Thank God for that. I've published two books I'm pleased with, and have a third on the way, but at 69 I still don't feel I've written my masterpiece. And my first book, a collection of stories, was published when I was well over 50.
"I am, somehow, less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein's brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops". Stephen Jay Gould, The Panda's Thumb
People are living longer, that has changed everything. If you lived in an era where the average life expectancy was in the early 40s of course there was a sense of urgency about acquiring the knowledge and the life experience necessary to exercise genius. I think over time we will see more and more people reach their creative peak later in life, particularly as they free themselves from the time constraints and other pressures that burden the young. Hopefully then some of the inbuilt biases towards youth in creative and other fields will progressively evaporate.
I agree with the point about the burden of accumulated knowledge. So the age of achievement measured by new research would have shifted as compared to early 20th century. The canon which a PhD student is supposed to be well versed with, has increased as compared to that age. Oh I think there is a canon. Further, a few people get their calling to mathematical research, a little late. So, there is also the notion of mathematical age. I propose a relook at the age criterion for awarding the Field medal. There are plenty other awards though such Abel prize which does not have that criteria. In fact with age and experience, the quality of research productivity increases. The genius flame shines bright, i reckon.
Well, I guess I am way past the flame of genius since I am twice plus the age of 30. Sigh, I can still dream that the prize is still out there for me..
I'm interested in those maths/science stats especially based on Nobel prize winning work. I wonder if any gender bias was accounted for? It would seem that as the overwhelming amount of work was attributed to ( not necessarily done by) men all we can say is that male brains peak young.
May I suggest that thinking that any of these papers say anything true about human brain development is so wide of the mark as to be worthy only of the water disposal unit!
Many are held back by the generic maths courses early on in the universities unlike some research track undergraduate programs in America, and german and french mathematics programs which prepare you well for contemporary research.
Thank God for that. I've published two books I'm pleased with, and have a third on the way, but at 69 I still don't feel I've written my masterpiece. And my first book, a collection of stories, was published when I was well over 50.
good! go go go!
Oh, I am. Thanks. Penelope Fitzgerald's books were all published after she was 60, you know.
I sure do https://www.commonreader.co.uk/p/how-penelope-fitzgerald-became-a?utm_source=publication-search
Thanks, I'll read it tomorrow. I'm a fan too.
Fabulous refutation Henry
"A million million spermatozoa,
All of them alive:
Out of their cataclysm but one poor Noah
Dare hope to survive.
And among that billion minus one
Might have chanced to be
Shakespeare, another Newton, a new
Donne —
But the One was Me.
Shame to have ousted your betters thus,
Taking ark while the others remained
outside!
Better for all of us, froward Homunculus,
If you’d quietly died!"
— Aldous Huxley, Leda: Fifth Philosopher's Song, 1920
------
"I am, somehow, less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein's brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops". Stephen Jay Gould, The Panda's Thumb
Great piece, thanks for writing
People are living longer, that has changed everything. If you lived in an era where the average life expectancy was in the early 40s of course there was a sense of urgency about acquiring the knowledge and the life experience necessary to exercise genius. I think over time we will see more and more people reach their creative peak later in life, particularly as they free themselves from the time constraints and other pressures that burden the young. Hopefully then some of the inbuilt biases towards youth in creative and other fields will progressively evaporate.
I agree with the point about the burden of accumulated knowledge. So the age of achievement measured by new research would have shifted as compared to early 20th century. The canon which a PhD student is supposed to be well versed with, has increased as compared to that age. Oh I think there is a canon. Further, a few people get their calling to mathematical research, a little late. So, there is also the notion of mathematical age. I propose a relook at the age criterion for awarding the Field medal. There are plenty other awards though such Abel prize which does not have that criteria. In fact with age and experience, the quality of research productivity increases. The genius flame shines bright, i reckon.
DANTE WAS IN HIS FORTIES. FUCK OFF JAMES MARRIOT.
A few examples that come to mind:
Galway Kinnell in his 50s and 60s
Beethoven in his 50s (can only guess where his sixties would have taken him)
Louise Bourgeois in her 90s
David Hockney in his 70s
a few more https://www.commonreader.co.uk/p/fifty-late-bloomers
Well, I guess I am way past the flame of genius since I am twice plus the age of 30. Sigh, I can still dream that the prize is still out there for me..
There's hope for me yet.
I'm interested in those maths/science stats especially based on Nobel prize winning work. I wonder if any gender bias was accounted for? It would seem that as the overwhelming amount of work was attributed to ( not necessarily done by) men all we can say is that male brains peak young.
May I suggest that thinking that any of these papers say anything true about human brain development is so wide of the mark as to be worthy only of the water disposal unit!
Phew!
It's amazing just how persistent that myth of the Young Poet is - especially given how devoted the Romantics were to geriatric old Shakespeare.
Worth noting that all of Leonardo's notebooks begin beyond the age of 30.
Many are held back by the generic maths courses early on in the universities unlike some research track undergraduate programs in America, and german and french mathematics programs which prepare you well for contemporary research.