The Sad Story of the Smartest Man Who Ever Lived
TLDRWilliam James Sidis, born on April Fool's Day in 1898, was a child prodigy with an IQ between 250 and 300, surpassing even Albert Einstein's estimated IQ of 200. The son of Ukrainian Jewish immigrants, Sidis was reading the New York Times by 18 months and enrolled at Harvard University at the age of 11. Despite his extraordinary intellect, his life was marked by social isolation and a complex relationship with the public eye. After a series of failed academic and professional endeavors, including a stint at Rice Institute and an unfinished law degree at Harvard, Sidis shied away from mathematics and the spotlight. He held menial jobs, hid his genius, and rejected opportunities that required intellectual work, possibly due to the immense pressure he experienced throughout his life. His personal life was equally tumultuous, with an unrequited love and strained family relationships. Sidis's life raises questions about the impact of early success and intense parental pressure on a child's well-being and long-term achievements. He passed away at 46 from a cerebral hemorrhage, leaving behind a legacy that invites reflection on the true meaning of a 'perfect life' and the consequences of society's fascination with genius.
Takeaways
- 🧠 William James Sidis was considered one of the smartest people ever, with an IQ between 250 and 300, surpassing that of Albert Einstein.
- 👨👩👧 Sidis's parents, Boris and Sarah, were accomplished Ukrainian Jewish immigrants who applied their knowledge of psychology to his upbringing.
- 👶 At a very young age, Sidis showed extraordinary intellectual abilities, such as reading the New York Times at 18 months and learning multiple languages by age eight.
- 🎓 He enrolled at Harvard University at the age of 11 and graduated with the intention of living a 'perfect life', which did not materialize.
- 📰 The media was fascinated by Sidis from a young age, often portraying him as a 'know it all' and contributing to his public image and pressure.
- 🏫 Despite his intellectual prowess, Sidis struggled to fit in socially at both Harvard and later at Rice Institute, where he taught mathematics.
- 🚫 Sidis rejected the capitalist system and was passionate about anti-war and workers' rights, even leading to a brief jail stint for his activism.
- 💔 His unrequited love for Martha Foley, a girl he met in jail, may have had a profound impact on his life and emotional well-being.
- 📚 Although he published work challenging established scientific principles, such as the Second Law of Thermodynamics, his theories were largely ignored by the academic community.
- 🔍 Sidis's later life was marked by a desire for privacy and a rejection of high-paying jobs that required him to use his intellectual abilities.
- 🏴☠️ He preferred to live a secluded life, working in menial jobs and avoiding the public eye, which was in stark contrast to the expectations placed on him due to his early success.
- 💔 The pressures of his upbringing and public life may have contributed to his early death from a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 46.
Q & A
What was the estimated IQ range of William James Sidis?
-William James Sidis's IQ was estimated to be between 250 and 300.
What were the occupations of William Sidis's parents?
-Boris Sidis was a renowned psychologist, and Sarah Sidis went to medical school at a time when few women did.
At what age did William James Sidis enroll at Harvard University?
-William James Sidis enrolled at Harvard University at the age of 11.
What was the name of the language that William Sidis invented as a child?
-The name of the language that William Sidis invented as a child was Vendergood.
What was William Sidis's attitude towards his upbringing and the influence of his parents?
-William Sidis rejected the influence of his parents, particularly that of his domineering mother, and resented the pressure to perform at a high level.
What was the title of the book that William Sidis published in 1925, which challenged the Second Law of Thermodynamics?
-The title of the book was 'The Animate and the Inanimate.'
Why did William Sidis take on menial jobs and refuse higher-paying work that required his intellect?
-William Sidis hid his genius and took on menial jobs to avoid the pressure and emotional stress associated with using his intellect for higher-paying work.
How did the media portray William Sidis during his time at Harvard?
-The media portrayed William Sidis as a 'know it all' and followed him with attention that often questioned his sanity or labeled him as a freak.
What was the name of the utopian society that William Sidis described in a paper he wrote?
-The name of the utopian society that William Sidis described was Hesperia.
What was the cause of William Sidis's death?
-William Sidis died of a cerebral hemorrhage which led to pneumonia at the age of 46.
What was the general consensus of Dr. Guérard, a faculty member at Rice University, regarding the cause of William Sidis's life struggles?
-Dr. Guérard believed that William Sidis was a victim of the thoughtless cruelty of the public, rather than the intensive education given by his father or the label of genius.
What is the significance of the question about the cup of warm water in a boiling pot, as mentioned in the script?
-The question about the cup of warm water is an example of a puzzling scientific question that can be found on Brilliant.org, a platform for enhancing scientific thinking and problem-solving skills.
Outlines
🧠 The Life and Tragedy of a Child Prodigy
William James Sidis, born on April Fool's Day in 1898, was a child prodigy with an IQ between 250 and 300, surpassing even Einstein's estimated 200. The son of Ukrainian Jewish immigrants, Boris and Sarah Sidis, he was reading the New York Times by 18 months and enrolled at Harvard at age 11. Despite his parents' belief in his upbringing over genetics for his intelligence, William's life was fraught with challenges. He had a fear of dogs, no interest in typical childhood activities, and faced intense media scrutiny. His parents' intense focus on his intellectual development came at the cost of normal social skills and emotional well-being. William's life took a downturn after a rumored mental breakdown and his eventual withdrawal from the public eye, choosing a life of seclusion and menial jobs over the academic prestige he once held.
🌟 The Unfulfilled Promise of a Genius
William Sidis had a utopian vision of a society called Hesperia, where intelligence, not lineage, determined citizenship and societal roles. After leaving Harvard, he faced social challenges and resigned from teaching at Rice University. His academic work, including a book challenging the Second Law of Thermodynamics, was overlooked, and he turned to low-paying jobs to avoid using his intellectual abilities. Despite his early promise, his life was marked by a lack of fulfillment in both his personal and professional life. His unrequited love for Martha Foley and his refusal to engage in higher-paying intellectual work underscored a life spent in the shadow of his own potential.
📚 The Lost Potential of a Forgotten Genius
William Sidis's life was a stark contrast to his early promise as a genius. He lacked basic life skills, such as tying shoelaces, and suffered from poor personal hygiene. His relationship with his mother was fraught, leading to a permanent rift after his father's death. His sister Helena, raised without the same intensity as William, thrived under his guidance. William's later life was spent in obscurity, working menial jobs and avoiding the public eye. His health declined, and he died of a cerebral hemorrhage at 46, a fate that mirrored his father's. The question remains whether the pressures of his upbringing and public scrutiny were the true culprits behind his unfulfilled life, rather than the intensive education he received.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡William James Sidis
💡Child Prodigy
💡IQ
💡Upbringing
💡Harvard University
💡Fourth Dimension
💡Media Attention
💡Seclusion
💡Hesperia
💡Anti-War
💡Brilliant.org
Highlights
William James Sidis may have been the smartest person who ever lived with an IQ between 250 and 300
His parents were brilliant Ukrainian Jewish immigrants - Boris Sidis was a renowned psychologist and Sarah Sidis went to medical school
William learned the alphabet by six months of age and could read the New York Times at 18 months
He enrolled at Harvard University at age 11 and graduated with plans to live the 'perfect life'
His parents attributed his extraordinary intelligence not to genes but to his upbringing
They treated him like an adult from birth, encouraging natural reasoning and learning through underlying patterns
By age 8, he knew 8 languages - English, Latin, Greek, German, Russian, Hebrew, Turkish, French, Armenian
He invented his own language as a child called Vendergood, influenced by European languages
He had no interest in playing with toys, sports or games, and his only enjoyment was riding on streetcars
He finished elementary school in less than a year and high school in just six weeks
The media portrayed him as a 'know it all' and speculated about his mental health, calling him a 'freak'
He gave a lecture on the fourth dimension to the Harvard Math Club at age 11, impressing an MIT professor
Despite early promise, he grew to resent mathematics and his potential as a great mathematician was never realized
He struggled to fit in socially at Harvard and later at Rice University, where he taught math at age 17
He dropped out of Harvard Law School and failed to earn a law degree, disappointing his mother
He was an ardent anti-war activist and socialist, even serving jail time for his political beliefs
Unrequited love for a woman he met in jail may have impacted the trajectory of his life
Despite his brilliance, he failed to achieve greatness and his work was often overlooked or ignored
He took on menial jobs, hiding his genius from co-workers, and refused higher-paying work that required using his intellect
His parents' intense focus on his intellectual development came at the expense of teaching him basic life skills
He never learned to tie his shoelaces, shave regularly, or maintain good personal hygiene
He had a strained relationship with his mother and they never reconciled after his father's death
His younger sister Helena did not receive the same intense upbringing and thrived under his guidance
He settled in Boston in his thirties, working low-level office jobs and living a reclusive life
His health declined, leading to a stroke and his death at age 46. He was buried beside his father
Some believe the thoughtless cruelty of the public, not his upbringing or genius, was his downfall
Early success and a forced education did not guarantee a fulfilling, successful life for Sidis
Transcripts
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