach their full potential. From understanding intelligence and the role of genetics and environment, to fostering creativity, developing critical thinking skills, and building emotional intelligence, this guide covers all aspects of nurturing your child's developing mind. You'll also discover strategies for maximizing learning opportunities and sustaining intelligence throughout your child's life, as well as the role of schools in supporting your child's intellectual and personal growth. This guide is not just for parents of gifted children. It's for any parent who wants to give their child the tools they need to succeed in life. By implementing the strategies outlined in this guide, you'll be able to create a supportive and stimulating environment that encourages growth, learning, and exploration. So why wait? Invest in your child's future by purchasing "Raising Geniuses: A Practical Guide to Nurturing Your Child's Mind for Lifelong Success" today. With its practical strategies, valuable insights, and comprehensive approach, this guide is a must-have for any parent who wants to give their child the best possible chance for success.

This work is a combination of research, applied research, and ultimate success. When I got into it, I was a university lecturer in three different areas. I knew nothing about preschool, primary school, or secondary school except that I had passed through them. I had wanted my psychologist wife to run the first bilingual school in Canada, but there were so many legal problems imposed by an uninformed ministry that I had to become headmaster as well as to continue to practice law to earn my livelihood and to subsidize the school in its dramatic growth. Since I knew how to research, I found out the best schools in the world, visited them, and adopted their procedures. I visited fourteen countries, studied the approaches of perhaps forty schools, was helped by the government of France, and ended up with one school that was probably the most successful academic school in the world. It dominated the Putnam University Level Mathematics Competition; beat every country in the world in the Chemistry and Physics Olympiads except Russia; and beat most of the European countries regularly, some every year. When the university professors chose the Canadian Olympiad teams, they almost always chose the students from the Toronto French School because they had covered 23 1/2 years of the program at the University of Toronto because I knew how to hire gifted teachers and because our programs were enriched beyond any that I knew of in the world. Because of my complex approaches and early academic intervention, all of the children had a boost in measured IQ. Unhappily, they dropped my ideas of teachers, dropped my psychological approaches, my learning methodologies, and neither of the two schools now even reach the Putnam or the Olympiad teams for any of their students and do not win regular national science fair gold medals or national mathematics competitions.