The Polymath
Delightful
Cerebral
Simple

The Polymath Unlocking the Power of Human Versatility

Waqas Ahmed2018
Every human is born with multifarious potential. Why, then, do parents, schools and employers insist that we restrict our many talents and interests; that we 'specialise' in just one? We've been sold a myth, that to 'specialise' is the only way to pursue truth, identity, or even a livelihood. Yet specialisation is nothing but an outdated system that fosters ignorance, exploitation and disillusionment and thwarts creativity, opportunity and progress. Following a series of exchanges with the world’s greatest historians, futurists, philosophers and scientists, Waqas Ahmed has weaved together a narrative of history and a vision for the future that seeks to disrupt this prevailing system of unwarranted ‘hyper-specialisation.’ In The Polymath, Waqas shows us that there is another way of thinking and being. Through an approach that is both philosophical and practical, he sets out a cognitive journey towards reclaiming your innate polymathic state. Going further, he proposes nothing less than a cultural revolution in our education and professional structures, whereby everyone is encouraged to express themselves in multiple ways and fulfil their many-sided potential. Not only does this enhance individual fulfilment, but in doing so, facilitates a conscious and creative society that is both highly motivated and well equipped to address the complexity of 21st century challenges.
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Reviews

Photo of Safiya
Safiya @safiya-epub
3.5 stars
Feb 10, 2022

I was always interested in learning more about polymathy on different levels: history, neuroscience, society, education etc ... I found a part of what I was looking for in this book for sure, but it remained at surface level for all that was mentioned. It is still worth your time it groups a good deal of information about the topic, and the author had generously provided readers with references and detailed accounts on the life of a number of polymaths. He also included an outline of what a university curriculum should look like to help foster polymathy. (I kept a copy for future reference) Worth mentioning that this book is also a call to action and the author has provided a framework that could help practice your polymathy although by the end of the book it sounded more like pluri-disciplinarity and hoarding degrees - and that's not polymathy, a point that Waqas had explained earlier... My overall impression was that yes it was a good book, but man did it feel like a long blog? But it's on me I'm used to reading books with impeccable storytelling (non-fic ofc)! It did kick off nicely though! And of course I'd still recommend it! And thanks, I'm now putting a name on what I was doing for the last 10 years: building my career portfolio!

+3
Photo of Pranav Mutatkar
Pranav Mutatkar@pranavmutatkar
3 stars
Dec 30, 2021