William James Sidis was born in New York City to Boris Sidis, a psychologist and psychiatrist, and Sarah Mandelbaum Sidis, a medical doctor. His parents were Russian Jewish immigrants who had fled persecution and sought to provide their son with the best possible education and intellectual environment.

Sidis demonstrated exceptional intellectual ability from a very young age. By 18 months, he could read The New York Times, showcasing a remarkable aptitude for language acquisition far beyond his years. This marked the beginning of a period of intense public interest in his development as a child prodigy.

Sidis completed elementary school and high school in an astoundingly short period, graduating from high school at the age of eight. This incredible feat solidified his reputation as an unparalleled intellectual prodigy and further fueled media attention surrounding his educational journey.

At the age of 11, Sidis was admitted to Harvard University, but the university administration, concerned about his emotional maturity, suggested he postpone his enrollment. This decision, while made with good intentions, foreshadowed the difficulties Sidis would face in navigating the social and emotional aspects of life alongside his extraordinary intellect.

Finally admitted to Harvard, Sidis enrolled in 1910. His presence attracted significant media attention, with reporters eagerly documenting his lectures and intellectual pursuits. He quickly became a subject of public fascination, further intensifying the pressure on him.

Sidis graduated cum laude from Harvard at the age of 16. The intense media scrutiny during his time at Harvard contributed to his growing discomfort with fame and his increasing desire for privacy. He expressed a wish to live a "perfect life" in seclusion.

Following graduation, Sidis briefly taught mathematics at Rice Institute (now Rice University) in Houston, Texas. However, he found the experience unsatisfying and retreated, seeking refuge from the public eye. He took on various low-paying jobs, often using aliases to avoid recognition.

Sidis became involved in socialist and pacifist political activities. In 1919, he was arrested for participating in a May Day protest in Boston and sentenced to prison. His parents intervened and placed him in a sanatorium for a period, further alienating him and reinforcing his desire for isolation.

For the remainder of his life, Sidis lived a relatively anonymous existence, working various menial jobs and pursuing his intellectual interests in private. He wrote extensively under various pseudonyms, exploring subjects ranging from cosmology to American Indian history, but these works remained largely unrecognized during his lifetime. He continued to distance himself from his past fame and the expectations it created.

William James Sidis died in Boston at the age of 46 from a cerebral hemorrhage. He was found alone in his small apartment. His life serves as a cautionary tale about the pressures of child prodigy status and the challenges of finding personal fulfillment in the face of extraordinary expectations.