How do we identify a brilliant mind? IQ? Achievement? Originality? This book tells the stories of 50 people whose brilliance, achievement and originality changed the way we live, or the way we think. It is often assumed that geniuses are a race apart, but in many ways they are ordinary people, facing the ordinary problems of everyday life. Some have to struggle to make a living. Some even have to overcome disadvantage, discrimination or disability in order to achieve. Their stories are an inspiration to the rest of us.