While certain tasks or assignments may come easier for gifted students, it does not mean that they do not struggle or have setbacks. In many cases, due to the very high expectations gifted students set for themselves, they can face even greater challenges than other students. It is also a misconception that gifted students have a clear path set out for their future from a young age. Thus, it is important for these advanced learners to be able to read accounts of the challenges (academically and personally), inspirations and ultimately, triumphs of some the worlds鈥� most influential people.

Here鈥檚 a list of inspiring books about individuals who have made contributions in the areas of science, technology, literature and music:

Bill Gates is the co-founder of the Microsoft Corporation and philanthropist.

Book: Who is Bill Gates? (2013)听 by Patricia Brennan Demulth (author) and Ted Hammond (illustrator) details how a persistent and gifted young boy from Seattle became one of the leading entrepreneurs of the personal computer revolution. For younger readers.

Joshua Bell is an acclaimed violinist who made his听听debut at age 17 with the听. He has since performed with many of the world’s major orchestras and conductors and has recorded more than 30 classical albums.

Book: The Dance of the Violin (2017) by听听(author) and 听(illustrator) tells the story of a young Joshua Bell who challenges himself to play a difficult听 piece of music at an international competition. During the performance he makes a mistake, but garners the courage to start again and put forth his best effort.听 For younger readers.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez was a Columbian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist affectionately known as Gabo or Gabito. He won the Nobel Prize winner for Literature in 1982 and is considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century.

Book: My Name is Gabito (2007) by Monica Brown (author) and Raul Colon (illustrator) beautifully chronicles Gabriel Garcia Marquez鈥檚 life from his childhood in Columbia to his later years as a celebrated author.听 For younger readers.

Sally Ride Ph.D was an American听physicist听and听astronaut. In 1983 she became the first U.S. woman to go into space.

Book: Sally Ride: America鈥檚 First Woman in Space (2014) by听听recounts the story of the woman who broke gender barriers at NASA and went on to found Sally Ride Science, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting STEM literacy for young people. For teens and above (LGBT issues discussed).

Jane Goodall is a primatologist and听anthropologist. Considered to be the world’s foremost expert on听chimpanzees, she is best known for her over 55-year study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees in Tanzania.

Book: Jane Goodall: The Woman Who Redefined Man (2008) by Dale Peterson details the triumphs and setbacks of Goodall鈥檚 life, including the private quest that led to her now-famous activism. For teens and above.

Carl Sagan Ph.D was an astronomer, writer, and creator of the television series, Cosmos that helped popularize science.

Book: Carl Sagan: A Life in the Cosmos (1999) by William Poundstone recounts the life of a gifted young man whose interest in the stars and life on other planets propelled him to become science’s first authentic media superstar, making science accessible to the general public. For teens and above.

You can find more inspiring role models in the book, , Maurice E. Fisher Ph.D & Eugenia M. Fisher, Ed.D, Editors and Michael E. Walters, Ed.D & Harry T. Roman, M.S., Senior Writers.

Tell us who inspires you by sending your own book recommendations!

Like this post?听听to receive more stories, information, and resources about gifted youth straight to your inbox.

听鈥淭he art and science behind questions is the source of all knowledge鈥� –Thomas Berger, novelist

On occasion, I remember to ask my husband questions like, “If you had to write a book, would you write a science fiction novel or historical drama?” Such a question invariably leads to a series of other questions, which then leads to a rabbit hole of sorts in which I discover answers to questions that I had no idea I wanted to ask.

And so begins a blog about questions.

We know from experience that questions can make us squirm, laugh, cry and dance. Questions can make us ask, “What’s the difference?” or “Why are you asking?”. We know that questions rarely result in a complete lack of new information, as even a silent reply is telling. But what is the difference between questions that truly engage and questions that shut things down?

For young inquisitive minds, the right question can ignite imagination, inspire surprising solutions, and validate multi-faceted perspectives that strengthen their purpose and place in the world. No matter where they are or who they are in conversation with, the right question can be the sorcerer for a special kind of magic.

For the gifted learner who is exploring truly challenging curriculum, posing what are known as closed questions can be likened to offering a friend who is thirsty a tall 32 ounce glass of salt. Although these closed (or “skinny”) questions can be utilized for a number of valid purposes, they can’t provide a direct pathway to reflection and discovery. Furthermore, a听 key difference between closed and open questions is that, short of providing what would be considered an incorrect answer, closed questions offer little to no opportunity for a variety of responses. Therefore, regardless of sophistication of topic or theme, closed questions leave no room for the wellspring of one鈥檚 being: expression of self.

As an early career teacher, I thought that anything I asked introduced by a what, how, or why qualified as an open question. If I didn’t get a Yes/No answer, I thought I was doing alright. However, I came to find out (think about that expression for a second) that both open and closed questions can have similar interrogative constructions. It is only by considering a question鈥檚 versatility as a tool for empowered learning that a student can explore possibilities beyond what is expected and known. Therein lies the art and science of questioning.

Below are examples of open-ended questions taken from an article that I like called , by Glenda Pearce. In it she delves into the why and what-for of investigative strategies, and explores six categories of Socratic questioning as conceived of by fellow author Dr. Richard Paul:

Questions of clarification

What do you mean by that?

Can you give me an example?

Questions that probe assumptions

What is being assumed?

Why would somebody say that?

Questions that probe reason and evidence

What are your reasons for saying that?

What criteria do you base that argument on?

Questions that probe implications and consequences

What might be the consequences of behaving like that?

Do you think you might be jumping to conclusions?

Questions about viewpoints or perspectives

What would be another way of saying that?

How do Maria’s ideas differ from Peter’s?

Questions about the question

How is that question going to help us?

Can you think of any other questions that might be useful?

If you found these questions to be compelling, you can find additional illuminated strategies .

In closing, I would like to offer a final question for possible exploration in future posts: Why is it, when we ask questions inviting deep thought, can they seemingly fail to give us the answers we had hoped for?

Until then, I take comfort in knowing that when a question is asked, an answer exists, even if down in a rabbit hole.

Like this post? to receive more stories, information, and resources about gifted youth straight to your inbox.