Gifted Lives: What Happens When Gifted Children Grow Up

The book "Gifted Lives" by Joan Freeman explores the lives of twenty gifted individuals in Britain as they grew from childhood to adulthood. The author, a psychologist, shares their stories and investigates why some of them achieved success while others faced challenges and setbacks. These gifted individuals possess a range of intellectual, social, and emotional gifts in fields such as mathematics, the arts, music, and spirituality. The book also delves into the emotional challenges they faced, such as overbearing parents, bullying, and conflicting life choices. The author raises thought-provoking questions about the impact of factors such as ethnicity and mental health on the lives of gifted individuals. Overall, the book offers insights into the complexities of giftedness and the role of personal outlook and hard work in achieving success.

This book reveals the dramatic stories of twenty outstandingly gifted people as they grew from early promise to maturity in Britain. Recorded over the lastthirty-five years by award-winning psychologist, Joan Freeman, these fascinating accounts reveal the frustrations and triumphs of herparticipants, 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 Freemans 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 peoples lives, and perhaps learn something about themselves too.