Ask A Genius 642: Extraordinary Intelligence Runs in Families
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Rick Rosner
Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2021/12/05
[Recording Start]
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Does anyone else in your family possess extraordinary intelligence?
Rick Rosner: Yeah, quite a few actually. My dad was among the top CPAs in New Mexico’s history. He had a knack for handling people’s taxes with remarkable precision and integrity. The guy never lost an audit in nearly 60 years, although his work quality did decline a bit in the last five. We tried to get him to retire earlier, but he just kept on working. He was definitely smart, very meticulous, albeit a bit slow.
My mom’s quite smart too, especially in the liberal arts, like language and writing. She got accepted into Stanford and I think it was either Vassar or Yale, but she never went because my grandmother didn’t want her to leave home. She was an only child and my grandma didn’t want to be alone, you know? So, mom’s really smart.
Carol’s smart too, but she had a tough upbringing, kind of primitive, so she never really got to capitalize on her intelligence. However, the more time I spend with her, the more I realize how smart she is. Plus, she’s funny, and I think humor is a sign of intelligence. It’s just that my own quirkiness and maybe a bit of self-focus tend to overshadow everyone else.
My daughter is super intelligent and has the added bonus of being personable, charming, and not weird, which is great. She’s also excellent at research. Then there’s my ex-stepsister. We’re not related by blood, but she’s incredibly smart. She’s a forensic psychiatrist. My half-brother, Ray, is pretty smart too. He’s been in finance, working on Wall Street for his entire career.
My late stepbrother, David, was also smart but in a more rugged way. He became a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps Reserves and was a stand-up comedian, performing gigs globally. He was versatile, funny, and charming. Several of my half-sisters are very intelligent too. One is a lawyer who just completed her degree in social work.
Interestingly, more than half of us, including my siblings and me, have worked as strippers at some point. So, we’re not just smart; we’ve got a bit of a sleazy side too, which I think is a fascinating combination. Basically, everyone in my family, at least within a generation of me, is pretty smart. The end.
[Recording End]
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