J.K. Rowling: a Living Genius

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J.K. Rowling

Posted by: Sue

October 29, 2007, 11:41 AM

There is another list out today and one that would make Ravenclaw proud: a list of the 100 top “Living Geniuses.” Included on this list is our favorite author, J.K. Rowling who came in at number 83. The number one spot was actually shared by two men, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, who is credited with creating the world wide web, and Albert Hoffmann, the Swiss scientist who created the drug LSD. The Telegraph reports third place went to “George Soros, the American financier and philanthropist, Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons and Nelson Mandela, the former South African president.”

Creators Synectics, a global consultants firm, chose their geniuses by awarding scores out of 10 to each entrant against a number of factors: paradigm shifting; popular acclaim; intellectual power; achievement and cultural importance. The firm emailed 4,000 Britons this summer and asked them to nominate up to 10 living people who they considered geniuses.
They received back 1,100 nominations for individuals in all walks of life, more than 60 per cent of whom were either American or English. Only 60 per cent were still alive.

The panel was then charged with ranking the list in order of genius and to present a resulting shortlist of 100, who were then scored against the five factors.

Others of note on this list include playwright Harold Pinter (#31), the musician Prince (#32), singer Stevie Wonder tied with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and actress Meryl Streep (#49), writer Stephen King (#58) tied with iconic rocker Paul McCartney of the Beatles , and legendary composer John Williams who wrote the scores to the first three Harry Potter films among many others is ranked at # 72.

Thanks to all who emailed!

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47 Comments

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Jo tied with the designer of the Kalashnikov, I’m not sure how to take that.

Posted by CrashT on October 29, 2007, 12:02 PM report to moderator

shes a real looker in that photo

Posted by djm19 on October 29, 2007, 12:15 PM report to moderator

This list seems to be extremely spurios to me – what qualilifaction do members of the public have to decide what constitutes genius!! Prince beat JK?!

Posted by Ignatius on October 29, 2007, 12:17 PM report to moderator

I thought it was interesting but that the list seemed to just be thrown together… there are a lot more acclaimed actresses then meryl streep. I dont really get the qualifications for the list becuase just someone has a big fan base doesn’t mean they’re a genius.

-HPfreak

Posted by HPfreak on October 29, 2007, 12:31 PM report to moderator

I don’t believe anything that would put Rupert Murdoch above Jo Rowling.

Posted by Tabula Rasa on October 29, 2007, 12:39 PM report to moderator

Yay! She is a genius!

However does anyone else find this: 43= Osama Bin Laden (Saudi) Islamicist

Slightly odd?

Posted by SilentlySpellbound on October 29, 2007, 01:16 PM report to moderator

no. bin laden is a genius which is why we haven’t found him yet.

Posted by bir on October 29, 2007, 01:22 PM report to moderator

There are wayyyyy too many iffy names on that list. This isn’t credible.

Posted by Hirret on October 29, 2007, 01:23 PM report to moderator

I think that Jo deserves better place, why not the first???

Posted by g_milev on October 29, 2007, 01:45 PM report to moderator

er… the creator of LSD?! weird.

Posted by jake on October 29, 2007, 02:29 PM report to moderator

bir “no. bin laden is a genius which is why we haven’t found him yet.”

Ha ha.

Seriously, this list is weird. I try to find a consistency about it and what I think one qualification is long term success in whatever is it you do (including bin laden’s hideout!). I think everyone qualifies in that respct. JK just about qualifies since it has been 10 years but she still has to prove herself a bit more by writing other big sellers. I think 95% deserve t be on the list – the order in which they appear is much more debatable. But having Bin Laden on the list is I think ludicrous! Discredits the whole list really. But the entry does make me laugh!

Posted by Professor Potter on October 29, 2007, 02:43 PM report to moderator

LOL. I’ll bet, the reason for her “placement” is she has one of the most successful series, ever written. In this day and age, that’s saying something! “creator of LSD?????” What WERE they thinking! LOL

Posted by Confederate Lady on October 29, 2007, 03:07 PM report to moderator

LOL what an awful list. Though I suppose anything that recognizes Jo has a genius can’t be all bad.

Posted by Amy S on October 29, 2007, 03:20 PM report to moderator

That’s cool JK Rowling deserves it, she is a gifted and talented writer. Funny thing right now the person who lives above me is watching the first Harry Potter, so i am sitting here online and listening to it:plol. Does anyone know when Bonnie Wright starts filming for HBP?

Posted by emma and bonnie lover on October 29, 2007, 04:10 PM report to moderator

This list seems spurious indeed. The creator of LSD, bin Laden and George Soros? What on earth were their qualifications? Jo would be an obvious contender on a respectable list, I kind of wish she’d been left out of this wacky group.

Posted by LemonFaerie on October 29, 2007, 04:33 PM report to moderator

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