What Is Book Smart?

I think of book smart people as someone who can pass the tests in college but can't really apply things to life. My "for instance" was living with 3 engineers in college (one or 2 electrical) and them having to come get me b/c the fuse blew. They didn't know how to flip the fuse back on.

I always think of my sister as Book Smart. She excelled in high school, went to a top tier college, got a masters at an elite university, and did her job at a high level. But send her out into her new city without a map or make her deal with a flat tire and she falls apart, has to call someone for help. Not a lick of street smarts in that one.

To me it's sort of the difference between academic intelligence and savvy about the world. You can be both, by the way.

I agree with the definitions given for book smart - that the person acquired the knowledge through books

Versus,

"street smart" - where the person has more (or only) common sense, perhaps.

But I think the difference is that the phrase "book smart" as I have heard it used indicates a higher level of intelligence. The book smarites have the ability to read and absorb a textbook, apply it to life, do well in school without tons of effort and usually have the common sense to come in out of the rain. (Note I said usually).

"Street smart" is usually indicating the person may have some sense, but they couldn't tell you much about what they learned in school, nor do they have much desire to learn more via textbook or any other written word.

Smart - Common sense = Book smart

=)

The definition of book smart is "Being able to succeed scholastically, and not necessarily in the real world."

I always understood it to mean that one was smart from the knowledge they'd gleaned from books, but had no or little common sense.

I think of "book smart" as being someone who excels in school and the types of subjects taught therein, weather they are particularly studious or not. It usually implies a lack of intelligence else where (street smarts, naturally intuitive, or socially intelligent), otherwise we'd just plain call them smart instead of "book smart".

I think of book smart as someone who does well in school but outside of a purely intellectual arena, can be a bit lacking. I usually use the phrase in conjunction with a mild dig, as in "he's really book smart but has no interpersonal skills" or "she is book smart but has no common sense."

I don't think of it as having any correlation with *how* a person learns, just that someone is academically/intellectually strong.

Traditionally, book smart doesn't mean you are smart because of reading a lot of books.... that is a "book worm". It usually means you are smart b/c you are studious and intelligent regardless of how often you study or read, but have very little common sense or street smarts.

I think you have summed up the meaning though I believe that when I have heard the Book Smart used it was usually used this way:

Johnny Boy is book smart but has no common sense.

Meaning, he can quote you the dictionary but he doesn't think through before doing or saying.

I know a couple of men at our church like that. One actually has a doctorate degree but he is always jumping into a conversation and saying things without engaging his brain. He can quote you the medical dictionary but he can't function in a real word.

ROFL... I like Molly's!

I go with 2 definitions.

1)

If you can talk the talk... you're book smart. Walk the walk... street smart.

EX) I can read about bargaining (or any other subject, from basketball to assasins) all I want. I can understand the concept, the uses, the varying ways in which it's applied. I can talk about it all day long. But the first time someone actually goes TO bargain (or whatever)... it's a very different experience. Knowing the subtle nuances of whatever culture you happen to be in. What's polite/colloquial. What's intollerably rude. What to start off at (not to be insulting OR an easy mark), what to expect. When to walk away. When not to. Until you've actually bargained QUITE a lot... it's just book smarts. You know about it. Once you can actually bargain respectably... then you're street smart. And you never have to crack a book, or understand all the various uses of bargaining and how other people use it in other places, to be VERY adept at bargaining. If you're in that boat... then it's just street smart.

Anyone who has studied something extensively, but never actually DONE it (aka green), is booksmart.

2) Literal Street Smart / aka "Not Marcus Brody". Can you survive in Gangland? Can you survive in a Cairene slum? In a warzone in "x" country?

There are many places I can just shift gears and no one will notice me, because I understand the culture. There are other places I may as well paint a target on myself and dance around naked singing "Come and get me! Fresh meat!" I'd stick out like a sore thumb.

I have always thought of "book smart" as someone that has lots of schooling. That it is someone that knows of most things from learning about them in books and not experiencing them through life.
Someone can have book smarts and another person can have street smarts. Not saying that either person is stupid, they just learned about things differently. It’s funny I used to joke with my brother in law (who has his masters in science) that the more degrees you have the less common sense you have. It’s like you have to give something up in your brain to fit other information. Example: Albert Einstein could not add 2 + 2 as he got older. His brain could not figure out the simple things anymore.

I always thought "book smart" meant educated, as in you studied and read lots of books and/or were classically educated, vs. "street smart" as in having sharp common sense or natural wit. A person can be both or neither as well.
Sometimes "book smart" is used negatively to imply a person doesn't have street smarts.

"Book smart" doesn't mean you're smart because you read -it means you're smart as in "IQ" or academically smart. "Book smart" people do well in school and probably do read a good bit, but the term refers to their actual intelligence in regards to academics and not the amount they read.

I think that "book smart" denotes a higher education beyond a high school diploma (could be a college degree but could be a self driven quest and thirst for knowledge about science, philosophy, religion, mathematics, etc.) and "street smart" means life experience--you know, the kind of life without a silver spoon?!

I don't think "reading books" makes you book smart. Someone could read Barbara Delinsky every day--that's not "knowledge." It's a hobby.

I have a similar experience as you describe, only I'm the sibling who has been in school for 28 years of my life, and my brother has learned everything he knows "hands-on". I have two college degrees in Computer Science, and will have a PhD in Psychology. He works, very successfully, as a Software Engineer and has never stepped foot on a college campus. He taught himself computer programming nights and weekends while raising two small kids and working well over 40 hours a week doing mostly manual labor. I have the highest regard for him, if you can't tell ;-)

If you want me to get into the definition of intelligence, I had several weeks of graduate level instruction on just what that definition is, how it has evolved over the years, how it is measured, and could have a long (and maybe boring) discussion about the reliability and validity of the various tests and measurements of intelligence... That's "book smart" even though I do have great work experience and real life experience to draw from, also. My brother is "street smart" as in, he is self-taught, self-confident in any situation, and better working with a wider variety of people than I am.

My final analysis - I'm inclined to say he's much smarter than me, no matter how we'd score on any test or measurement of intelligence.
He and I both have amazing and sometimes annoying brains, as do my other two siblings, because we were lucky to come from two people who passed down both their genetics and mostly their work ethic. My oldest brother can fix any machine he lays his hands-on (really, he has been known to diagnose engine problems by having you hold your phone up to the car while it's running...) and my younger sister is amazingly creative and social and runs her own hair stylist business. Our life experience varies, and our preferred method of learning does, also. We are all "smart" in our own ways.

And, I love to read books - all kinds - those that give me knowledge and those that entertain.

I think when most people use the terminology "book smart" they mean that a person has acquired a large amount of knowledge that is not learned from practical experience, i.e., they learned it from a book/teacher.

The "usual" opposite (not truly an opposite, but maybe an alternative variety of "smarts", lol) is what people refer to as "street smart". By that, most people (I think) mean common sense or things learned from experiences in the world. Like, gee, I don't know...Can't think of a good example here... maybe....not carrying your money in your purse/wallet, but in a front pocket, so that someone targeting you for robbery will be less likely in succeeding in stealing your property. (I know, so cliche, right?) I think 'street smart' tends to carry the connotation that you are somehow adept at avoiding being a victim.
But these are just MY thoughts on what the terms mean.... Do they fit what you were thinking? I think I am more "book smart", because, I have a lot of academic ability, not necessarily because I have read all the text books at my disposal, but when I do read them, grasping what is in them comes pretty easily to me. But I don't think I am street "dumb" either. I have been blessed with a healthy dose of common sense as well... and while I may not have been a victim of a number of crimes, I still managed to figure out a few things to avoid looking like a good victim for someone...

I think the implication is that a book smart person is more adept in academics and a street smart person is more adept in common sense matters or matters that involve avoiding victimization.

Book smart is when your education/intelligence is gained from books or study. Even your knowledge would be considered book smart because you were learning from literature or lessons received through guided direction.

My interpretation of "book smart" is someone who has great thought processes in the purely theoretical and yet might not do that well with making smart decisions in what we'd consider ordinary life. (This is a stereotype, by the way.) Sometimes this means a person is super smart in their field of expertise or in a specific area of knowledge, yet they may (not always, but *may) be culturally less savvy, socially awkward or easily duped by less-than-trustworthy people. They may know a lot about their work, but not know how to get up the corporate ladder. A "book smart" person might be able tell you about truth tables but might not be able to make themselves a grilled cheese sandwich. Good in an ivory tower but when it comes to practicalities, sometimes a disaster.

My husband is book smart. He can tell you the in's and out's of computers, sports, video games, anything. However, ask him to give our 7-year-old some Advil and he can't find it.....in the same place it's been for the 3 years we've lived in this house. Ask him to get a dish towel and he can't find them (again...same place for the past 3 years that we've lived here) Maybe that's called "selective smartness"????

I always say someone is "book smart" because they can quote me Shakespeare, do crazy math and science, and know annoying little facts that a lot of people don't know. :)
I say someone is street smart because they know how to survive by their wits.
For example....Ask me to tell you about Romeo and Juliet. While I know the gist of it I certainly don't know everyone's names or who is upset with who. BUT, drop me in the middle of Guatemala and tell me to find my way home and I can.

Nope, book smart means you're "textbook smart" aka "smart". Good in school, learn easily, good on tests, etc. left brained! I am proudly book smart, even if it means I'm less artsy or street smart.

book smart to me is having knowledge about things that you wouldn't necessarily have unless you have studies, or pursued higher education. for example, i know about the history of so many countries (having not lived) but read and studied different cultures, nations, conflicts etc. like i have a different perspective about let's say middle east issues than my husband does, because my national history is somewhat parallel to some middle eastern countries and the reference was always brought up in school and college.
book smart for me would also be that i am knowledgeable about different literary periods (british and american) because i have studied them but my husband would be totally lost about it.
street smart is what life has taught you because you were faced with it, things you pick up as you have lived life.

J. - sorry - I missed this last night.

Book smart to me is someone who acquired knowledge through books instead of personal experience.

Also - i don't think your brain is annoying!! I like it!!!

Molly put it perfectly!

When I think of book smart, I think of my FIL; the true absent minded professor. If your talking about math and science he's a genius, however, when it comes to common sense it's non-existant. After all only a physics professor would stand on top of the roof leaning over the edge to clean out the gutters.

I think you have unresolved issues with your brother and your parents who hit you.

Book smart? You read, you learn and/or enjoy reading.

Blessings....

I ran into a woman I had known years ago. I was always intimidated by her because she was so "book smart" and I felt she was intellectually superior. We had a great conversation and I mentioned that I had always been intimidated by her and she laughed and remarked that she was always jealous of my "natural ability". She said that anyone could learn from a book but I had that natural ability to take in everything around me and make sense of it all. That, coupled with my formal education, made me very well-rounded in her eyes. That was the best day for me.