The idea that the skulls and brains of extraordinary individuals possess special characteristics dates back to the 18th century. Genius, crime, and mental illness formed the triad whose anatomical, anthropological, and physiognomic examination was meant to provide a foundation for understanding humanity. What began as a quirky examination of skulls soon expanded into an ambitious scientific program. Hagner's main thesis is that the brains of significant scholars, scientists, and artists have always been not only scientific but also cultural objects. The interaction with them consistently reflects a secularized practice of memory culture, which is of great importance for understanding the mentality of significant figures in modernity. This is illustrated through numerous, often unknown examples.