Young + Brilliant, Blessed + Cursed

They are barely into their teens, yet they are declared the next Mozart or even a modern Messiah. But child prodigies are often both misunderstood and openly ostracized, and, as adults, they struggle under the burden of their astonishing intelligence.

By Patti Hartigan

March 6, 2005

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At nearly 6 feet tall and with the vocabulary of a college professor, Robert Mercer could easily pass for much older than 14, were it not for the self-conscious giggle and the telltale teenage skin. He's equally at home discussing Greek history and shoot-'em-up video games. He likes to golf and ski and sail and swim, and he'd take up ... (Full article: 4617 words)