I mean I'm just gonna be honest its at least like 50% genetic. My family was broke and my home life was not great but I'm Jewish and I was kind of nerdy and read a lot of books. I was always way smarter than 98% of everyone I met. All the kids took a test and John Hopkins came to talk to the kids who did good and all the kids were Jewish but one Asian kid.,(reply>), @Gus Grizzel Yeah the curiosity is innate. I'm always getting interested in something new. Keeps the passion of life going too. I'm 43 now and it has never stopped. My brother is smart probably an IQ around 120 but he isn't as smart and doesn't have the same drive to learn. Like I love learning just for learnings sake. Knowledge increases understanding. I'll also add a lot of these Jewish kids weren't rich or anything either though a couple were kids of doctors/lawyers and the Asian kids parents owned a general store in a farm town. Just regular middle class to lower middle class Catskills/Hudson Valley, NY people.,(reply>), More proof that it's genetic. The motivation to learn and be obsessed with knowing things, has to come from inside. Sure, someone can spark an interest for us, but at the end of the day, it's genetic.