{"product_id":"strange-brains-and-genius-the-secret-lives-of-eccentric-scientists-and-madmen-9780688168940","title":"Strange Brains and Genius: The Secret Lives of Eccentric Scientists and Madmen","description":"Never has the term \u003cem\u003emad scientist\u003c\/em\u003e been more fascinatingly explored than in internationally recognized popular science author Clifford Pickover's richly researched wild ride through the bizarre lives of eccentric geniuses. A few highlights: \u003cstrong\u003e\"The Pigeon Man from Manhattan\"\u003c\/strong\u003e Legendary inventor Nikola Tesla had abnormally long thumbs, a peculiar love of pigeons, and a horror of women's pearls.\u003cstrong\u003e\"The Worm Man from Devonshire\"\u003c\/strong\u003e Forefather of modern electric-circuit design Oliver Heaviside furnished his home with granite blocks and sometimes consumed only milk for days (as did Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison).\u003cstrong\u003e\"The Rabbit-Eater from Lichfield\"\u003c\/strong\u003e Renowned scholar Samuel Johnson had so many tics and quirks that some mistook him for an idiot. In fact, his behavior matches modern definitions of obsessive-compulsive disorder and Tourette's syndrome.Pickover also addresses many provocative topics: the link between genius and madness, the role the brain plays in alien abduction and religious experiences, UFOs, cryonics -- even the whereabouts of Einstein's brain!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePickover, Clifford A.:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003eClifford A. Pickover is the lead writer for the brain-boggler column in \u003cem\u003eDiscover\u003c\/em\u003e magazine and the author of numerous acclaimed science books. He has been featured on PBS, the Discovery Channel, and CNN. A research staff member at IBM's T.J. Watson Research Center, Dr. Pickover is a prolific inventor who holds numerous patents. He lives in Yorktown Heights, New York.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"William Morrow \u0026 Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51453522313490,"sku":"9780688168940","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_337f18c4-9835-405f-95f6-f2d97b8d8cca.jpg?v=1751972035","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/strange-brains-and-genius-the-secret-lives-of-eccentric-scientists-and-madmen-9780688168940","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}