Helpful resources for the gifted. The following resources for the gifted (books, websites and other online resources, and academic journals) can assist you in better understanding your giftedness.
Resources are listed alphabetically.
If you are interested in exploring your gifted self in a more intentional way, I encourage you to contact me. I offer in-person (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) and online (Zoom) counselling & coaching geared toward gifted individuals.
Books: helpful resources for the gifted
**Daniels, S. & Piechowski, M. (2009). Living with Intensity: Understanding the sensitivity, excitability, and emotional development of gifted children, adolescents, and adults.
A collection of essays tied together by Kazimierz Dabrowski’s developmental Theory of Positive Disintegration (TPD). A great introduction to the social and emotional domain of giftedness. You can learn a bit more about the TPD, here.
Fiedler, E. D. (2015). Bright Adults: Uniqueness and Belonging Across the Lifespan.
This book addresses gifted adults’ needs to belong, to remain authentic to their identities, to contribute to the world, and to find challenge and meaning in life when faced with issues of multipotentiality, idealism, and feelings of isolation. It provides thought-provoking insights and advice on the lives of bright and gifted adults.
Gatto-Walden, P. (2017). Embracing the Whole Gifted Self.
Gatto-Walden explores giftedness through all of the domains of a person: intellectual, emotional, physical, spiritual, and social. She argues that it is only by acknowledging, understanding, and nurturing all the domains that gifted individuals can embrace their whole gifted selves.
**Jacobsen, M-E. (1999). The Gifted Adult: A Revolutionary Guide for Liberating Everyday Genius.
Mary-Elaine Jacobsen’s Gifted Adults draws on a wide range of research and her own clinical experience to show gifted adults how to identify and free their extraordinary potential. A great entryway into the giftedness world.
Kuipers, W. (2011). Enjoying the Gift of Being Uncommon: Extra Intelligent, Intense, and Effective.
Kuipers introduces and illustrates three practices (acknowledging, exploring, and applying) for Extra Intelligent People (XIPs) to become more effective in their work and private life, for their own sake and for the sake of their environment.
**Prober, P. (2016). Your Rainforest Mind: A Guide to the Well-Being of Gifted Adults and Youth.
Paula explores the challenges faced by gifted adults of all ages. Through case studies and extensive research, Paula helps gifted adults tap into their inner creativity, find peace, and discover the limitless potential that comes with having a Rainforest Mind.
Silverman, L. (2013). Giftedness 101.
Silverman dispels common myths about giftedness and offers specific guidelines to psychologists, parents, and teachers; describes comprehensive assessment of the gifted; provides support for the twice exceptional; and focuses on gifted individuals’ complex inner world.
Streznewski, M. K. (1999). Gifted Grownups: The Mixed Blessings of Extraordinary Potential.
Gifted Grownups presents the results of Streznewski’s 10-year study of 100 gifted adults and examines how being identified as a “smart kid” early on affects career choices, friendships, and romantic pairings later in life. Why do some talented and gifted people become highly successful, while others drop out of school, struggle to hold down jobs, or turn to self-destructive behavior? What are the signs of giftedness, its pitfalls, and its promise?
Tetreault, N. (2020). Insight Into a Bright Mind: A Neuroscientist’s Personal Stories of Unique Thinking
While not specific to gifted adults, Tetreault’s book is excellent—weaving together her personal narrative as a twice-exceptional woman with the latest neuroscience re: intelligent, sensitive, and highly creative brains. As Susan Daniel’s notes, “Insight into a Bright Mind is a smart and complex book—part research tome, part memoir, part poetry anthology, and part guidebook.”
van de Ven, R. (2022). Giftedness in practice: Strengthening personal leadership in gifted adults.
In this book, coach Rianne van de Ven provides insights into, and building blocks for, successfully supporting gifted adults. What role does giftedness play in ‘this’? How can gifted adults change ingrained patterns and develop new essential skills? Giftedness in Practice provides valuable tools for professionals and gifted people themselves.
Webb, J. T. (2013). Searching for Meaning: Idealism, Bright Minds, Disillusionment, and Hope.
Gifted adults often find themselves disillusioned and searching for meaning. Webb helps gifted adults understand their quandaries and describes various ways in which they attempt to cope with their disillusionment. Helpful information and suggestions provide courses of action to nurture idealism, hope, happiness, and contentment.
** I recommend these books in particular.
Websites and other online material: helpful resources for the gifted
ABC Ontario (The Association for Bright Children of Ontario – abcontario.ca)
ABC Ontario is an Ontario-based (Canadian) charity dedicated to providing information, advocacy and support to parents of bright and gifted children and adolescents through newsletters, networking, an annual conference and local workshops.
Duke TIP (tip.duke.edu)
An American organization dedicated to identifying gifted students and providing them with resources to support their optimal development.
Gifted Development Center (gifteddevelopment.org)
An American organization which serves gifted childrens’ development through assessment, advocacy, and counselling. Website also includes a useful resource list.
High Ability (highability.org)
A useful resource site for gifted, creative, introverted, and talented individuals.
Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page (hoagiesgifted.org)
A comprehensive all-things-gifted site, full of resources, articles, books and links to help and support parents, teachers, and gifted children alike
Intergifted (intergifted.com)
An international network to support people the world over through gifted coaching, education, and community. Intergifted also has an active Facebook group to cultivate gifted adult community.
NAGC (National Association for Gifted Children – nagc.org)
NAGC is an American organization whose staff and leaders support and develop policies and practices that encourage and respond to the diverse expressions of gifts and talents in children and youth from all cultures, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and socioeconomic groups.
SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted – sengifted.org)
SENG is an American organization whose mission is to empower families and communities to help gifted and talented individuals to reach their goals: intellectually, physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Website includes a great list of free resources.
Academic journals: helpful resources for the gifted
Advanced Development
Focuses on gifted adults and their development.
Gifted Child Quarterly
Publishes original research and new and creative insights about giftedness and talent development in the context of the school, the home, and the wider society.
Gifted Child Today
Offers information about teaching and parenting gifted and talented children. The journal provides critical information for teachers and administrators involved with gifted children. It includes articles about topics such as teaching strategies in gifted education, building a more effective gifted and talented program, and working with gifted children with learning disabilities.
Journal for the Education of the Gifted
Offers information and research on the educational and psychological needs of gifted and talented children. The journal is devoted to excellence in educational research and scholarship and acts as a forum for diverse ideas and points of view on gifted education, counseling, and parenting.
Roeper Review
Covers diverse topics, including: theories and philosophical analyses pertinent to giftedness, talent, and creativity; gender issues; curriculum studies; instructional strategies; educational psychology; elementary/early childhood/secondary education of the gifted; emotional, motivation, and affective dimensions of gifted individuals; differentiating instruction; teacher education; tests, measurement, and evaluation; and program development.