Thomas Edison

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             It wasn't long before Tom developed a strong interest in world history and English literature. Years later, his love of Shakespeare lead him to briefly consider becoming an actor. However, his relatively high pitched voice and extreme shyness before every audience except those whom he was trying to influence in helping him finance an invention dissuaded him from serious pursuit of the idea.
             As time progressed, Tom's parents tried to appease his voracious appetite for knowledge by acquainting him with the resources of the local library. Starting with the last book on the bottom shelf, he systematically read, or at least carefully perused, every book in the building. In spite of their noble efforts, however, Mr. and Mrs. Edison eventually found themselves incapable of addressing Tom's rapidly maturing intellectual needs. For example, when he queried them about concepts dealing with mathematics and physics such as those found in Isaac Newton's "Principia" they were utterly stymied. .
             Eventually they brought in a clever tutor to help Tom understand Newton's principles. However, the experience had a negative and a positive affect on the impressionable boy. Because he was so disillusioned by the fact that Newton's sensational theories were written in classical aristocratic terms that were "unnecessarily confusing to the average person," Tom overreacted and readily developed a life-long disrespect for high level mathematics. Nevertheless, he always fully respected and utilized the simple beauty of Newton's physical laws.
             Another positive outcome of Tom's response to "The Principia" was that it helped him cultivate a graphically sound and free spirited style of thinking. and a desire to prove all things to himself through practical experimentation. Meanwhile, he developed a habit of gleaning whatever he could from the best publications he could find on given subjects and from knowledgeable associates, always remembering that they might be committed to "preconceived dogma and associated error.