brilliant or not, Asimov is first and foremost a human man. he has insights and vices particular to his disposition and might not fit another particular human man or woman. i had dinner with he, his wife and daughter at a fine French restaurant at a conference where he was to be the guest speaker. most men get the best inspiration from that intersection beyond time and space. each person has a threshold intersection, for some it might be the power of nature and for many it is the extended nothing of a perfect organism. live well play well come up with great ideas!