The Sad Story of the Smartest Man Who Ever Lived

Newsthink
13 May 202314:14
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

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
  • ๐Ÿง  William James Sidis was considered one of the smartest people ever, with an IQ between 250 and 300, surpassing that of Albert Einstein.
  • ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ง Sidis's parents, Boris and Sarah, were accomplished Ukrainian Jewish immigrants who applied their knowledge of psychology to his upbringing.
  • ๐Ÿ‘ถ 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.
  • ๐ŸŽ“ He enrolled at Harvard University at the age of 11 and graduated with the intention of living a 'perfect life', which did not materialize.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฐ 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.
  • ๐Ÿซ Despite his intellectual prowess, Sidis struggled to fit in socially at both Harvard and later at Rice Institute, where he taught mathematics.
  • ๐Ÿšซ Sidis rejected the capitalist system and was passionate about anti-war and workers' rights, even leading to a brief jail stint for his activism.
  • ๐Ÿ’” 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.
  • ๐Ÿ“š Although he published work challenging established scientific principles, such as the Second Law of Thermodynamics, his theories were largely ignored by the academic community.
  • ๐Ÿ” 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.
  • ๐Ÿดโ€โ˜ ๏ธ 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.
  • ๐Ÿ’” 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. Guรฉrard, a faculty member at Rice University, regarding the cause of William Sidis's life struggles?

    -Dr. Guรฉrard 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
00:00
๐Ÿง  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.

05:02
๐ŸŒŸ 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.

10:04
๐Ÿ“š 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
๐Ÿ’กWilliam James Sidis
William James Sidis was a child prodigy with an estimated IQ between 250 and 300, surpassing that of Albert Einstein. His extraordinary intellectual abilities are central to the video's narrative, illustrating the potential and pitfalls of early genius. The video discusses his rapid educational achievements, such as enrolling at Harvard at age 11, and his later life, which was marked by a desire for seclusion and an aversion to the public eye.
๐Ÿ’กChild Prodigy
A child prodigy refers to a child with exceptional intellectual or artistic abilities. In the context of the video, Sidis is portrayed as a prime example of a prodigy, learning to read The New York Times at 18 months and mastering multiple languages by the age of eight. His story raises questions about the impact of early exposure to advanced education and the societal pressures that come with such gifts.
๐Ÿ’กIQ
IQ, or Intelligence Quotient, is a measure of a person's cognitive abilities. The video emphasizes Sidis's high IQ as evidence of his genius, noting it was between 250 and 300, which is significantly higher than the estimated IQ of Albert Einstein. IQ is used in the video to contextualize Sidis's intellectual capabilities within a widely recognized framework of intelligence measurement.
๐Ÿ’กUpbringing
Upbringing refers to the process of being raised and educated, particularly during childhood. The video discusses how Sidis's parents, both accomplished individuals, played a significant role in his intellectual development. They treated him as an adult from a young age, encouraged self-learning, and focused on underlying patterns and structures in education, which shaped his reasoning and learning abilities.
๐Ÿ’กHarvard University
Harvard University is a prestigious Ivy League institution. It is mentioned in the video as the place where Sidis enrolled at the age of 11, highlighting his exceptional academic abilities. His time at Harvard was marked by both academic promise and social challenges, setting the stage for his later life's trajectory.
๐Ÿ’กFourth Dimension
The fourth dimension is a concept that extends beyond the three-dimensional space we experience, often theorized as time. In the video, Sidis's lecture to the Math Club about the fourth dimension at age 11 demonstrates his ability to comprehend complex mathematical concepts. This concept is pivotal as it showcases his intellectual prowess and the expectations placed upon him.
๐Ÿ’กMedia Attention
Media attention refers to the focus and coverage given by news outlets and the public to individuals or events. The video describes how Sidis was subjected to intense media scrutiny from a young age, which contributed to his notoriety but also to his later desire for privacy. The media's portrayal of him as a 'know it all' and their focus on his personal life over his academic work is a key theme in the video.
๐Ÿ’กSeclusion
Seclusion is the state of being isolated or withdrawn from others. The video highlights Sidis's wish for a life of seclusion, which he believed was necessary to live the 'perfect life.' His aversion to crowds and public attention, influenced by his early experiences with fame, led him to a more reclusive lifestyle, which is a central aspect of his story.
๐Ÿ’กHesperia
Hesperia is a utopian society concept created by Sidis, described in a paper he wrote. It is characterized by unique social structures, such as intelligence tests for citizenship, the prohibition of marriage, and the legal status of polygamy. Hesperia represents Sidis's vision for an ideal society and reflects his rejection of conventional norms and his desire for a different kind of existence.
๐Ÿ’กAnti-War
Being anti-war refers to opposition to warfare or conflict. The video mentions that Sidis was strongly anti-war, which led to his arrest after leading a May Day rally in Boston. His political activism and pacifist stance are significant aspects of his life story, showing his passion for social issues beyond his intellectual pursuits.
๐Ÿ’กBrilliant.org
Brilliant.org is an online platform for learning and practicing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills. The video recommends the website as a resource for those interested in enhancing their scientific thinking and analytical skills. It is used as an example of how individuals can continue to develop their intellectual abilities in a structured and engaging manner.
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

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