Setting free the intellectually gifted: Diary of an extra-terrestrial Earthling

by Abel Abelson

At forty years of age, Abel Abelson discovers that he is intellectually gifted. Suddenly his eternal “otherness” is no longer a flaw. It is being called an asset, a plus, a gift … But is it really? In the light of this discovery Abel revisits his past, unravels the present and reconstructs a future. Being intellectually gifted is just the tip of the iceberg. True meaning turns out to be hiding somewhere else, far beyond the “giftedness” concept. Open, direct and compelling - Abel’s diary speaks of love, failed over and over again, but finally won; of emancipation in a confused and confusing world; of emotions, profound and overwhelming; of ideas, old and new; of feeling different; of being lost, then found. Meet man, simian, human being, lover, hater, son, father, husband, hermit, child, adult, loser, finder. Above someone like you. Or not.

253 pages, Paperback

First published October 4, 2014

About the author

At forty years of age, Abel Abelson was tested and found intellectually gifted. In his works, he shares his views, emotions and experiences before, during and after this turning point in his life.

Reviews

[Stef Smulders · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honest and clearly written but too general and repetitive for my taste. On the last pages the author says he could have given many more examples of events in his life that determined or deformed his behavior. So why didn’t he? Rather than speaking in metaphors I would have preferred him to give concrete examples of those situations.

[Chrichrilecture · Rating 1 out of 5]

Le journal
Un journal au jour le jour sans grand intérêt qui n’apporte pas grand-chose aux lecteurs sur les surdoués, de plus l’auteur se lamente trop sur son sort. Je ne pensais pas qu’un surdoué pouvait faire autant de fautes de français et d’orthographes

[Donny George · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very honest, straightforward and person account of coming to terms with giftedness as an adult and coming to understand life in retrospect through that new lens.

I could very much relate and found his book really unique in that aspect. I have tried to read every book on giftedness available and there isn't one as personal as this one.

My only criticisms are that the line between personal biography and its relation to giftedness is often blurry, so some of it seems unnecessary. I feel like the book could have used some more editing. Also, though most of it feels true to my experience of giftedness, I still would have liked some more scientific research referenced as corroboration and additional information.

Personally, I always knew I was "gifted" throughout my life, but took it for granted and didn't really know what it meant and how it would affect my life, until I really started to research it in my 40's and realized the profound impact it has had on my development. More importantly, it's helped me informed how I will move forward with my life and this knowledge has improved my life already. If you're in a similar situation, you will appreciate this book, in knowing you are not alone.

Even those who can relate directly, might appreciate this book too, because knowing ourselves only has meaning in relation to knowing others.

[Ines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astonishing & heartbreaking.

This story, this life of 'otherness' resonates with and touches me profoundly.

Thank you, Abel, for describing so essentially the pain and self torture of the lie of the necessity of 'conformity'.

You are not alone.

[Mikhail S · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing accounting of just one man's life, but in the end I think one walks away feeling slightly less alone, slightly more able to make sense of their 'otherness', whether that be intellectual giftedness or other characteristics that don't coincide with convenient social judgements. The way Abel is able to recount the long-lasting impacts of childhood experiences, coming to understand love, climate anxiety, and facing the ultimate question of being human (suicide), it is all retold in a non-linear fashion that ties everything together to imagine what life can be, life as more than preserving what already has been. This feels especially personal in that I have been thinking about writing something resembling this format for a long time. Of course that would lean much more into the future and not my relatively few lived experiences, but the ways in which we understand our lives as various stories is what makes them meaningful and worth living, more than mere bundles of experience.

[Liam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, the book had some interesting sections and anecdontes. Speaking in metaphors, this diary shows his life but I think this book was outlet for his anger towards his parents. If I had to guess over 50% of this book is complaining about his parents, which got boring fast. While this book helped me vehemently feel the emotions of someone who was abused in adolesence and then broke from his parents in adulthood, it was simply too repetitive for my taste. Other sections like how he handled tough times and his neurological theories about intellectually gifted people, I found interesting.

[Hypatia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part explanation of what gifted people experience psychologically, part personal spiritual biography, it's an interesting but uneven book that couldn't seem to find a way to end.

[Fox · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was very honest, but it was too negative for me.