In the early 20th century, a child prodigy captured the world’s attention with his exceptional intellect and early accomplishments. His name was William James Sidis, and his remarkable abilities in various fields of study, including mathematics, language, and history, earned him a reputation as one of the most intelligent people ever known.
But there was more to Sidis than just his extraordinary intelligence. His theories on the universe, the nature of life, and the relationship between mind and matter challenged the traditional thinking of his time and continue to intrigue and captivate readers today
Who was William James Sidis?
James Sidis was born on April 1, 1898, in New York City. His parents were Boris Sidis, a psychologist and physician, and Sarah Mandelbaum Sidis, a teacher and writer.
It became clear from an early age that Sidis was exceptionally gifted. He began reading at the age of two and learned Latin and Greek at the age of six (he would go on to also master French, German, Russian, Turkish, and Armenian). He was attending Harvard by the time he was 11: a child prodigy in every sense.
After finishing his tenure as one of the youngest students to have ever attended Harvard, Sidis moved on to the Polytechnic Institute in Brooklyn, where he studied engineering and became interested in politics, history, and philosophy.
Sadly, none of this means he had a happy childhood. From his earliest years, he had made headlines thanks to his amazing intellect. His parents were pushy and aggressive and were determined that their son’s mighty intellect wouldn’t go to waste.
He was originally accepted to Harvard at age 9, but the school delayed his entry by two years feeling he was too young. It was right. Many of Sidis’s classmates were unkind to him, teasing him for never having kissed a girl and being so young. A combination of being raised under the limelight, constant pushing from his parents, and the bullying of his peers meant he never got to be a child.
Sidis was also known for his work in mathematics and language. He developed a theory on the nature of the universe, which he called the “cosmic center” theory, and he created his own language, which he called Vendergood.
Despite his early accomplishments, Sidis had difficulty adjusting to life outside of academia and struggled with social skills. He was also the subject of media attention and ridicule, which contributed to his eventual withdrawal from public life. Sidis passed away in 1944 at the age of 46, reportedly due to a cerebral hemorrhage.
Why is He Considered the Smartest Man Ever?
This isn’t an official title. Intelligence is difficult to measure and there have been many contenders over the years for the “smartest person ever”. Still, it’s clear that Sidis was right at the peak of human intelligence.
While his IQ was never officially measured (such tests tend to be unreliable anyway), his IQ was estimated to be anywhere between 250 and 300 (50-100 points higher than Einstein’s). This would have made him one of the most intelligent people ever recorded.
Perhaps more impressive is the fact that while most child prodigies only excel in a single field, Sidis was a true polymath from an early age. He was able to learn and master various fields of study including mathematics, language, history, and politics. His ability to quickly absorb and process information was astounding and he was able to memorize a vast amount of information and develop complex theories on a variety of topics with ease.
The Animate and the Inanimate
After spending some time as a mathematics professor, Sidis fled from public life and went into hiding. He spent the next few years moving from place to place and from job to job, fleeing as soon as people recognized his remarkable talents.
At the same time as this, he wrote a number of books. These included a 1,200 page history of the US and even a book on streetcar transfer tickets. He published many of his works under false names and it’s believed we’ll never know how many books he actually published.
But the work for which he is most remembered today is The Animate and Inanimate which was published in 1925 when Sidis was just 27 years old. The book, and its theories, have sparked debate for their unique view of the universe, and led many to ask whether the smartest man ever had lost his perspective, or whether he saw something nobody else has.
The book is a collection of essays that Sidis wrote on a variety of topics, mainly related to physics and philosophy. In the book, Sidis presented his own “theory of the universe”.
He called this his “cosmic center theory”, which described how the universe is organized around a central point, the origin of all energy and matter. He also proposed that the universe is expanding and contracting in a cyclical pattern.
Alongside the beginning of the universe, in the book Sidis also discusses the nature of life and consciousness, arguing that life isn’t just a physical phenomenon, it is also a spiritual one. He described the universe as if it were a living organism with all living things being interconnected.
The book was a complex and ambitious work that reflects its author’s deep curiosity and intellect. While some of his theories have been criticized and are not widely accepted by the scientific community, the book remains an interesting and thought-provoking read for those interested in science and philosophy.
There can be no doubt that William James Sidis was a true genius. From his early days as a child prodigy to his later pursuits in science and philosophy, Sidis’s intellectual abilities and thirst for knowledge were unparalleled.
His unique perspective on the universe, the nature of consciousness, and the meaning of life itself continue to fascinate and inspire readers today. Whether you’re a science enthusiast, a history buff, or simply curious about the human mind, delving into the world of William James Sidis is sure to leave you with a newfound appreciation for the power of the human intellect and the mysteries of the universe.
But the ideas in The Animate and the Inanimate still defy rational support. What did Sidis truly have to say with these concepts? And, just possibly, could the have been right?
Top Image: William James Sidis came up with a theory of the universe which has defied our understanding ever since. Source: Tom Wang / Adobe Stock.
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