Intelligence is different from learning. Just because someone is not particularly book smart doesn’t mean they are of lower intelligence.
What is book smart?
Book smart generally means someone who has had a good education or has chosen to learn independently through educational activities such as reading, documentaries, and courses.
Usually, someone who is book smart is also reasonably intelligent. This is because a certain amount of intelligence is needed to learn and understand. However, if you meet someone who is not book smart, don’t assume they are of lower intelligence.
Many people who have not had such good academic opportunities have high intelligence even though they may not be book smart.
Intelligence is something you are born with. It is a part of your genetic makeup. Your IQ is a measurement of your intelligence and doesn’t change. Your intelligence level can apply to a variety of kinds of intelligence including an ability to do math but also an ability to relate well to others.
Even if you have not had a good education, you can still be intelligent. Conversely, having a high level of education doesn’t necessarily equate with an exceptionally high IQ.
Other types of intelligence
There are also many different types of intelligence. IQ measures only innate intellectual ability (and there are many problems associated with its accuracy) but there are many other forms of intelligence including:
- Naturalist (intelligent about nature)
- Musical (intelligent about sound)
- Logical-mathematical (intelligent about numbers and reasoning)
- Existential (life intelligence)
- Interpersonal (emotional intelligence)
- Bodily-kinesthetic (physical intelligence)
- Linguistic (intelligent use of words)
- Intra-personal (awareness of self)
- Spatial (intelligent understanding of space, symbols, composition etc…)
So how can you tell if someone is really intelligent or just book smart?
1. Book smart people can list facts and information but they don’t necessarily have a deeper understanding of the subject
2. Book smart people are good at general knowledge and quizzes but may struggle with more complex ideas
3. Intelligent people have a natural ability for something, whether that is math, languages or being good with people
4. Intelligent people tend to use their instincts more to make decisions whereas book smart people rely on tried and tested strategies
5. Book smart people are often educated to a high level
6. Book smart people have often studied hard to achieve their level of knowledge
7. Intelligent people may or may not have been educated to a higher level
8. Intelligent people are often street smart, in that they have learned from their own experiences
9. Intelligent people are usually creative in their use of intelligence, looking for new ways of doing things rather than relying on formulas or methods
10. Intelligent people tend to make up the rules and prefer direct experiences rather than following the rules, ideas, and experiences of others
Of course, intelligent people may also be book smart.
What this means for us
Intelligence and smartness are almost impossible to measure because there are so many different kinds of intelligence. It is also difficult to measure accurately something like intelligence because there are always biases in the tests themselves.
In the end, who really decides what is worth knowing or what intelligence is? Ultimately, we can only make the most of what we have been given and build on our own intelligence the best way we can.
Often, the best way to do that is to get out and experience the world, but we can also learn so much from the people who went before us. Luckily they put that knowledge into books that are available for us all.
Oh yes. I would not want to live in a world where it’s one or the other. Thankfully we have both going for us, books and intelligence. Besides a person can stubbornly persist in learning only from experience and that might not necessarily mean intelligence but a distrust of others information, which may or may not be a wise or innovative quality to have. Sometimes it is. It helps to know that everyone is pulling from info that comes from others, even when we’re unaware that we came by it osmotically and aren’t the original ones to discover whatever it is.
nice to meet you this website after all this year,more than ever
I’m very smart, very intelligent and with a superior intellect. Knowledge is power, have you heard of that? The world is in parts that are dependent on the integrated whole, and only a degree in philosophy, or learning from the internet can teach you that. For the stuff requiring university I’ve learned very complex subjects on the internet without resorting to tertiary school. I’m not bookish with my learning, I do two things at once: instruction and learning this instruction as an experience.
God bless and keep you safely in his care
Hi Kirstie,
great advice! Especially the part about intelligent people relying more on intuition. You need experience to develop a good intuition. And that’s what book smart people are missing.
I think being good at communicating with people is something you can only develop through practice. Someone who only reads about this in books will struggle be to put the knowledge into practice.
Anyway, keep up the good work!
Actually, your IQ DOES change! You will increase your IQ as long as you study, and do brain stimulating exercises!
Great article! I like the fact that you say there are different kinds of intelligence. I think it would also be fair to say that there are different kind of “book-smarts”, if you catch my drift.
I do have to say though, be careful with reading books – without proper scientific data, and just based on experience, then you’re only hearing an opinion – which makes complete sense in the domain they are writing about. This has dangerous consequences, even if the authors themselves openly admit that their work is only an opinion based on their experience. I can’t speak for every subject matter, but I can say that 100% applies to the world of Software Engineering for sure. So many people quote opinionated books to me which sometimes makes me feel like I need to write my opinions down in a book, based on my experience. In reality, having an alternative opinion would be be adding to the noise and confusion that’s already out there in this field… I could be wrong though, seeing as others have gotten away with it!
I REALLY ENJOY READING OR LISTENING TO OPPOSING VIEWS. IT IS EXCITING,
AT TIMES COMICAL OR BEWILDERING BUT WILL OFTEN GIVE TO WIDENING PERSPECTIVES. I DONT LIKE A NARROW FOCUS ON ANYTHING. ITS OK TO DISAGREE. (I’m sorry mom tee-hee)