Boy Genius

When I was a kid I was bright.  I mean, I didn't learn how to read and write any earlier than most, but from 1st through 5th grade I had the reputation of a brainiac.  I didn't get perfect grades, but they were good, as I didn't put in the work to make my work perfect. 

Because of this, and because of other influences like Mr. Spock, I was fascinated with brain power.  Pure logic solving any problem.  If only I could tap the secrets of logic and other mental gymnastics I would be ahead of the game.  Maybe there was something to ESP, too!  I could tap that!

There were plenty of other examples in fiction that reinforced this noting

• Sherlock Holmes 
• Encyclopedia Brown
• The Great Brain
• Batman
• The Professor
• and more recently: The Tales of the Thinking Machine and Professor Van Dusen

Alas, the teachings of such logic and reasoning were not available for me to latch onto.  And I was a wee bairn that didn't know where to self start and find same for myself.

I'm older now.  I know and know of really REALLY smart people.  But even they don't possess Holmsian-esque super-powers solving nigh unknowable problems and mysteries with pure logic and and vast recall of useful facts.  It's fiction, that sort of portrayal.  And more's the pity. 

And a semester of logic at college was a waste, but the professor was absolute shite.