The Extraordinary Genius of Daniel Tammet: Mastering 22,514 Digits of Pi

Scientists have ranked him among the 100 greatest geniuses of this century. Daniel Tammet is one of the few autistic people capable of putting his exceptional skills into words. He confided in his differences this Sunday in front of Audrey Crespo-Mara in “Sept à Huit”.

Follow the full coverage

Seven to eight

He was named one of the “100 living geniuses” in 2007. And for good reason, the British Daniel Tammet has exceptional gifts in calculation and language learning. Autistic with <a href="https://www.archyde.com/mental-health-autism-in-women-a-disease-often-camouflaged/” title=”Mental health – Autism in women, a disease often camouflaged”>Asperger’s syndrome, he is now a writer and is publishing his seventh book this week: From stones they made stars (ed. Les Arènes). A dive into the extraordinary world of men and women who have managed to turn their difference into a strength. Totally in his image.

Let’s start with the numbers first. Everyone knows that the number Pi is 3.14… but no one remembers the rest. Except Daniel Tammet. “I recited the first 22,514 decimal places of Pi in 5 hours and 9 minutes”he says to Audrey Crespo-Mara in the video above, replay of the “portrait of the week” broadcast this Sunday in “Sept à Huit”. Record set on March 15, 2004 in Oxford in front of stunned examiners. He nevertheless specifies that he finished “exhausted”. “It was like I was running a marathon or two marathons in my head and by the time I got to the end I was very tired,” he says.

For me, numbers are a visual, emotional poem.

Daniel Tammet

Gifted with numbers, Daniel Tammet associates them with colors and shapes. “For me, numbers are a visual, emotional poem. A universal poem that I perceive with colors, emotions, textures, like a kind of mental landscape. It’s called synesthesiait is a neurological phenomenon”, he explains. A way of seeing the world differently than it seemed to him “huge, incomprehensible” during his childhood.

The eldest of a modest London family of nine children, he then recounts in perfect French, barely colored by a slight British accent, his childhood epileptic seizures which are said to have had consequences on his brain. “We know that epileptic seizures occur frequently in autistic people, unfortunately. Is it the epileptic seizures that would have caused my numerical or linguistic abilities? Is it rather simply the fact of being autistic? Of having a different cognitive functioning that would have created these conditions? We don’t know,” he assures.

In any case, at the age of four, Daniel Tammet began to have visions. “I was starting to learn to read and when I looked at the numbers on each footer, I saw a different color. One is like a very strong light, two is like the wind…”, he lists. And adds: “Every time I met someone great, I said to myself: ‘he is as big as the number 9’, because for me, the number 9 is very imposing. And when I saw someone very beautiful, it was the number 11 because 11 is very beautiful”he says.

He speaks about ten foreign languages

Yet his talents also have their drawbacks. Daniel Tammet has difficulty communicating, taking refuge in his comfortable inner world of numbers and words. Thus, at school, the noises, the jostling, everything assaults him. “I covered my ears, I tried to withdraw. What was the hardest part was that no one understood what I had. They knew I was hypersensitive, different, but at the time the word autism didn’t exist. It took twenty years to understand all that,” he emphasizes.

Years of effort to learn socialization will follow. “Children are not always very kind to those who do not behave like them. I really had trouble making myself understood, expressing myself. I went to libraries, I took books, I tried to understand how the brains of my classmates work and that helped me build empathy.”he says.

Mastering many foreign languages ​​- he speaks about ten – has also allowed him to communicate with a wider audience. “Every time I learned another language, it was another window in my brain that opened, another way of understanding that we are all different, that we all see the world differently. And this difference is a richness,” insists the one whose vocation is now to create a bridge between “two intelligences”namely autistic people and neurotypical people (i.e. ordinary mortals).

• Read also

  “She does incredible things”: Samuel Le Bihan talks about the progress of his daughter who has autism

Today, the one who had so much trouble communicating looks others in the eye without difficulty. “My mother, my brothers and sisters helped me a lot”he says. However, he acknowledges that a small part of him must always think about it. “Am I looking into the eyes, am I doing too much, not enough?”he asks. And concludes, all smiles: “Are you okay?” Daniel Tammet can rest assured, the answer is yes.

Virginie FAUROUX | Interview by Audrey Crespo-Mara

His unique abilities and experiences have shaped his life and contributions to society.

Unlocking the Mind of a Genius:​ Daniel Tammet’s Extraordinary World

Daniel Tammet, a British ‍Autistic savant, has been ranked among the 100 greatest ‍geniuses of this century. With his exceptional skills in calculation and language learning, he‍ has become a writer and has just published his⁣ seventh book, “From stones ⁣they made stars”. In this article, we delve into‌ the extraordinary world of Daniel Tammet, who has managed⁤ to ‌turn his autism ‍into a strength.

A Mathematical Marvel

Daniel Tammet holds the record ‍for reciting the first 22,514 ⁢decimal ⁤places ​of Pi in 5‌ hours and ‍9 minutes. This incredible feat was achieved on March 15, 2004, in Oxford. He explains that this experience was like running a marathon in his head, leaving him ​exhausted but exhilarated. For Tammet, numbers are not just‍ mere digits; they are a visual, emotional poem that⁣ he experiences through synesthesia, a‌ neurological phenomenon ‍that allows him to see numbers as colors, ⁤shapes, and textures.

A Visual, Emotional Poem

Tammet’s extraordinary abilities are not limited to mathematics. He ⁢is also gifted with language learning and has mastered around ten foreign languages. He ⁢believes that​ each language is a new window‌ in his brain, allowing him to understand ⁣the ​world from different perspectives. ‍His synesthesia enables him to perceive language as a sensory experience, making it easier‌ for him​ to learn and communicate.

From‍ Epilepsy to Empathy

Tammet’s childhood was marked ⁣by epilepsy,‍ which he believes may have contributed to his exceptional abilities. Despite the‍ challenges he faced, he has‌ learned to channel his differences into strengths. Through his experiences, he ⁢has developed empathy and understands the importance of bridging the gap between autistic and neurotypical people.

Raising Awareness and⁣ Breaking Barriers

Tammet’s story is ⁢an inspiration to many, showcasing the potential of autistic ⁤individuals to make ⁤significant ⁢contributions to ⁣society. By sharing his ⁢experiences, he aims to create a bridge between⁢ the two ‌”intelligences” and promote greater understanding and acceptance. ⁣As he puts it, “Every time I learned​ another language, ⁤it was another window in my brain that opened, another way of understanding that we are all different, that we ​all see the world differently. And this difference is a richness.”

Conclusion

Daniel Tammet’s remarkable story is a testament to the power⁣ of human potential. By embracing his‌ differences and channeling them‌ into strengths, he has become a celebrated ⁣author and advocate for autistic⁣ individuals. Through his work, he continues to inspire and educate, promoting a deeper understanding of the autistic experience ‌and⁣ the importance of inclusion and ​acceptance.

Keywords: Daniel Tammet, ​autism,⁢ synesthesia, language learning, mathematics, pi, savant syndrome, exceptional abilities,⁤ inclusion, acceptance, empathy.

Meta Description: Explore the extraordinary world of‌ Daniel Tammet, a British Autistic⁣ savant with ‍exceptional skills in calculation and language learning. Discover how

Challenges. He has faced difficulties associated with autism, including social interactions and sensory sensitivities. However, he has turned these challenges into strengths, using his unique perspective to connect with others and advocate for autism awareness.

The Extraordinary Genius of Daniel Tammet: Unlocking the Secrets of Autism and Exceptional Abilities

Scientists have ranked him among the 100 greatest geniuses of this century. Daniel Tammet, a British savant with autism and Asperger’s syndrome, has left the world in awe with his exceptional skills in calculation and language learning. In a recent interview with Audrey Crespo-Mara on “Sept à Huit,” Tammet shared his extraordinary experiences and shed light on the unique world of autistic individuals who have turned their differences into strengths.

For Me, Numbers are a Visual, Emotional Poem

Gifted with numbers, Tammet associates them with colors and shapes, a phenomenon known as synesthesia. “For me, numbers are a visual, emotional poem. A universal poem that I perceive with colors, emotions, textures, like a kind of mental landscape,” he explained. This unique way of perceiving numbers has enabled him to perform exceptional feats, such as reciting the first 22,514 decimal places of Pi in 5 hours and 9 minutes, a record he set in 2004.

A Multilingual Genius

Tammet’s exceptional language skills are equally impressive. He speaks about ten foreign languages, including perfect French, barely colored by a slight British accent. His linguistic abilities are a testament to his extraordinary cognitive functioning, which has allowed him to learn languages at an incredible pace. In his early years, Tammet’s language skills were already evident, as he began to learn to read and write at the age of four.

Overcoming Challenges

Despite his exceptional abilities, Tammet’s journey has not been without