{"product_id":"9780688168940","title":"Strange Brains and Genius: The Secret Lives of Eccentric Scientists and Madmen","description":"\u003cp\u003eNever has the term \u003cb\u003emad scientist\u003c\/b\u003e been more fascinatingly explored than in internationally recognized popular science author Clifford Pickover's richly researched wild ride through the bizarre lives of eccentric geniuses. A few highlights:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"The Pigeon Man from Manhattan\"\u003c\/b\u003e Legendary inventor Nikola Tesla had abnormally long thumbs, a peculiar love of pigeons, and a horror of women's pearls.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"The Worm Man from Devonshire\"\u003c\/b\u003e Forefather of modern electric-circuit design Oliver Heaviside furnished his home with granite blocks and sometimes consumed only milk for days (as did Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"The Rabbit-Eater from Lichfield\"\u003c\/b\u003e Renowned scholar Samuel Johnson had so many tics and quirks that some mistook him for an idiot. In fact, his behavior matches modern definitions of obsessive-compulsive disorder and Tourette's syndrome.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePickover also addresses many provocative topics: the link between genius and madness, the role the brain plays in alien abduction and religious experiences, UFOs, cryonics — even the whereabouts of Einstein's brain!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins Publishers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47046176440560,"sku":"9780688168940","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780688168940_p0.jpg?v=1763608282","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780688168940","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}