#21 Greatness takes root in trauma
On the origins of greatness, success, and tortured youths.
Every now and again, I do this exercise where I review what I’ve googled in a period of time. The results are always slightly embarrassing, as they reveal just how deflated my self-confidence is and how my insecurity takes over. I guess, they’re right when they say Google is our greatest confidant.
Lately, I’ve noticed this pattern around success and my perpetual anxiety when it comes to it – I’m a proper Gen Z, after all, eh? It’s difficult not to be affected though, when everything is about success nowadays: books, podcasts, articles about people who “have made it,” and how to become like them. So, what do these people have in common?
Matthew Parris, journalist and BBC Radio 4 presenter, argues in his latest book, “Fracture: Trauma, Success and the Origins of Greatness,” that individuals who achieved extraordinary greatness (genius-level type of greatness) have their success rooted in childhood trauma. Parris goes on to examine a wide range of famous people in his mini-biographies to make his argument that trauma – regardless of the level or category it was experienced – draws on subsequent success.
Take, for instance, Carl Jung who might have become interested in psychology as a result of his mum going mad. Or Ada Lovelace, the English mathematician and poet, who suffered from family breakdown when her parents divorced (she’s Lord Byron’s estranged daughter), and who was paralysed at the age of 13. On the same note, affliction might have been what propelled Frida Kahlo, the Mexican painter, to express herself unflinchingly through art. Originally intending to become a doctor, Kahlo had to give up pursuing this profession after a bus accident crushed her right foot. She underwent over 30 surgeries, and eventually, had her leg amputated.
Napoleon Bonaparte was bullied by students and teachers during his six years at a military school for being a Corsican outsider. Similarly, after being abandoned by his parents in Southsea, Rudyard Kipling was once made to parade through the streets wearing a placard with the word “Liar” on it for not getting good results at school. Childhood isolation is a recurring theme for Coco Chanel and Charlie Chaplin, too. Chanel was abandoned by her father in a freezing-cold church orphanage, and was raised in a brothel, whilst Chaplin spent much of his childhood in a south London workhouse.
I learned a great deal from Parris’s book, but it has also made me reflect on a couple of aspects. Of course, not all children or young adults need to experience “fracture” in order to become successful or go on to extraordinary achievements. In fact, Parris doesn’t do much to prove his point either; he’s just spotting this common element in the lives of some brilliant minds, yet without providing much depth. However, it begs the question: No one goes through life without experiencing a certain amount of emotional/physical pain or suffering. Then, why aren’t we all successful?
The answer might come from this article in the New Yorker where journalist Maria Konnikova analyses what sets “resilient” children apart by looking at the work of a developmental psychologist named Emmy Werner. It turns out it has to do with independence and “meeting the world on their own terms.” These children are not particularly gifted, Werner notes, but the drive and diligence come from an “internal locus of control.” In other words, they believed that they, and not their circumstances, affected their achievements.
Perhaps what Parris has tried to explain in his book could be summarised by author Elizabeth Gilbert:
“What do you love doing so much that the words failure and success essentially become irrelevant?”
I am far from having achieved “greatness” or “success,” whatever you decide this means. But what I know is that I have, so far, been confronted with difficult situations that have oftentimes brought me to a level of sheer desperation. In those moments, the only thing that keeps me going is asking myself this question: Do I succumb or do I thrive?
Perhaps you need to be that desperate and have no other alternative but to see it: there’s no point in going lower when you can go higher.
Hope you enjoyed this week’s intro, but don’t go yet! The best is yet to come: news on Ellie Goulding, Paul McCartney, Naomi Osaka, and more.
Thanks for being here and see you next week!
Happy reading, happy learning,
Teodora x
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🥁 📚 The latest in the literary world
A Scottish artist named Katie Paterson came up with the idea to plant 1,000 trees to provide paper for a library of new books in 100 years.🌳 📃 Since 2014, a new text has been written every year in order to publish 100 manuscripts in 2114. This is the Future Library. 👽 Margaret Atwood was the first author to join in 2015. David Mitchell, Han Kang, and Elif Shafak followed Atwood and chose to lock away new writing until 2114. This week, Tsitsi Dangarembga, best known for her Booker-shortlisted novel, “This Mournable Body,” was announced as the latest Future Library author. 👏 What a fantastic initiative, but how sad to know I won’t stick around to get a chance and read those manuscripts! 😩
“You’ve seen my smile. Now hear my voice”: Everyone has heard of Mona Lisa, or La Gioconda, but how much do you actually know of the Florentine woman behind Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece? 🖼️ Probably not so much. This will change soon because the “House of Gold” author, Natasha Solomons, will tell us Mona Lisa’s story in her new historical novel, out in February 2022. Take a look at this gorgeous cover and don’t despair! 😻 Pre-order your copy today, even if you don’t get to read it until 2025! *deep sigh, glancing at my current TBR pile* At least it will look pretty in your bookcase! 🥺
Another book that is definitely on my radar is “The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice” by Shon Faye, on shelf next week! 🙌 Faye will uncover the reality of what it means to be trans in a transphobic society. Although it seems to be mainly focused on the UK, this is a relevant read for everyone seeking to understand how to change the conversation around trans people and achieve “trans liberation” – the term Faye chooses to use, as told in this interview for Huckmag. If I made you curious, here’s an edited extract published in the Guardian. 🏳️⚧️
Unpopular opinion: I didn’t fall for the hype around Candice Carty-Williams’ “Queenie,” despite being crowned “Book of the Year” at the 2020 British Book Awards. 👑 (In case you’re interested: my short, razor-sharp book review). Now, Carty-Williams has been commissioned to write and create a drama series based on Queenie, which will be produced by Further South Productions in association with Lionsgate Television for Channel 4. Good for her, I guess, and for me, so I have something to disagree with! 🤷♀️
You didn’t think you’d make it till the end of the literary section without news on a celebrity writing a memoir or a self-help book, did you? Of course not! I wouldn’t let you down, especially not when Ellie Goulding is on a mission “to help you become the brightest, strongest version of yourself”! 🙄 Maybe the pop star – or the new “fitness icon” – should help herself first and learn the difference between “effect” and “affect” before posting on Twitter. 🙄 Her editor must have been really patient. A lesson in disguise from the “Fitter. Calmer. Stronger” author? If you choose to give Goulding the benefit of the doubt, pay (up to) £35 and join her on a virtual book promotion event to get a “holistic approach” on how to be your best. (🙄!)
BONUS: The British Library will host a free display of Paul McCartney’s forthcoming book “The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present” from November, 5 this year until March 2022! The book will feature 154 (!) songs – the list can be found here. What an absolute legend! 🤩 👏
🎧 📰 👀 My media diet this week
Whoever needs to hear this: creativity is not “nice to have.” Creativity is vital and it is the way to heal each other. Don’t take it from me, but listen to (or rather watch) actor Ethan Hawke reflecting on why it’s important to give yourself permission to be creative. Why watch this? We all need a pep talk from time to time. This is under 10 minutes and might actually lighten up your mood. 💫
I don’t watch too much Netflix (or I try not to, anyway!) but since I came across the French series “Dix Pour Cent,” also known as “Call My Agent!,” I’m counting the days until the release of the fifth season! In the meantime, this Net-A-Porter interview with Camille Cottin (aka Andréa Martel) is pure bliss. 🤩 Why read it? Find out about Cottin’s upcoming acting plans, working with Lady Gaga, and her life before the global hit series. And since we’re here, Netflix India has just revealed its trailer for “Call My Agent: Bollywood.” Don’t worry, the British adaptation is on the way, currently under production for Amazone Prime! 🎬 🎞️
All you need in your life is a cup of tea and Esther Perel’s voice and you’re pretty much sorted. But if you’re like me and have already listened to her podcasts (yes, plural!), try this interview for GQ. Why read it? The Belgian psychotherapist delves into “enforced presentism,” the proliferation of the term “trauma,” and why we need to retire the idea of the soulmate.💡
The podcast of the week goes to Jimmy’s Jobs of the Future and his guest, Alex Stephany. 🙌 Why listen to it? Stephany is the founder of Beam, a social enterprise that uses tech to modernise employment services for the most disadvantaged people in the UK whilst saving taxpayers millions of pounds. In other words, Beam gives homeless people “careers, homes, and true independence”. This podcast episode will give you an insight into how Beam works, and how the UK job market has changed as a result of the pandemic, among other things. 💰
📌 Random news in brief
Naomi Osaka has collaborated with Levi’s to create a limited four-piece collection using vintage upcycled denim. The items include a denim kimono, bustier, and two types of shorts. All fairly sexy, it must be said. 👀 🤭 👖
May I interest you in some “scrotum frogs”? 🐸 These frogs are officially called Lake Titicaca frogs, but were given their unfortunate nickname due to their saggy folds of excess skin. 😳 What’s more, these frogs are in demand locally to be eaten in smoothies believed to give people more energy. Riiight. 🙈
Sea snakes that have long been known to “attack” human divers are probably just on the prowl for sex, according to scientists. 🐍 💕If you find yourself in this situation, allow the snake to “investigate” you “with its tongue.” Very reassuring, indeed. 🤔
I’m all for side hustles and creativity, but this has reached a new level: a woman has made more than $25,000 selling her farts. 💨 Oh, dear… 😳
I think greatness and success are such subjective terms. People tend to get fixated on this idea of greatness because we love to be important and we all want praise and to leave a mark on this world, so that when we die, it won't have all been for nothing. I myself really craved that for a long time, but now I see it was a sign of misery. I wanted happiness so much, and I thought happiness would come with fame and money and being loved by masses. When I got my mental state under check, my priorities changed drastically. Happiness doesn't come from outside sources.
And trauma... Well, I suppose the reasons why people achieve greatness after experiencing trauma are few, one being that trauma is so common, another - we are fighters. But I don't think it's a big factor. If it was, every person with trauma would have to achieve something amazing, and vice versa, every person who achieved something great would have to have childhood trauma. I think it's all a big game of chance and coincidence. Just as you said, this reporter just picked certain people to base his theory on. Even then, he picked Karl Jung, who was a psychologist. The fact we still know his name and work doesn't mean he himself in his life felt successful, just like Van Gogh was a failing painter who went mad. Success in these people is completely different than the success of Steve Jobs, for example. And his is much different than the success of Gutenberg, who made one of the most incredible and important inventions in the world but ended up indebted and working for his investors because he was so bad with money. What, then, is this success, this greatness? Who decides it?
I'm rambling. The point is, maybe let's not romanticise trauma more than it already is.