The Sad Story of the Smartest Man Who Ever Lived
Newsthink・2 minutes read
William James Sidis was a child prodigy with an IQ between 250 and 300, excelling academically but struggling socially, his brilliance largely ignored. His life raises questions about the impact of early success and the importance of a balanced upbringing.
Insights
- William James Sidis, a child prodigy with an IQ between 250 and 300, excelled academically from a young age, learning multiple languages and even challenging scientific laws, but faced social struggles and ultimately chose menial work over intellectual pursuits.
- Sidis' life highlights the complexities of early success, the impact of social interactions on gifted individuals, and the importance of emotional well-being alongside intellectual development.
Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free
Recent questions
Who was William James Sidis?
A child prodigy with exceptional intelligence.
What languages did William James Sidis learn?
Eight languages by age eight.
What challenges did William James Sidis face?
Social struggles and isolation.
What was William James Sidis' impact on academia?
Published a book challenging the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
How did William James Sidis' life end?
Death at 46 from a cerebral hemorrhage.
Related videos
TheEllenShow
Is Andy Smarter Than a Child Genius?
Big Think
Why divergent thinkers beat geniuses in the real world | David Epstein
TODAY
How 1 Man’s Brain Injury Turned Him Into A Math Savant
TED
The mathematician who cracked Wall Street | Jim Simons
Real Stories
Brain Man: The Boy With The Incredible Brain | Real Stories Full-Length Documentary
Summary
00:00
Child Prodigy William James Sidis: A Genius' Struggle
- William James Sidis, born in 1898, was a child prodigy with an IQ between 250 and 300, surpassing even Einstein.
- His parents, Boris and Sarah Sidis, were brilliant Ukrainian Jewish immigrants who heavily influenced his upbringing.
- William learned the alphabet at six months, read the New York Times at 18 months, and entered Harvard University at age 11.
- He excelled academically, learning eight languages by age eight and inventing his own language, Vendergood.
- Despite his brilliance, William struggled socially, facing ridicule and isolation at Harvard and Rice University.
- William published a book challenging the Second Law of Thermodynamics, but his work was largely ignored.
- He took on menial jobs in New York, hiding his intellect from coworkers and refusing higher-paying intellectual work.
- William's life was marked by emotional and physical struggles, including his refusal to perform complex math tasks.
- His health declined in his thirties, leading to his death at 46 from a cerebral hemorrhage.
- William's life raises questions about the impact of early success and the importance of a balanced upbringing.
13:36
Enhance skills with Brilliant's logic courses
- Water reaches 100°C in a boiling pot, halting heat flow; Brilliant offers courses in logic to enhance scientific, computer science, and math skills, with a free 30-day trial available at brilliant.org/newsthink, and a 20% discount on Premium subscription for the first 200 sign-ups.
