The Sad Story of the Smartest Man Who Ever Lived

Einstein's estimated IQ of 200 was cited by Amy Wallace in her biography of William James Sidis

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Sources:
0:20 William J. Sidis’ IQ was estimated to be 250 - 300, according to Abraham Sperling, director of New York City's Aptitude Testing Institute
3:49 Fourth dimensional cube: JasonHise at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
4:30 Sidis Psychotherapeutic Institute: Maplewood Farms, Portsmouth, N.H. (Public Domain)

Articles and interviews referenced:

[Newsthink]

*For everyone asking, Einstein's estimated IQ of 200 was cited by Amy Wallace in her biography of William James Sidis*

[jadezee]

This is not a story about a man who had remarkable gifts...it is a story about a world where people destroy anyone who has remarkable gifts....

[rrni]

The reason why smart people go crazy is that there are so many dumb ones that are hellbent on driving them mad. In this chase the media was basically bullying him for decades..

[eltonalonsopompeu]

“Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, first make sure that you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes”
(Sigmund Freud)

[profhenriquecezar-cfa]

Never argue with idiots. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. - Mark Twain

[Jules-dnjl]

Just because he was a genius, doesn't mean he had to make an extraordinary contribution to society. Especially when that society didn't treat him well.

[ringozeitgeist]

His parents failed him by not letting him have a childhood. The key was mentioned early on, his father thought play was frivolous and unnecessary. Play is essential, not only, but especially, in childhood.

[allisonlangford]

He never got to play and have fun as a little boy. That breaks my heart.

[fuddwrecker]

To get the full picture of Sidis's life, it's important to include more information from his sister and his close friends. They refute much of what appears in his biography. He lead what many would consider an unremarkable life by choice . He simply wanted to be left alone and not be treated like a circus freak or spectacle everywhere he went.

[tylernol]

Lack of affection from his parents. Constant attacks from the media. Bullying from his peers and never fitting in … Yeah that’ll that’ll destroy anyone

[VIVALAVERSA]

Everyone, from parents to Colleges, from students to the press, literally everyone broke this young man. He never once was able to experience life by himself and at the end he was left to rot. Poor poor soul. R.I.P william j sidis

[b.bailey]

This broke my heart. He was tortured in every way by people who never treated him as simply a human being in need of love, play, and to be accepted how he was.

[richardsackler]

Imagine the ego on his parents claiming it was the way they raised him that allowed for his genius. What a great way to ruin a childhood and cripple your own child.

[See_through]

“If you knew what smart people knew you’d be depressed for life”

-a book I read

[MCRuCr]

Being treated like this, knowing you are much smarter than everyone else but seeing others suceed in life is indescribably painful

[ShavinMcCrotch]

I read that as little as a 30-40 point difference in IQ between 2 people is enough to make connecting/socializing extremely difficult. He was 150+ points out of range of everyone he ever met. 😔 💔

[alicejyi]

He was the victim of his parents and society that made out of a scientifique experiment. The result was a disaster. It breaks heart when he said he can't bear any mathématique thinking without having mental or physical suffering. The irony is his father as a renowned psychologiste and psychiatre didn't detected he was on the a nervous breakdown. So sad.

[rose_clips]

Not everyone with brilliant mind wants a Nobel prize or fame. Nothing wrong with living the life one wants for oneself, no matter how "simple" it is.

[atomicdiamondx]

I find it remarkable that in an age without the internet, social media still managed to haunt him and contribute to his detriment in mental health.

[deannag]

Tragic that people are so very cruel.
It's thought people are often envious when someone shows extremely high intellect. Thus, it is sad. Imagine what may have developed
if he has been given accepted.
Tragic.