Gifted Lives ─ What Happens When Gifted Children Grow Up?

This book reveals the dramatic stories of twenty outstandingly gifted people as they grew from early promise to maturity in Britain. Recorded over the last thirty-five years by award-winning psychologist, Joan Freeman, these fascinating accounts reveal the frustrations and triumphs of her participants, and investigates why some fell by the wayside whilst others reached fame and fortune.

These exceptional people possess a range of intellectual, social and emotional gifts in fields such as mathematics, the arts, music and spirituality. Through their particular abilities, they were often confronted with extra emotional challenges, such as over-anxious and pushy parents, teacher put-downs, social trip-wires, boredom and bullying in school and conflicting life choices. Their stories illustrate how seemingly innocuous events could have devastating life-long consequences, and confront the reader with intriguing questions such as: Does having a brilliant mind help when you are ethnically different or suffering serious depression? How does a world-class pianist cope when repetitive strain injury strikes, or a young financier when he hits his first million? What is the emotional impact of grade-skipping?

Joan Freeman’s insights into the twists and turns of these lives are fascinating and deeply moving. She shows us that while fate has a part to play, so does a personal outlook which can see and grab a fleeting chance, overcome great odds, and put in the necessary hard work to lift childhood prodigy to greatness. Readers will identify with many of the intriguing aspects of these people’s lives, and perhaps learn something about themselves too.

Professor Joan Freeman, PhD, is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society, which has also honoured her with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her work with the gifted and talented. She is Founding President of the European Council for High Ability. She has published 14 books, 2 government reports, many scholarly papers, and is invited to lecture around the world. She has a private psychology practice in London. (www.joanfreeman.com)

Introduction: Ideas of Gifts and Talents, and Description of Study. Part 1. So Many Gifts. 1. Maths Prodigy to Saint. 2. Spoilt For Choice. 3. Stark Odds. Part 2. A Dominant Gift. 4. Opera Star. 5. Two Davids and the Goliath of Art. 6. A Good Samaritan. 7. The Gift of Integrity. 8. Musical Chairs. Part 3. Challenges to Gifted Potential. 9. The Label of ‘Gifted’. 10. Barriers in The Mind. 11. A Gifted Gambler. 12. Gifted Women. Part 4. Beyond Gifts and Talents… 13. Genius. References.