We live in a world that does more than disparage smartness, one that actually silences smart people. We are slogging through life in an anti-intellectual culture.

We do the work, day after day, that fails to make use of our brainpower. We get trapped in a narrow corner of a field or discipline where we are forced to do repetitive work for a lifetime. And most especially, dealing with a racing brain that inclines itself toward insomnia, manias, obsessions, compulsions, and addictions.

This is what most smart people face. Eric also delves into, and considers important the challenges that high-ability children face due to their native intelligence being disregarded or even held as a negative. He discusses how they often grow up sad, act out, or sabotage themselves, and they will most likely develop one mental disorder or another.

In this book, Eric outlines 15 other specific challenges that society throws up against smartness and creativity, all of which are relatable. It attempts to answer important questions smart people ask that can help them create their own roadmap to a calm and meaningful life, such as:

How can I deal with hypersensitivity and boredom?

How do I find ideas worth loving?

Have I struggled to achieve success?

How will I find meaning in life and work?

Dr. Maisel finally gets around to suggesting approaches to the frustrating situations he outlines.

First, we can be miserable about them and deem them unacceptable.

Second, we can decide what constitutes a meaningful job then find steps to manifest it.

Third, decide to let go of the worry for the day.