Polymathic Aspirations: A Collection

Have you ever been curious to learn more about the type of thinking that led to the Renaissance in both the Middle East and Europe? Welcome to the world of Polymaths. You might have heard of them as a Jack of all trades and master of none; however, there’s an important addition that’s missed. They’re most often better than a master of just one trade.

“Jack of all trades and master of none, but most often better than a master of one.”

For years, I struggled because I wasn’t an expert in a specific field. Instead, I was a generalist, and I excelled in areas most people failed at. At work, I could be tossed onto any project in any discipline or domain and make it better. Yet even then, people would still challenge me because I didn’t have a credential, certification, or some other specific marker of expertise.  It wasn’t until I read this book that I had a name for how my brain worked: Polymath. It should come as no surprise that this was the book that kicked off my entire adventure.

Polymathy is a way of thinking about the world differently and holistically. Instead of diving deeper into a specialization, it’s a mindset that steps back and takes multiple domains and disciplines into consideration. It’s an aspiration not an endstate that three crucial elements:

• Insatiable Curiosity
• Humility
• Intentional Reframing

So why these three books? Because they were the foundational texts that introduced me to these concepts and helped me develop this mindset. What is fun is that only one of them is really about polymaths. The other two add richness and texture to the idea without even knowing they’re harnessing an ancient superpower in polymathic thinking. (It took this aspiring polymath to pull these threads together)

• The Polymath: Unlocking the Power of Human Versatility by Waqas Ahmed is the foundation that introduced me to the idea of Polymathy. He explores history and uncovers the power of applying Polymathic thinking across a broad range of domains.
• Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein challenges the conventional wisdom that early specialization leads to success. Instead, Epstein shows that generalists—those who explore a broad array of skills and knowledge—are more adaptable and innovative in complex, unpredictable environments.
• Where Good Ideas Come From by Steven Johnson uncovers the patterns and environmental factors that foster innovation and creative breakthroughs. Johnson emphasizes the importance of collaborative networks, diverse perspectives, and serendipitous discoveries in sparking new ideas.

• If you’re curious to learn more on how to apply the ideas from this book, check out these great and practical essays on the popular Polymathic Being Substack
  • Polymathic Aspirations
  • Brain Stretch
  • The Genius Myth
  • Embrace the Divergents
  • Rethink the Wisdom of Crowds
  • The Bane of Specialization – Defense of the Polymath
  • Who Are You to ___?
  • Brain Stretch
  • Polymaths Unite!
  • AI-Enabled Polymath