Man of Genius
Cesare Lombroso
Play
Length 12 h 18 min
Chapters 20
First published 1891
Famous criminologist, anthropologist, and psychiatrist, Dr Lombroso, investigated the memetic anecdotal belief that genius is associated with degenerative symptoms, or may even be a version of insanity, and presented his findings as a fascinating and controversial theory that the creative and imaginative celebrities throughout history have also displayed what he termed as "atavistic" symptoms, or defects resembling what is commonly seen in the unwell. Citations of evidence are drawn from a rich variety of references sources, including autopsy reports of brains and skulls, biographical data, the influence of environmental and seasonal changes on inventiveness, and even from the records of thousands of admittance into prisons and asylums of France and Italy. This book can be considered as a sort of sequel to his better known and also highly controversial theories about criminality associated with physical manifestations, often categorised as "psuedoscience". However, it should be noted that although his claims are factual and verifiable, his choice of selective evidence and the absence of a control group should be considered when reading the book. - Summary by Leon Harvey
Chapters
1
PREFACE Read by Leon Harvey 14:12
2
CHAPTER II. GENIUS AND DEGENERATION. The signs of degeneration, Height, Rickets, Emaciation, Physiognomy, Cranium and Brain, Stammering, Lefthandedness, Sterility, Unlikeness to Parents, Precocity, Delayed development, Misoneism, Vagabondage, Unconsciousness, Instinctiveness, Somnambulism, The Inspiration of Genius, Contrast, Intermittence, Double Personality, Stupidity, Hyperasthesia, Paraesthesia, Amnesia, Originality, Fondness for special words. Read by Leon Harvey 1:12:50
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CHAPTER III. LATENT FORMS OF NEUROSIS AND INSANITY IN GENIUS. Chorea and Epilepsy, Melancholy, Megalomania, Folie du doute, Alcoholism, Hallucinations, Moral Insanity, Longevity. Read by Leon Harvey 58:16
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CHAPTER IV. GENIUS AND INSANITY. Resemblance between genius and insanity, Men and women of genius who have been insane, Montanus, Harrington, Haller, Schumann, Gérard de Nerval, Baudelaire, Concato, Mainländer, Comte, Codazzi, Bolyai, Cardan, Tasso, Swift, Newton, Rousseau, Lenau, Széchényi, Hoffmann, Foderà, Schopenhauer, Gogol Read by Leon Harvey 1:07:56
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PART 2. THE CAUSES OF GENIUS. CHAPTER I. METEROLOGICAL INFLUENCES OF GENIUS, The influence of weather on the insane, Sensitiveness of men of genius to barometrical conditions, Sensitiveness to thermometrical conditions. Read by Leon Harvey 35:02
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CHAPTER II. CLIMATIC INFLUENCES ON GENIUS. Influence of great centres, Race and hot climate, The distribution of great masters, Orographic influences, Influence of healthy race, Parallelism of high stature and genius, Explanations. Read by Leon Harvey 35:37
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CHAPTER III. THE INFLUENCE OF RACE AND HEREDITARY ON GENIUS AND INSANITY. Race, Insanity, The influence of sex, The heredity of genius, Criminal and insane parentage and descent of genius, Age of parents, Conception. Read by Leon Harvey 36:44
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CHAPTER IV. THE INFLUENCE OF DISEASE ON GENIUS. Spinal diseases, Fevers, Injuries to the head and their relation to genius. Read by Leon Harvey 3:52
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CHAPTER V. THE INFLUENCE OF CIVILIZATION AND OF OPPORTUNITY. Large Towns Large Schools, Accidents, Misery, Power, Education. Read by Leon Harvey 16:49
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PART 3. GENIUS IN THE INSANE. CHAPTER I. INSANE GENIUS IN LITERATURE. Periodicals published in lunatic asylums, Synthesis, Passion, Atavism, Conclusion. Read by Leon Harvey 35:12
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CHAPTER II. ART IN THE INSANE. Geographical distribution, Profession, Influence of the special form of alienation, Originality, Eccentricity, Symbolism, Obscenity, Criminality and moral insanity, Uselessness, Insanity as a subject, Absurdity, Uniformity, Summary, Music among the insane. Read by Leon Harvey 52:32
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CHAPTER III. LITERARY AND ARTISTIC MATTOIDS. Definition, Physical and psychical characteristics, Their literary activity, Examples, Lawsuit mania, Mattoids of genius, Bosisio, The décadent poets, Verlaine, Mattoids in art. Read by Leon Harvey 1:07:23
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CHAPTER IV. Part 1. POLITICAL AND RELIGIOS LUNATICS AND MATTOIDS. Part played by the insane in the progressive movements of humanity, Examples, Probable causes, Religious epidemics of the Middle Ages. Read by Leon Harvey 33:16
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CHAPTER IV. Part 2. POLITICAL AND RELIGIOS LUNATICS AND MATTOIDS. Francis of Assisi, Luther, Savonarola, Cola da Rienzi. Read by Leon Harvey 1:06:01
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CHAPTER IV. Part 3. POLITICAL AND RELIGIOS LUNATICS AND MATTOIDS. San Juan de Dios, Campanella, Prosper Enfantin, Lazzaretti, Passanante, Guiteau, South Americans. Read by Leon Harvey 44:59
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PART IV. SYNTHESIS. THE DEGENERATIVE PSYCHOSIS OF GENIUS. CHAPTER I. Characteristics of Insane Men of Genius, Characterlessness, Vanity, Precocity, Alcoholism, Vagabondage, Versatility, Originality, Style, Religious doubts, Sexual abnormalities, Egoism, Eccentricity, Inspiration. Read by Leon Harvey 29:59
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CHAPTER II. ANALOGY OF SANE TO INSANE GENIUS. Want of character, Pride, Precocity, Alcoholism, Degenerative signs, Obsession, Men of genius in revolutions. Read by Leon Harvey 10:22
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CHAPTER III. THE EPILEPTOID NATURE OF GENIUS. Etiology, Symptoms, Confessions of men of genius, The life of a great epileptic, Napoleon, Saint Paul, The saints, Philanthropic hysteria. Read by Leon Harvey 32:02
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CHAPTER IV. SANE MEN OF GENIUS. Their unperceived defects, Richelieu, Sesostris, Foscolo, Michelangelo, Darwin. Read by Leon Harvey 10:55
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CHAPTER V. Conclusions Read by Leon Harvey 6:20
From LibriVox, read by volunteers and in the public domain. LibriVox page (opens librivox.org) , the text (opens gutenberg.org) , all files on the Internet Archive (opens archive.org) .
