Genius does not thrive in poverty or an unhappy childhood, if John
Simmons’s ranking of The 100 Most Influential Scientists is anything to go by.
The vast majority were or are white males of European origin, brought up in
loving families which were comfortably off and took great interest in their
offspring’s intellectual development. Published for the first time in Britain in
paperback by Robinson, £8.99, ISBN 1854879898.
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