Do good Authors have a high IQ?

mzv1966 · Post by **mzv1966** » 28 Nov 2023, 16:57

Creating a book requires exceptional intellectual capacity.
In my opinion, authors with a high IQ, usually above 100, are more likely to produce works that are widely read and endure over time.
As an example, Homero had an IQ of 164, while Victor Hugo and Dostoyevski had an IQ of 160 each. I found these IQ scores on the internet. Additionally, I discovered some websites that measure IQ but I am unsure if they are reliable.

Has anyone ever measured their IQ?.

I'm going to try it and let you know.

Ceildric · Post by **Ceildric** » 22 Dec 2023, 13:25

I would be highly skeptical of anyone claiming to be able to accurately calculate IQ scores of historical figures that lived long before the test and scale were conceived of. There is a question of the accuracy and value when applied to living persons, let alone for people that never could have taken the test, and who lived in very different times and places.

That aside, I both agree and disagree with your general premise. I agree in that I too think that having high intelligence correlates with writing works that stand the test of time. I disagree in that you initially suggest that, "creating a book requires exceptional intellectual capacity," which I find to be false. Anyone can write a book, but as we seem to agree, it takes some intelligence to be conveying something that will be of value across time and space.

Claudia Angelucci · Post by **Claudia Angelucci** » 27 Dec 2023, 06:46

I think that the correlation between a high IQ and successful writing is debatable. Writing involves creativity, empathy, and communication skills, which aren't solely determined by IQ. IQ tests also have limitations, and scores may not always be reliable. Many successful authors haven't measured their IQ, and creative abilities vary widely. There is no credible evidence supporting specific IQ scores for historical figures like Homer, Victor Hugo, or Dostoyevsky. The notion of assigning IQ scores to individuals from the past is speculative and often lacks reliable data. I would approach such claims with skepticism and consider the historical context and limitations of IQ assessments.

João Ramos · Post by **João Ramos** » 31 Dec 2023, 04:14

Yes and no. A person with a low IQ cannot perceive the nuances of real life and organize a cohesive text to the point of becoming a good writer. Still, I see a scenario where there is a great writer with an IQ of 130 and a genius with an IQ of 180 who is a mediocre writer.

janderson32 · Post by **janderson32** » 28 Feb 2025, 13:44

I agree that there's a certain level of intellectual capacity that goes into writing, but I don't think IQ alone would be an accurate measure or correlation.

Neil Woods · Post by **Neil Woods** » 13 Mar 2025, 08:47

Is there a simple answer to this? Almost certainly not, as the previous replies suggest.

One of my favourite authors is Iain Banks, who also wrote SciFi under Iain M. Banks. Having grappled with the scientific concepts, technical terminology and creative output of Banks' SciFi books, it is clear to me that his IQ was pretty high. On top of that, I actually don't believe he would have been able to write such incredible works without the intelligence to understand their content and draw it all together cohesively, nevermind produce the ideas in the first place.

IQ is a very robust science, though not currently fashionable in the west, and is undoubtedly linked to an author's ability to produce certain types of works to a high standard. That being said, having a high IQ is not a prerequisite for writing a great book!

Autumn K · Post by **Autumn K** » 18 Apr 2025, 11:24

I agree with a lot of other posters on here that I think the answer is yes and no. I am a firm believer of everyone containing knowledge and intelligence in their own ways and I think this often manifests differently. It is not always about being intelligent, it is about constructing a story in a way that is enjoyable to readers. I work as a scientist and can confidently say that there are many people with a PhD, who are very intelligent in their field, but have a very difficult time putting words to paper in a way that can be understood and absorbed by those reading it. They have tested with high IQs, they have the information, but creating a narrative is not in their wheel house. I think having a higher level of intelligence can sometimes lend to a higher level of imagination, which can lead to a longer standing story. But I also believe that it is not necessarily a determining factor.